Finally finished

I finally finished Hubby's first pair of socks. There are some mistakes but socks are very forgiving. I know they will get easier as I make more. This was the first pair with a pattern. He really likes them and that is all that matters. These where made with 2 circular needles.

Grandmother's Favorite Dishcloth

This was much easier than I thought it would be. I used a 40 peg rake with a 3/8" gauge (I think). Michelle sent me a fabulous video explaining how to do it. I will be making more of these.

Do you want to see? Click here: ( I hope this will open)

http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?ei=UTF-8&vid=ebd1af1cee565c36445d00ac8aee73af.1353255&b=&status=0

The cone holder was made by my dear husband. It works so well. Now my cones don't fall over when I am working with them.

Just some more stuff

I really like the look of the knitted cloths.
This is a new pattern for me from Lion Brand.
They have the stitch of the week and many of their patterns are perfect for the cloths. This is done on size 7 needles and of course I use my knitpicks.





These are several of my looms. The darker one is also from Lion Brand. It is the Old Fashioned Knitting Board. I love the feel and look of it. On it is a scarf (which looks knitted on both sides) done in Lion Brand Homespun.

The little one in the front is from Cindiwood Crafts. It is perfect for cloths but it doesn't have the rounded pegs so as of now I am having a little trouble with it.

Now the long one in the back: I don't remember where I got it. The pegs are really close together and I am thinking about making a scarf for the Red Scarf project in January.

Latest Projects

This cable scarf is giving me the fits. It curls. I blocked it and it still curls, then I steamed it and believe it or not is still curls. I think maybe there isn't enough reversed stockinette between the cable and the border**since that is where it curls.







This is a cuddles done in Lamb's Pride WW. The drape is so nice that I may do a baby blanket using this stitch. Who knows??

First Wrist Warmers

A baby hat among my first fingerless gloves or wrist warmers as they are sometimes called.

These are made with Brown Sheep cotton fleece and are soft and warm. The hat is going to Loves Cozy closet.

The gloves in the forefront are black (believe it or not) and they are for a co worker to wear under her motorcycle gloves for added protection. I was happy to do this for her. The purple (yep that is purple) are mine and the first pair I made.

These are crocheted with the half double crochet and it very easy. This pattern can be modified easily for different size hands.

****************Something new

I really like the colors in this cloth. Now don't ask me what it is. This yarn just showed up at my house one day. Thank you













This is my first pair of toddler socks. I did them on 1 circular needle. The magic loop method. I will be doing more like this.
I like the double points also but I do not care for using 2 circs. Just wanted to share my opinion


Socks going to Loves Cozy Closet for distribution







First mesh bag done with Bernat handicrafter cotton. It worked up very nicely. This will be going to Loves Cozy Closet for distribution.


Must continue to say that LovesManyCloths is the best group on the net.

**************Some of my Stash

I was asked to show some of my stash so here it is. The top is my working area where I keep some yarn and of course projects. On the arm of the chair is my big Cuddles, this one is for a dog. The next one is my box of mainly cotton yarn to be used mainly for cloths and at the bottom left is it box of donations that I just received from Brown Sheep Co. I just love their yarn and the company has really blessed our group. The white and natural is from Elmore Pisgah which makes the peaches and cream yarn. We are so blessed to have yarn companies provide us with donations.

The Brown Sheep is Lamb's Pride and it is mill end but looks like firsts. Under all this pink is some gold, orange and yellow.

***************Finished the bear blanket

This was really easy but it still took me a while to make. I kept looking at it and it said "please finish me" So I finally did. I had no pattern except for the bear. Did 4 of those and with Peggy's advice just did the rest of the blocks in double crochet with a made up border. I usually always need to use a pattern so I am really proud of this one. It is being sent to All Childrens Hospital in St Petersburg FL.

Come join us in the Loves House. Rooms have been added and we would love to have your able hands to help. Link is on my blog.

ONE OF OUR SHELTERS

This is a pic of "Alex" lying on one of our Cuddles. We now have 4 animal shelter/rescue shelters for which we are making Cuddles. Three are in MI and one is in the FL panhandle.
This project will keep me plenty busy as I am part owner in this group. This is my baby but we never stop making cloths. As I have said before: LovesManyCloths is the best group on the Internet. Loves is the main "house"; we now have the Nursery - Hugg_ablesbyLoves and now the Sun Room - CuddlesforPetsbyLovesManyCloths. Be watching because I am sure more rooms will be added to the "house"

Loves New Room

We have added a new room to our main house "LovesManyCloths". It is the Sun Room and in it we house our furry babies. We make for them Cuddles, blankets for furry babies waiting to be adopted. They can be made from just about any yarn as long as there are no holes that little feet can get caught in. You can knit, crochet, loom (if tight) or quilt Cuddles for those furry babies in shelters. Here is a pic of Lucy testing one.

Please feel free to join the best group on yahoo:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CuddlesForPetsbyLovesManyCloths

*********Hugg_ablesbyLoves 'first batch'

Here are some hats for Hugg_ablesbyLoves yahoo group. These will be going to shelters.

I would love to learn to loom hats using different patterns.

I hope that is in my future.

Hugg_ablesbyLoves is the nursery in the house of LovesManyCloths.

Join Hugg-ablesbyLoves

***********Ooops

What is wrong with this picture? As you can see I had to frog. Grrr! I did the slip stitch heel and back of band ok but when I started the short row I ended up with what looked like bound off stitches. I got so frustrated that I frogged back to my lifeline (before the gusset). I put the other sock on other needles and am going to work only one until I am ready to do the cuff.

Now what did I do wrong. Let me see if I can figure it out. Well upon looking further it looks as though there should be a gap (which I had). It sure didn't look right. I have to put it down for awhile because I certainly cannot concentrate on it now. In the mean time I will again make a gusset-----lots of practice on the my first pair of CT&H socks.

Progress Toe Up

Getting there. Here is the progress on my socks. The marker shows the first set of stitches. The white loop tells me whether I am on an increase row or non increase row. The little white strand hanging from the loop is my lifeline. I highly recommend using one. If you have to frog, it will make it so much easier to pick up your stitches.

I am doing the gusset right now. You really can't tell by the pic but the gusset is looking very neat with no holes. So far I am really enjoying the Crazy Toes and Heels book.

PURL

Just had to share LovesManyCloths little mascot. Her name is Purl and we think she is just perfect for our group. Our little lamb of love.

Starting Crazy Toes and Heels

This first pic doesn't look like much but it took me about 2 hours to get this far. I finally learned the Aloha cast on. After you get the feel of the needles it does get pretty easy.

The 2nd pic is starting to look like something. Now I would definitely recommend the lifeline. Put a fine contrasting yarn, crochet thread or even unwaxed dental floss (according to Mary Ann Beattie the author of Crazy Toes and Heels). The lifeline makes it very easy to pick up stitches if you have to frog (rip it) You can just start to see the toe. And let me tell you **making 2 at a time is really easy. This pair will be with the fan toe. The next pair will be the traditional toe. I am learning this method as I go. I have no idea how the gusset and heel will be. But I know that if I have trouble the Crazy Toes and Heels yahoo group will be eager to help.


I sure hope that I can get this pair done. Hubby wants a pair in camouflage. I wish I had a bit more time to work on them. It looks like it will be mostly weekends. During the week I make cloths for LovesManyCloths. Now this is a yahoo group that you must check out.
There is a link on this blog.

First Pair of Socks

Here is my first pair of socks. I had a time with the easy kitchner stitch on the 2nd sock. See the loose yellow stitch on the right toe? I would like to make them with a much finer yarn and on size one needles. I don't think I can walk on these all day in a pair of sneakers. The wrong side is too ridged. These where done with Bernat's Hot Sox and size 3 DP's.

This weekend I plan to do some study in the book Crazy Toes and Heels and try to learn on circulars knitting from the toe up. Wish me luck

Can't you see that Molly just loves them. But she doesn't want any for herself.

My 2nd sock

Here is my 2nd sock getting started. I must admit that I have finished it and have started on the mate. I will post a pic when they are on both my feet. These are unbelievably fun to make. I hope I can learn to do them with other techniques as well. The DP's are getting very comfortable to use. Next pic should be both socks. Oh I must tell you. When I started the toe I thought I had made a mistake on the row count so I frogged the toe area (a little hesitantly) and then picked up the little stitches and started the toes again. Now that is a first. I used to take all my mistakes to my Mom to fix for me. Now that isn't possible since I am 1100 miles from her. Hey Mom aren't you proud of me?? I love you. My name is Diane and I am a budding sockaholic.

My Molly

I needed to take a pic of my precious Molly. We are watching the Dog Whisperer and learning how to behave better. Molly's next step is to learn that people don't really come to visit to see her. She is so excited to see company that she doesn't leave them alone. She is a good girl and will learn how to greet people in a very acceptable way.

I Made One

I just can't believe I actually made a sock. Ok it is only one but it is a sock. Now I am going to try it again from a different pattern. Bigger needles and worsted weight yarn. I want to get it down pat before I used sock yarn.

After I learn the dp's then the next step is the circulars. My goal is to learn to make 2 socks at a time. I am really looking forward to receiving my book 'Crazy Toes and Heels. http://queenkahuna-creations.com/ (Since I haven't learned how to write the name for you to click a link, I will do it this way.)

I will learn the different methods of making socks because: My name is Diane and I am a budding sockaholic.

Budding Sockaholic

This is my first attempt to make a sock. You know it is fun even with the first time mistakes. It is being made on size 3 dp's as you can see. I have recently ordered a book called Crazy Toes and Heels which teaches how to use 2 circular needles working from the toe up. I have been trying to get everything together to get started when the book comes. Just couldn't wait to start one. I feel sure that I can do this. Not so sure which method I will end up with but I plan to try 3. The dp's that you see here and the 2 circular and what is called the magic loop.
I will be sure to post my progress.

My best friend Peggy and I went to Ga to meet a Loves Gal. Bev opened her home to us, took us to lunch and on to Hobby Lobby. Now for me I just can't get enough of HL. OH All the yarn.
We had so much fun that we are going to do it again.

Getting started again

Bandage is almost finished. This is on the A-Just-A-Loom from Decoraccents.inc. I love doing the garter stitch on it. These are made of 100% peaches and cream yarn only in white and natural and they go to Global Health Ministries to be distributed where needed.
















Starting another baby blanket in Bernat baby coordinates sweet stripes. This yarn stripes itself and boy is it soft. The pattern is in diagonal with single crochet. Now if you knit this would be beautiful in stockinette. Both patterns can be found on the labels. I think it will turn out quite nice.

On a Roll

Another blanket finished. This one is made in the Red Heart Baby Soft in Laddie Print and Lime. I love the lime color. Also in the diagonal pattern. It works up really well. Lately I have been gravitating to greens.

Never Enough for a yarn aholic

How I love the feel of all types of yarn. I mainly use 100% cotton and baby yarn. The finished products go to those in need, like shelters, hospice, and hospitals. I just love doing this (as you already know by reading my blog)

This is where I sit to do my crafts. A basket of more yarn looking at me.
















This box is full of donations and yarn that I just couldn't pass up and of course another basket















This is not all of it. I forgot that I have 2 partial boxes of donated yarn. And 4 boxes on the shelf in the closet.
I want to thank Elmore Pisgah the makers of peaches and cream and Brown Sheep for their donations to LovesManyCloths. It is greatly appreciated. Also a big thank you goes to Sharon Bennett and Sherry Dozier for their donations. May God bless you all.

Another finished WIP

These are very easy to do. It is my 2nd granny preemie. This is the one that I ran out of the green twinkle yarn. I used Red Heart Soft Baby. On this one I did 7 rounds instead of 6 and of course that took more yarn. I like the "F" hook for the baby items. The light yellow is powder yellow. Considering I only needed 4 more blocks I really didn't want to buy more yarn for that. I like the way this turned out and may do some more like this. The size of this blankie is 30 x 30 inches.
Not sure yet where I will send this one, but it will be a hospital that takes preemie items. Come join us in our endevour with LovesManyCloths. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/LovesManyCloths See you there.

Remembering Ivan

This was a building called Sikes in Marianna, FL.
On Sept 15, 2003 (I think that is the right date) hurricane Ivan came through with tornados. This was the closest call to us since the one that hit us April 15 (that is not a nice number) 2001. It hit about 8 miles down the road. I am remembering this because we are now in hurricane season again and every time I go to Marianna I pass this site. It has been sitting like this all this time and no one wants to clean it up. I think maybe the company may have filled bankruptcy and it is for sale. This will be a very expensive clean up process.


Ivan hit it hard. This storm took some lives in Blountstown, probably about 30 miles or so away from us. We have decided that we are going to stay put if one comes into Panama City. After watching how they travel and how the tornados spawn we believe we are safer here than trying to travel somewhere else with 2 dogs. I would never leave them behind.
So all that said we are as ready as we will ever be for this season's storms.
God is our protector and when it is time there is nothing you can do about it. After all He saved us in a direct hit. I give Him all the praise and glory for He is good. Amen

Another one finished

Another project finished. This blanket was done on the infinity loom from CindDCrafts. I did it with Red Heart Baby Cloths yarn in Bounce Multi. I took 8- 3.5 ounce skeins and measures 44 x 54 (approx)
It is the same on both sides and very light. I am sure a child will love it. This one is going to All Childrens Hospital in St. Petersburg FL.






Now I may be able to do more projects in patterns. This is a row counter that you put around your neck to easily keep track of where you are. No more losing your notes on paper. I got this little nugget from Herrschners.

Finished with my Blankie

This is a close up of the diagonal blanket that we at LovesManyCloths just love. This is a very easy pattern. Mine is done with 4 skeins of Caron Brites Lemonaide and bordered in Caron Brites Limelight. Caron Brites has some very nice colors and I plan to make some more with it. If you use 2 skeins in the increase part and 2 skeins in the decrease part it will make, with the border, just over a 38 inch square blankie. The link for the diagonal pattern: http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8mnnp/diag.html Have fun!

Can You See The Bear?

This is a pattern that can be used for cloths as well as blankets. I am presently working on a blanket but only have 2 blocks made. I plan to put them together with white in the sc method. I like the look of a border around each block. This is a very easy and cute pattern.

Infinity Loom Blanket

This is the first blanket done on the infinity loom. I really enjoy working with the looms from CinDWood Crafts. This will be a childs blanket 48 X 60. The fun part will be taking it off the loom. I only practiced once but I think I can do it. With all this work I am sure I can. Also shown is a close up. This is the twisted stockinette stitch.