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."

Sugar and Spice, ahem, Sugar'n Cream...

I love Lily Sugar'n Cream yarn. It is so versatile, comes in an endless number of different colors and color-combinations, is easy to work with, and is inexpensive. I had already made all kinds of little things with that cotton yarn, like these cute little soap sacks for the shower:





Or this little cell phone (or i-pod) "hoodie":


I have also made a baby blanket and matching hat and socks for my friend Cissy and her baby girl Ayla a while back:



I had some of the orange-pink-yellow left and wanted to crochet another easy market bag similar to these I had already whipped up at some other time (also with Lily yarn):



But in the end, it didn't turn into a market bag, but rather a totally improvised, cute little backpack, which immediately found a new owner in Jenna, my friend Malinda's little 6yo daughter.


As always, my daughter the ever patient model...


And to show my appreciation to the model, I made this little lip balm holder for her:


...which she promptly attached to the belt of her robe (but which also fits around her wrist or could be attached to a key chain).


I still have a whole big bag full of Sugar'n Cream in all kinds of different colors. Oh, the possibilities...