Monkey-ing Around

My vest-shawl thingy has not made too much progress yet. I do work on it enough here and there not to forget how the pattern works, but it's still a long way from being done... But then again, here in Texas, I really won't need it until it gets colder again, which is, like, in November, if we are lucky!

The socks I finished are done, though. Seems like I can always whip a pair out in between. So, another pair of socks for my stash.Opal sock yarn: NEON. I was very excited to try that Opal yarn, but have to say that I was a bit disappointed. If feels kind of rough, though I don't know how it will wash. Oh, and it came with this extra little skein of thin contrast yarn in dark purple. I looked online but couldn't find anything anywhere. So I used it as a run-along string for the toes and heels. I don't know if Opal sock yarn comes with this or if the seller on eBay just gave me a little extra gift :).

So here goes my latest addiction: I have gotten into sock-monkeys for the girls.

I started out with the Red Heart Sock Monkey. Though, you know me, I didn't use Red Heart yarn. I think this is Hobby Lobby's "I love THIS Cotton" Ivory Print.

It's cute, but not perfect... They don't all come out quite as planned - yet (I guess there is a little learning curve), but the girls like them anyway, take them to school, and take orders from their friends for more. I can't keep up!

Next, I splurged (I don't usually like to buy patterns when there are so many free ones floating around) and bought the Patons Classic Wool Monkey Business booklet. This is the "Baby Monkey."

Since Michael's didn't have the Patons yarn, I used Lion Brand's Vanna's Choice. Colors are Linen, Scarlett, and Taupe Mist.

Please note that Baby Monkey was adorned with a safety pin through the lips. I guess what we have here is a Punk Baby Monkey or a Baby Punk Monkey...

The next request was for "Ellie Elephant," also from the Patons Classic Wool Monkey Business booklet.

This is still a work in progress...

The picture is a little dark. So far I have the head and trunk (though I think I have to redo that because it really does NOT look like a head and trunk and might, in fact, be somewhat offensive... Also finished are the two ears and one leg. I really have to start using the suggested yarns to make sure my projects come out the way they are supposed to. I am using lily sugar 'n cream, one twist and two solids. May just not be the right yarn for "Ellie Elephant."

More Ladybugs! Just in time for Spring and Valentine's Day

Since I am just working away on that pair of socks I started and don't really have any new projects going on, I thought I would share some more LADYBUG patterns I found lately. Maybe somebody will be inspired for Valentine's Day.

Here is an absolutely adorable ladybug cardigan for a little girl on Petite Purls:

Another cardigan:

Little Bug Cardigan by Laurel Young

published on her blog Strings and Rings

 

  

  

 

by QuirkyLaurel Flickr

view QuirkyLaurel's Ladybug Set

by QuirkyLaurel Flickr

And if you want to knit something even smaller.
How about these Ladybird Shoes by Zoë Mellor.

The pattern is in her
spiral-bound book
50 Baby Bootees to Knit
on Amazon.com.

Next I have a really cute ladybug scene with flower:

 

The pattern is from

Susanne Fågelberg

and available on Ravelry. 

She also sells the patterns to her creations on Etsy under: Tilda and Filur.

Another cute ladybug also sold on Etsy:

  

This one is also crocheted and then felted.

  

Adorable, isn't it?!

 

copyright © Vicky Lewis

And crawling right along:

copyright © paparazzimama

by craftyshanna Flickr

crafty-shanna is kindly sharing her patterns, including this one, on her LiFEJOURNAL Thanks for sharing!

Okay, so the next one is not technically a ladybug pattern. These car seat belt covers just have the cutest ladybug buttons. The "Carseat Shoulder Strap Covers" pattern by Sylvia Schuchardt is available for free on her website hook candy.

by sylver Flickr

.

Back to real ladybug patterns. Here is a cute blanket:

Ladybug Afghan and Pillow PA273 by Maggie Weldon

by MaggieWeldon Flickr

How about a ladybug coaster?

Found on Ravelry. 

Available on 

The Crocheting Commuter.

A cute little hat and bootee combo:

"Ladybugs Bring Good Luck" Beanie and Booties

by Mary Triplett

 

  

by ClickClick Flickr

 

Found on Ravelry, does not seem to have a website, but gives her email address.

Last one for today. Also technically not a ladybug pattern but it's called

 

"Ladybug" by Jennifer Lippman-Bruno

I am going to include it, because it's just too cute!!! 

 
Is that a doll or a baby?

Precious!!!!

I don't know what I like more, the hat or the baby!!!

Available on knowknits.

Hope you enjoyed our little trip down ladybug lane...

All I want for Christmas...

... is to get in one more blog before December is over as well (no post in November). Not much blogging, but I did knit. Lots of homemade presents again this year:

Socks for Wanda (who came for just a couple of days, but it was still great to see her!):





Remember the toe-up "circle socks" I made on our road trip around this time last year? The original design was on Ravelry by Anne Campbell. Yarn is Patons Kroy Socks 4 Ply.




Socks for Melanie (our new friend and fellow exchange student host mom):

Oops, it appears, I forgot to take a picture of them before I gave them away. I need to catch her wearing them...

A very simple Lion Brand Fun Fur scarf for her niece, Brianna, who, by the way is a wonderful, beautiful, I-am-running-out-of-adjectives young lady:



A chap stick or lip balm holder with Sugar'n Cream for Theresa:



And presents from the heart (with no material content) for Malinda and Gwen (the two invited me this year to come along on their annual pre-Christmas shopping madness trip - it was one of my best Christmas presents to hang out with them for hours while hunting for some last minute presents), Theresa and Katrina (not knitted, but hand-made, nonetheless):

Oh, and, of course, the usual barrage of cookies for friends and coworkers. This year, I had a lot of help with baking from Theresa, which was fabulous!!! It was so much more fun and so much easier. She loves to bake and decorate, but she also likes to eat cookies :), as do I, of course. Aside from tons of cookies, we also made the most wonderful cheesecake (with a few tweaks: add a little eggnog and reduce the sugar, no extra sugar in the crust, 6 eggs instead of 5 eggs and 2 yokes, and then drip a little eggnog on top, along with a little nutmeg and cinnamon) - a real joint family effort - it was quite cute, the four of us in the kitchen, all doing our part to make this work.

And then Theresa also made a super yummy and very light cake - Maulwurfkuchen - that was gone within minutes :).




Now, if that doesn't look yummy!!!!

Socktoberfest, again...

Gotta hurry and get my Socktoberfest entry in. I did actually knit a few pairs of socks this month. A pair for Theresa's birthday...




a pair for Katrina (sh... she doesn't know yet)...




and a pair of little toe socks...

I ran out of the Patons Kroy Socks in Denim Jacquard and actually found a skein on eBay. So I could finish the pair I had started. I was amazed, though, how different the colors were on that one skein that came from a different batch. Oh, well, they are just socks...

Lots of people gonna get socks for Christmas this year or whatever other handmade little things. I have definitely picked up my production some again, but am still a bit uninspired these days. I do have to show off my cute little toddler hoodie, though. Here is little baby A.:




Isn't she just the most adorable little thing?!



Btw, the doggy in the background is Woody, a Shar Pei mix, who is desperately looking for a permanent home.

But back to Christmas presents... I also finished a few more picture frame earring holders. Just need to get my husband to get out the nailgun to assemble them with me. Oh, and another shopping bag:

Confessions of a Sporadic Knitter...

I can't believe I have not posted anything since March. I have a lot of different excuses.

Let's see...

Excuse # 1:

Somehow, knitting, in my old German mind, is for cold days, long winters. And since I live in Texas, I have a hard time getting the knitting needles out in the summer.

So, at least I made some summer fare. Technically, not knitting, but at least some form of handy-craft. Flip-flops for all the summer visitors (Alicia modeling a pair):




Or...

Excuse # 2:

I have been working longer hours here and there and had less time for knitting...

But you can always use some shopping bags (and they also make great gifts - one of them was for my lovely friend Jane):







Okay, so technically, those were not knit, either. Maybe crocheting is for summer and knitting for winter?

Or...

Excuse # 3:

First, we had summer house guests, and now we have an exchange student from Germany (a permanent house guest for a year), and I have just been too busy. Here is another one of my lame excuses (the excuse is lame, not Theresa!!!) as we pick her up from the airport:



Which brings us to...

Excuse #4:

What with all the rearranging we had to do to accommodate the extra people in the house...

Or, how about...

Excuse #5:

We have been fostering puppies and dogs...

Here are Inuit, Tammy, and Penelope:



And this is our current foster dog, Woody:



Or...


Excuse #...

Oh well, enough with the excuses.

As you can see, I actually have been working on the occasional project (as you can see me sitting and knitting with my daughter):



I actually have been knitting, or crocheting, or whatever. I just have been really bad about posting. And I have an excuse for that, too:

FACEBOOK!!

But to catch you up, here are the other things I have been working on:

I crocheted a small cell phone holder for around the neck, because I have a wireless blue-tooth (is that redundant?) headset that doesn't reach if I hold the phone in my hand or have it in a pocket or purse. And I listen to music on my cell phone, so I need a good connection.

I finished another little baby blanket (squares are knit, border crochet) with the remainder of the yarn I had for my co-worker's baby blanket. This one will be for Karen:



Of course, with the obligatory lady bug!!!



A little baby/toddler hoodie. I have another one (much smaller) in the works, but am not sure if that one will ever get finished :). You know how that goes... But here is the one that did get done:



With pocket, of course :)




And remember, I had all those different kinds of Sugar'n Cream from all kinds of different projects.

I crocheted a little hat for a very old doll (almost as old as I am):



And I little iPod cozy with lipstick holder:



I tried to use all the remains up with this pillow cover:



It was also a nice chance to try out all kinds of different patterns.




I also made another attempt at felting:





As you can see, lots of little projects. But nothing really earth-shattering. Just lacking the right motivation (and time). But, Austin temperatures are finally below 100 degrees and maybe the slightly cooler and more pleasant ambient climate will help me to take a closer look at my stash...