I got the first pair of booties done, just in time for my friend to take them to Denver.  I have a few weeks to get the other pair done. They turned out very nicely. ( I used my phone to take the pictures so the detail isn't as clear.)

I got the first baby bootie done.  It is adorable! I now have one more to do and then another pair.

I have gotten the crocheted socks done, cast on the remaining top-down knit sock, and started a baby bootie.  The socks turned out very well.  They fit better than the first pair. The first pair is in the pictures at the bottom of the page. The colorway is called "Seaglass" and the yarn is a superwash wool and nylon blend.

The bootie is a pattern I have never done before but it is for a friend and she wanted this particular pattern.  I have to finish the cuff of the bootie, and sew the seam from top to toe. Then its on to the second one.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter or a joyous Passover.  I have been doing a lot of handwork to keep me sane during the last little while.  My husband has been home-bound since he got out of the hospital in February.  Knitting and crocheting have kept him alive! (said tongue firmly in cheek.)  I am working on a shawl out of Rowan's Colourscape Chunky in  the now discontinued Frosty colorway.  I am designing as I go and allowing the colors to shine rather than having the stitches take center stage.  I got the yarn as a Craftsy special.  I wasn't too happy with the quality of the yarn, I found that it contained quite a bit of detritus, from grass and straw to burrs and stickers.  I even found about an inch and a half of a netting-like fiber.  However, the colors more than make up for the issues.  As the pictures show, I am crocheting the shawl using an openwork double crochet and chain.  The increases are a simple v-stitch and a modified v-stitch at the beginning and end of each row; the beginning is ch 5, dc in sp; ending is dc in last sp, ch 2 dc in ch 3 of beg ch5.

I have also been working on  the second sock of a pair of crocheted toe-up socks. The yarn is a lovely soft acrylic DK weight I got from Mary Maxim.  It was an irregular of their Mellowspun DK .

The 125th annual Mesa County Fair is coming up in July.  I have been thinking entries for the fair and have decided on one or two. First is the blue sweater that I worked so hard on for almost a year. Second is the shawl that I have mentioned in a previous post.  I have been debating about what crochet projects I'm going to enter and I think one of them may be the Geisha Jacket that I altered to suit my body type.  I am also considering the crocheted socks and maybe the crochet hook roll I made.  It is always fun trying to decide on entries.  This year will be a celebration for the fair, considering that it is the 125th fair.  I'm hoping to have many more blue ribbons this year.

I have a new pair of socks done. These were cuff-down. and they are shorty ankle socks.

They are laying on one of my kniitng bags.

This was an interesting experiment with a Craftsy yarn purchase.  The yarn is Gedifra Morelia in Powder.  The pattern is based on KUAS's dummy clap shawl.  I changed the number of cast-on stitches and did some basic edging in garter stitch. I made this to go with a sleeveless outfit that I'm hoping to go dancing in later this year.  I wanted something to cover my shoulders and arms.

I used 4 skeins of Gedifra Morelia in powder on US size 19 (15 mm). I bound off loosely with my largest wooden crochet hook which is a size 15 (which is about a 10 mm).

This is my pattern:

Cast on 20 st.
R1-4 K
R5 K3, P14, K3 (WS)
R6 K (RS)

Repeat last 2 rows until 3 rows from desired length
Last 3 Rows: K

Bind off: K2, slip1st st off over 2nd st, k1, slip previous stitch over last st, drop next st off left-hand needle and ch 1 with crochet hook, bind off next 3 st, drop st, ch 1, bind off 4 st, drop st, ch 1, bind off 3 st, drop st, ch1, bind off 3.  Work the dropped stitches down to the cast-on edge.

http://www.favecrafts.com/ml/1 is an excellent source for ideas and patterns.  I have made a few of the things they have featured in their newsletters.

AllFreeKnitting.com is giving away a Boye Yardage Counter. I entered and you can too.

I have several new projects. First, I'm working on a pair of top-down knit socks. Second is a pair of toe-up crocheted socks. Third is a knit shawl. This all gives me something to do while I'm at the hospital with my husband.

Life can be so complicated sometimes.  I'm glad I know how to knit and crochet.  Both arts are a wonderful way to let go of the stresses of worry and fear. I am also thankful that my husband is cooperating (FINALLY!) with the hospital staff as they try to help him get back on his feet.

For anyone out there who is wondering where I have been for the last week or so, I have been at the hospital every day with my husband.  Red has been having trouble with some blockages in his left leg.  Hopefully, yesterday's surgery will take care of the problem. Otherwise, we will have a whole new set of problems.  I will get back on the ball when he is home and I have less stress.

All Free Knitting is giving away a copy of Knitting 101: Master Basic Skills and Techniques Easily through Step-by-Step Instruction at their website.  Here is a link to the site:  http://www.allfreeknitting.com/sweeps/knitting-101-master-basic-skills-book-giveaway

I have finished a toe-up sock!  I must admit, it isn't knit, it is crocheted. However, it is a toe-up sock. I found the pattern on www.CrochetMe.com and it worked up fairly quickly in Hobby Lobby's Snowflake wool blend which is light weight # 3 yarn.  I used a size F/3.75mm  and an E/3.5mm hook.  The smaller hook was for the ribbing at the top of the leg.

I was looking at http://www.coletterie.com/tutorials-tips-tricks/tutorial-easy-blanket-stitch-throw today and it reminded me of the top that I embellished with blanket stitch and a crocheted ruffle.  Here it is.  You can't see the blanket stitch on the armholes, but it is there.

This weekend was not a good weekend.  My DH fell and I was a basket case because I couldn't help him get up--there was not enough room.  So I did what I could to help, got him into bed, and sat down and knitted on a practice wrap.  It is a nice pattern--its a lattice lace.  The pattern is all yarn overs and knit 2 togethers on the pattern row and purl the next row.  Its a nice mindless pattern that I could do while I was trying to keep myself together.  I like the way it looks so I will find a good yarn to make a wrap to go with my summer/spring dancing dress.  I think I will get a bight color to set off the oyster/ecru of the dress.  

So far the toe-up socks have not been  success.  I think I will practice with a larger size yarn and needles till I get it right.  

The new toe-up sock is coming along nicely.  I now have about 1 1/2 - 2 inches done and it looks pretty good to me.  I am looking forward to having a friend look at it. Robin is always knitting socks usually using magic loop.  I took more pictures of my second attempt. Of course, my husband thinks it looks like a gurney for a sick mouse. I disagree, I think it looks like a stretcher for an overweight mouse--maybe the equivalent of the 700 ounce mouse.

As in all things, my first attempt was not a raging success. I took my first attempt off the needles and am now trying again.  I am working on a capelet for a formal dress that I will wear during warmer months.  The dress is an ecru sleeveless tank with matching long skirt, embellished with silver embroidery, beads and sequins.  I am crocheting the capelet out of some scarlet Patons Angora Bamboo I found on clearance.  The capelet is not coming on as well as I would like, but that's the way it is with most of my projects.That is one of the curses of perfectionism

This is part of my New Year's resolution for 2012.  I am learning how to knit socks from the toe up.  I have done the figure 8 cast-on using an ancient skein of Light Pink Red Heart Baby Fingering Yarn on size 2 double pointed needles.  I am now up to Row 6 of the toe, and , as my husband says, it looks like an old fashioned stretcher sized for a mouse.