FO (Knitting): Toe-Up Christmas Tree Socks

When a challenge to knit a cuff-down pattern (HiyaHiya Christmas Tree Socks) came up in the HiyaHiya Patterns-KAL group I just couldn't resist. The real challenge in this was reversing the lace pattern. My first try looked like this:

I wasn't impressed. The holes were all in the right places, but the crispness of the "branches" had been lost completely. So I tried to do it differently on the second sock, and came up with this:

Now that's more like it! The branches are nicely defined - you can actually see the "trees"! I ribbed the first sock back to the end of the toe section and finished both socks with my new version of the reversed Christmas Tree pattern. I followed the heel instructions from Liat Gat's Basic Toe-Up Socks pattern, and the socks came out fitting really well.

I thoroughly enjoyed this challenge, and learned a lot from it. I think my reversed pattern looks really nice, even if it is not perfect (one of the other knitters came up with a slightly better solution using different double decreases). I think the best thing I got out of this project (apart from a beautiful pair of socks) is even more confidence to alter patterns... or even make my own sock designs... 

FO (Knitting): Caps of the Woodland Elf and her Baby

I was looking for two really quick projects for a parcel that I put together for the Fantasy Swap in the Geek and Nerd group while waiting for a last extra item to arrive when I came across two cute hat patterns - Elf Hat and Bellflower Elf Hat, both by Lusianne R.

I decided to make one of each - the lacy cap in adult size, the stockinette cap in newborn size - in matching colours (just reversing main and contrast). Since I wanted them to be woodland elf caps, I chose a lush green and a light brown with a slight green hue. 

The construction of these hats is different from what I usually do when knitting hats - making them a triangle shape cap. One of the fun features of this construction is that they kind of come with built-in ear flaps.

Both caps knit up very quickly. I guess the baby version I made will fit a newborn to maybe 3 month old baby - I don't have a newborn around, but  my daughter's doll has a head circumference of about 36 cm, and the cap fit nicely.

The adult version is more of a loose fit, which I find very appropriate for this kind of cap. I modified the pattern on the last repeat though, because I felt the hat was wide enough, but was still lacking length. So I omitted one yarnover on each of the "edge leaves", and didn't do any increases on the brim.

To be honest - I want one of those caps for myself now...

FO (Sewing): Shoulder Bag

I also wanted to make a bag for my swap partner in the Fantasy Swap, and I had come across some nice and fairly easy looking shoulder bag patterns in a magazine (Pauline in 3 Varianten - Sonderheft Patchwork Magazin Nr. 7 - Taschen selber machen). 

Most of the sewing was indeed fairly straightforward - apart from the fact that my sewing machine just doesn't seem to like working through multiple layers of fabric and fusible fleece. Oh, and I still have to work on my curved seams. 

The hardest part was turning the strap right side out... oh, did my fingers hurt... a day later it felt as if I had hit my finger with a hammer! And I will have to do it again, because I definitely want to make another bag for myself. It's just the right size to take anywhere - it's not huge, but it will hold a purse, keys,... even a small knitting project if need be. 

FO (Crochet): (Not so) Lil' Baby Unicorn

When the fantasy swap came up in the Geek & Nerd Swap Group and my partner had unicorns on her list of favourite fantasy creatures I knew immediately what I would make for her. I've had this cute Lil' Baby Unicorn pattern by Rachel Hoe in my queue for quite a while, because I wanted to make a baby unicorn for my daughter. I think I will have to make another one for her as a present for her upcoming birthday. These unicorns are just so darn cute!

The pattern calls for 8-ply yarn and a 3 mm hook (5 mm for the mane and tail). I used 10-ply cotton and went up to 4 mm and 6 mm hooks - resulting in an actually Not So Lil' Baby Unicorn. Forgot to take measurements before I sent it off, though.

As it always is with Amigurumi, the individual body parts worked up really quick... but when it comes to sewing those parts together I slow down... because (as you might know by now) that is the part that I still don't like a bit. The thing that always keeps me going is knowing that it will be worth every single bleeding finger...

... and it was!

FO (Knitting): Green Monkey Socks

My green Monkey Socks are finally done! Finished them about a week ago, but just haven't gotten around to share a picture here - little one keeping me busy during the day, working on my WIPs in the evening... I sometimes wish there were more than 24 hours in a day.

I absolutely enjoyed making these socks. As I've mentioned before, the lace pattern was pretty easy to remember - perfect for knitting while watching soccer on TV (I didn't plan this, but - yes - I am following the world cup). Oh, and I so hope the yarn (Lana Grossa Meilenweit Cotton Stretch) will prove to be hard-wearing enough for everyday socks - I just love the feel and look of it!