Mr. Bolz's Christmas Hat

Pattern:

Cabled Dad Hat

Alexis Winslow

Yarn:

Knit Picks Swish Worsted

Lost Lake Heather

After I had finished this hat and started on Mrs. Bolz's Ahull, a pen exploded in my purse and totally wrecked it. I had to start all over and it totally threw off my Christmas knitting schedule. I had plenty of time to get everything finished early, but I ended up having to finish this at the last minute while I was on the train to Algonquin. 

Despite it being a total pain in the neck, I really like the finished hat. This color is crazy gorgeous. I love the flecks of bright blue mingled with the Browns and greens. It's really interesting looking and a really rusticly elegant finished project. 

Cutting the timing close!!! Knitting on the Metra!

Gorgeous color

Really like the subtle cable

Mrs. Bolz's Christmas Hat

Pattern:
Sweet William
Alicia Plummer

Yarn:
Knit Picks Swish DK
Squirrel Heather

I have loved this pattern for a long time but have never bought it. When I decided to make John's parents hats for Christmas I figured this was a good time to buy a pattern I wanted for myself. The subtle stitch texture is super pretty and easy. I love the finished hat, despite the fact that a pen exploded in my purse and I had to redo the hat because it had been covered in ink splotches.

I already bought some close out yarn on Webs to make my own!!

Really interesting stitch texture

Love this

Dillon's Blanket

Pattern:
Arboria
Ash Kearns

Yarn:
Berocco Comfort
White

Man. This blanket is gorgeous and I love it, but it was a pretty tedious knit. It wasn't difficult to follow the charts, but it was a pain to carry it around and manage the bulk while working. Next time I make a blanket, I'm definitely not going to make one with finishing pieces because mustering the energy after working for so long was hard.

The yarn was perfect for the project though. It pops well and washes really well. At one point, I spilled Chicken Parmesan on  it but it all washed out. I dont know about the white, but it looks very pretty, especially after being washed. I like the finished product and I feel like it was a successful first blanket.

The shape got a little wonky, but it's not super obvious

Really pretty pattern

It looks much prettier now that I have been able to step back from it for a few weeks

My Very Own Toorie!

Pattern:

Toorie

Carina Spencer

Yarn:
Lace Merino Worsted
Purples

So after making Courtney's Toorie and thinking it was way cuter than I expected, I decided to make my own! I randomly bought this yarn in the clearance section because all of the clearance yarn was 50% off. I picked it up because I loved the original Lace Merino, and the color seemed okay. I figured I'd find a hat pattern eventually to make with it. The Toorie hat seemed like a good pattern to experiment with. I ended up absolutely LOVING the yarn color. It was so much prettier made up in the project than it was in the skein. All of the colors remind me of a vineyard. Like, grapes and wine and such. All the things. I love the hat, and the bow was a fun way to embellish it without it being gaudy.

I love the hat, and I wish I could buy more of this color so that I could make a set of gloves to match. I am thinking of going back to the yarn shop and seeing if there is any left. Probably not though. Oh well. At least I have this lovely hat!!!

Also, I started this hat in the morning while at work, and I managed to make the whole thing in one day! I'm super proud of my one day project. I completed it even though I didn't have a third needle to do the casing finishing. I totally did it with a pen though!

Hooray for the third needle!

Adorbs bow

Loving the colors!

Mom's Rock Island

Pattern:
Rock Island
Jared Flood

Yarn:
Maharashtra Silk
3 Burgundy Purple

My mom picked out this pattern and yarn. It's a lace shawl I have always had my eye on, but never bought because I was worried about how the rock island lace would look after looking it's blocked structure. My local yarn shop had it worked up, and it looked really pretty even though it was really soft and drapey. My mom loved the way it looked and also loved the colors of the silk. The owner of the shop suggested it because the silk wouldn't be heavy or stifling for my mom. I hope she likes it and I can't wait to send it to her!

I might make the pattern again. It looks really pretty. The lace itself was a little boring, but it worked up super quickly and looks really cool and different.

Really big!

Love the Rock Island Lace 

Cute edging

Love the airiness

Courtney's Toorie

Pattern:

Toorie

Carina Spencer

Yarn:

Classic Wool

Dark Grey Mix

My friend Courtney at work is amazing at making seasonal wreaths. We decided that we'd do a crafting swap. I'd make her a hat, and she'd make me a fall wreath! She has the most glamorous 40s style, so I knew that we needed to pick out a cool, vintage looking hat for her. She loved this hat, and while it didn't seem like it would be my style, I knew she'd be able to pull it off. 

The yarn was a bit tricky because the pattern called for DK or Bulky, because this was a Worsted, I tried to knit it as tightly as possible, but it came out a little bigger than anticipated. When I tried it on however, it looked super cute! I now think that I may need one of these for myself... It's really comfy and feels secure on my head. I like that it's also an unusually shaped hat, without being dumb looking.

So cute!

Love the shape

Rachael's Hazel

Pattern:

Hazel the Humpback Whale

Bec Brittain

Yarn:

Vanna's Choice

Purple

Silver Heather

When Rachael's first niece was born, I offered to knit her a stuffed animal. The nursery is nautical themed, and I was super excited because I have always wanted to make this pattern, but never really had a reason to. This was the perfect time! I should have looked more carefully at the projects on Ravelry though, because Hazel is HUGE. I don't think I would have chosen the Vanna's Choice since it's an Aran weight. A DK would have been much more manageable. However Hazel came out stunning and was totally worth all of the sweat and achy joints.

MASSIVE

So scary!!!

Snowdrift Cowl

Pattern:
Snowdrift Infinity Scarf
Kalurah

Yarn:
Boutique Unforgettable
Tidal

I found this yarn at Michaels, and I usually don't like to buy acrylic yarn, but the colors are so gorgeous, that I went for it anyways. They are just so beautiful blended together. I originally planned on making the Grandes Etudes cowl out of it, but it just didn't work very well with the acrylic and the variegation. The boutique however, was perfect. I feel like it created a really soft and fluffy fabric, that will be great for days when I don't need a lot of warmth, just snuggling. The variegation also looks great with the woven stitch texture. It was also a super easy pattern that was great for working on during my downtime at work and in the car.

Good snuggly length

Pretty colors!

Skiff Hat

Pattern:
Skiff
Jared Flood

Yarn:
Cashmere Merino Silk DK
217 Plum

As soon as I saw this pattern, I bought it immediately. I absolutely love Jared Flood's cabled hats. They are always so gorgeous and have the best fit. I want to make twelve of these hats. The way he's able to bring the cables together at the crown is so gorgeous. This yarn was perfect for the pattern. It's crazy warm and soft, plus all of the plies mean the cables really pop without being obnoxious. I love love love the hat and I suspect I'll make another one.

Love the brim

Such pretty cables

Katie's Submarine

Pattern:
Crochet Submarine
Emily Premise-Conclusion

Yarn:
Cascade 220
4147 Lemon Yellow
8895 Christmas Red
Caron Simply Soft
White

A coworker at the museum found this pattern and asked me to make it for her friend. It's so adorable and it was a relatively easy project. It reminded me how much I hate crocheting though. Ugh. It makes my hands ache and it usually involves more sewing and constructing. Overall, it looks decent, to my eye, it's a bit sloppy, but I might be skewed because I was really procrastinating on finishing it. Hopefully Katie and Jenn like it! We'll see!

Crush Depth: 650 ft below surface

Ashburn Scarf

Pattern:
Ashburn
Melanie Berg

Yarn:
Araucania Huasco
107 Deep Periwinkle
Ella Rae Lace Merino
130 Multy
Madelinetosh Merino Light
Curiosity

The Madelinetosh Merino Light yarn was given to me by Barb, and I absolutely fell in love with it. It's my favorite shade of purple and I just can't get over how pretty it is. With only 400 yards or so, I was having trouble finding a pattern that could do the yarn justice. I came across the pattern, Cameo and I figured that I could buy a second skein of yarn and make something really pretty and graphic. However, once I got to the yarn shop, I found the Huasco and Lace Merino yarns, and I decided to splurge and get all three. This pattern really caught my eye when I first saw it because I loved all of the daring color combinations. I also really liked how the three colors subtly integrated together and stood out from each other.

The combination of the yarn and pattern made for a wonderful project. It was super tedious to make, but I love wearing it and it's crazy snuggly. It's much larger than I anticipated, but I love everything about it.

Of the three yarns, the Huasco is my favorite as far as texture and drape go. I'd love to work with it again, and the colors my yarn shop had were so crazy gorgeous, I'm sure I'll be buying more.

It's huuuuuuuuuge!!!

Love the Huasco and Lace Merino

All three blend and contrast so well

The Lace Merino and Merino Light are so gorgeous

Thinking of Waves Shawl

Pattern:
Thinking of Waves
yellowcosmo

Yarn:
Madelinetosh Merino Light
Dusk
Mansfield Garden Party

This yarn was given to me by my coworker Barb. I really like how the Dusk color looks exactly like sand. The Mansfield Garden Party is such an intense and joyful color that I think it works as an ocean color in an odd way. I love how the two unexpectedly work together really well.

The edges of this ended up being really tight, and I was not super happy with it at first, but I absolutely love wearing it, and the edges give it an awesome fluffy feel while I'm wearing it. I absolutely love it and I wear it all the time. It's like a delightful neck hug.

I would love to do this pattern again with a totally different type of yarn. Maybe something really slinky like the sugar cane yarn. It's the perfect size to wrap around my neck.

The colors mixed really well

So cuddly!!!

Wild Shawlette

Pattern:
Wild
Hiroko Payne

Yarn:
Pagewood Farm Glacier Bay
Lime

This yarn was given to my by my friend at work who used to work at a yarn shop. It is some of the most gorgeous yarn I have ever worked with and I adore it. This pattern looks a lot like the project I just completed. I love the "Bleeding Heart" lace pattern and I think it looks really interesting in this shawlette. The "Waterlily" is also very pretty, and I'd like to use it on something else. Maybe a slouchy hat, Tears of Bronze style.

The finished project is lovely and I'm very pleased with it. It was a super quick and relaxing knit and I'm excited to give it to Barb.

Waterlily Pattern

Unusual Shape

Bleeding Heart Pattern

Helpful Cat

Apis Dorsata Shawl

Pattern:
Apis Dorsata
Anna Sudo


Yarn:
Araucania Ruca Multi


I have loved this pattern since I found it. The cleverness and subtly of the honeycomb is really beautiful to me. I have been waiting to find the perfect yarn that seemed to pair well with it. After going on a homesick yarn shop spree, I bought three skeins of the Ruca because it is probably my favorite yarn of all time. It just has the best feel and I love the color variegation. The combination of the yarn and the pattern created a wonderful project. I love it a ton and I can't wait to wear it. It seems like a really good snuggly spring shawl.

Lovely colors

Honeycomb!!!

Pressed Leaves Hat

Pattern:
Pressed Leaves
Alana Dakos

Yarn:
Silky Wool
Prussian Blue

I originally bought this yarn for Dillon's DNA hat, because I really wanted something that was a darker navy blue. This was the only thing I could find in the right color, but I didn't like that it was DK. I bought it anyway, and what do you know, his hat wasn't turning out the way I wanted it to. So we went to another yarn shop and he picked out the Ultra Alpaca.

I was left with lots of Silky Wool, and ended up buying the Botanical Knits book because I loved this hat so much and a set of gloves. I intend to make the gloves and two other hats as well. This hat was crazy easy to make and I made it in two knits. The size is perfect and I love how it looks and feels. The yarn also has a very soft and rustic look. I love it a ton and I can't wait to make other things out of it.

So pretty!

Love the twisted stitches

Dillon's DNA Hat

Pattern:
Rosalind
Emilie (Me)

Yarn:
Ultra Alpaca Tonal (Discontinued)
6345

For his graduation, I wanted to make Dillon a hat with thermal texture. I also wanted to put on large central cable on it so that it would be interesting without being cluttered. I love this DNA cable and I feel that it is perfect for him since he's graduating with his biology degree. I just hope it fits!!!

Dillon's hat!

Oooh dat double helix!

Sandra's Shawl

Pattern:
Sandra's Shawl
Sandra Alice

Yarn:
Mulberry Queen Silk Yarn
Caribbean Sea

As soon as I saw this pattern, I knew that it was the lace shawl I had been wanting to knit. I love the main leaf motif and the nupp edges. It's such a pretty shawl. The yarn is also absolutely perfect. It has such gorgeous color variations and drape. I also love how smooth and shiny the texture is. I would work with it again in a heartbeat.

I intended to make the medium size, but I ran out of yarn just as I got to the edging. It was so frustrating that I almost cried. With 800 yards of yarn, I should have been able to make it, but Sandra's yardage is way off. I ripped out the entire project and made it again in the small size. I would have preferred the larger size, but at the time, the yarn manufacturer was totally out and I wasn't sure if they would make more.

I am eager to buy more of this yarn and make many more projects with it!

Gorgeous shape

Love the nupps

Surprisingly easy pattern!

Axel's Crab

Pattern:
Amigurumi Crab
Eden Dintsinkos

Yarn:
Classic Wool
Bright Red

After seeing the cute bee I made for Rachel, Axel requested that I make a crab for him! The crab didn't turn out as small as I hoped, but it's still pretty adorable!

It wasn't as labor intensive as I anticipated. I was not looking forward to all of the sewing, but it wasn't hard at all. Really relaxing! I am enjoying making these fun little projects that only take a night.

Much better than the other kind of crabs!

Rachel's Bee

Pattern:
Bumble Bee Buddy
ChemKnits

Yarn:
Cascade 220
Lemon Yellow
Black
Superwash Merino Cashmere
Cream

This little bee was a present for my coworker who absolutely loves bees. She has some gorgeous tattoos of bees and a really pretty amber bee pin for her labcoat. The bee was super duper cute and fun to knit. I have been thinking of making a summer mobile for my room, and I'd probably put one or two of these on it!

She currently has her bee pinned to her labcoat and it makes me smile whenever I see it!

Buzz!!!

Felicia's Baby Set

Patterns:
"Spring" Baby Headband Variation
Amy Andersen

Baby Booties
Carole Barenys

Yarn:
Vanna's Glamour
100

My coworker is very close to having a baby, and she sent me a picture of the dress her baby girl is going to wear home from the hospital. She asked if I could make a headband with a bow on it to match...wait for it... a Cinderella dress. It's such a beautiful and cute dress, I was really excited to see what patterns I could find to match.

The headband is a similar style to the pattern, I just cast on more stitches to match my sport weight gauge. The yarn is such a pretty and sparkly white that I felt that little Cinderella should also have some glass like slippers. The booties were a bit odd, but they were easy, so I made a pair. They looked a little on the big size, but I don't know how big newborn feet are. The nice thing about babies is that at some point, the little boo will fit into them!

Blue Cinderella Bow

So wee!

Hatching Turtle

Pattern:
Egg to Turtle
Susan B. Anderson

Yarn:
Purple-
Lana D'Oro
Lavendar Water
Mystic Purple
Ultra Alpaca
Lavender Mix

Green-

Nature Wool (discontinued)

Celery
Cascade 220
Shire

Like the Cabled Teddy Hat, when I saw this pattern, I knew immediately that I needed to make it. I am completely in love with the little turtle and I consider it "The Most Important Thing I Have Knit". It's so fun and lovable. I just can't handle the cuteness. It was so quick and easy, I can make one in about three hours. LOVE IT.

My coworker loved it too, so I made him a green version!

Step One:
EGG

Step Two:
???

Step Three:
PROFIT