Cute Hats for Kids

While I'm finishing my penguin mittens, I wanted to post photos of some Halloween hats I knit for friends at work.  The green monster hat originally had ear flaps, but I removed them after the photo.  I wasn't sure the flaps would line up correctly with his little ears.  Both patterns were free on Ravelry and made with left over yarn from previous projects.  

March of the Penguin(s)

Super cute mitten for the Mitten Tree!  I'm always surprised when my finished project looks like the pattern!  Woo-oo!  The second mitten is already on the needles and I hope to have it finished by the weekend.  

The pattern is from Morehouse Farm .

Pretty Pink Purse

Since my latest purse is giving me such fits, I thought I would post something that was more successful.  This purse is called "Felted Rose Bag" by Diane Bertolatti.  I found the design on Ravelry.com, a great on-line knitting community.  This purse turned out so nicely, that I did two others and gave them to friends (I forgot to take a picture of the third one.  It was in a lovely green color!) The lining inside was my own idea.  I adapted the lunch bag lining to fit the purses.  Clever use of resources!

The gold lining doesn't show in this photo, but I thought it was lovely.  Glad I added a small pocket, too.

Weekend Project

This is the second time I've tried this project:  a cable knitted and felted purse.  The pattern is called "Cabled Companions" a felted handbag by Charlene Brown. It's a fun and fast knit, but the felting is giving me fits.  Here's a photo of my first try

BEFORE

AFTER

I can't quite get the cables to be as pronounced in my finished product as they are in the example on the pattern.  I've knitted another purse, and will give it another try.

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen

Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Hershey?  These little candy treats will be given to some of Santa's special helpers during the holiday season.  Shh!  It's a secret.

I got the idea for wrapping Hershey bars (the BIG size) from a magazine years ago, but I've modified the original idea so much, that's it's nearly my own (still....nothing is an original idea with me!)  I hope that the people who receive this chocolate reindeer will know that it's my simple way of saying a big thank you.

PS). Yes, the noses are little red Hershey kisses!

Happy Feet

Warm feet!  This is my absolute favorite thing to knit:  slippers!  Everyone in my family (and some of their friends) have received a pair as a gift - whether they wanted them or not.  (BTW:  That's the BAD thing about been a compulsive knitter.  You end up with lots of finished products and no one to give them to.  My poor family probably thinks that I will knit them a coffin when the time comes...Gee, I hadn't thought about that until just now...I wonder if there's a pattern?  JUST KIDDING!)

These slippers are warm, practically indestructible, and they mold to your feet.  Cozy!  The pattern is called "Felt Clogs" and is published by Fiber Trends.  The design is by Bev Galeskas.  I took a class at Sheep's Clothing in Valparaiso to learn how to knit them. I've made so many pairs now, that I have the pattern memorized.  Some days, I can't even remember my own name, but I could k1, m1, k 23 'til the cows (or sheep, in this case) come home.

They are CLOWN SHOES when you knit them, but shrink in the washer to fit you during the felting process.  Check out the "before" and "after" of two different pairs.  The lime green ones are my current "go-to" pair.  Cheerful.

BEFORE

AFTER

Santa!

Hard to believe that we're already at December 1st.  The count-down to concerts and Christmas begins for real. Actually, for a family of 3 music teachers, the holidays began weeks/months ago.  Although I'm not a big fan of teaching"Christmas music" (bah humbug on me), I do love the holidays.

I love to sing carols and I love listening to my favorite holiday songs (old and new.)  I just don't like TEACHING Christmas songs.  It takes a big chunk out of the limited time I have with children.  Still, they love it,  and they truly do sing like angels.  I'm very conscious that not everyone celebrates Christmas and I try to choose a variety of holiday and non-holiday songs for our concerts.

It doesn't matter WHAT they sing, I am moved almost every day with how beautiful they can be. Goosebumps! I have to be careful to not get all weepy.  I don't want to be that old, crazy, crying music teacher!   I'm just the old, LUCKY (and probably crying a little) music teacher.

We have a new fireplace (and basement renovation) so it will be fun to decorate our new family room.  I know that the old Christmas stockings will be hanging on the new mantel for Santa.  I knitted the two on the left for John and I when we got married (32 years ago!)  As the girls were born, I added new stockings.

 Jill and Jakob have stockings (this photo is from their first apartment, I believe) and next year I'll make some for Meredith and Alex.

Gus will need a special puppy stocking, too!  There's always a list of things I want to knit!