The Man In The Bear Suit

This is a stuffy I did for my boyfriend, based on his own drawings. This little guy shows up all over everything, especially his homework. I originally thought it was a man in a bunny hat (!) so that's why it's pink...

I was happy with the results, even though I sewed it a little off center in the end, which made the face warped. Oh well, that's how he draws it anyway...

The happy recipient!

He says he loves it.

I'll post up those pictures of his valentines day gift asap! I gave it to him and forgot to take pictures, but I have some now, so when I have another minute I'll upload and post.

My first sweater! After about a week of constant work my first sweater was born, and it's wonderful. I used Cassie Rovitti's pattern "Tubey" but then in a fit of stupidity decided to modify the pattern, (mostly because my needles weren't in pattern,) and didn't do the ribbed body, but rather a simple stockinette stitch. It is a little too small in the body, as a result. And I didn't pick up stitches very well and I completely failed at a proper bind off the first time, requiring stitch ripping and work cutting and starting it over. In the end though, it's not too bad for a first timer. It was a wonderful pattern to work with, and if I had followed like I should have, it would have been an even better sweater...




Just showing off my stripes!

Old Projects

My first two hat attempts were complete disasters. One hat is much to small to fit comfortably, (The multicolored one,) and the other hat looks a lot like you're wearing a mushroom cap perched on your head. However, one thing I am proud of is my mobius scarf. I wear it more than almost any of my other projects, and I love the way it turned out. I can't seem to find the pattern at the time, so if you recognize it, give me a holler, or I'll try and post it up when I find it later on. I made one for myself and one for my boyfriend's mother. Her's is a nice minty green color, which shows off the stitches a bit more. It's a pretty fast knit on a circular needle, and they're a joy to wear!

It's pretty hard to see, so maybe I'll take another picture sometime...

Valentines Day

A sneak peak of something I'm knitting for the love in my life:


Mysterious! Whatever could it be?


I'll post more about it later on, after my old man gets it. I've ruined too many surprises by getting excited and posting pictures before the gift is given! In other news:

I'm knitting this scarf and I think it's really ugly. I wouldn't even finish it except my best friend says he wants it... To each his own I suppose.

Dashing Experience

Brand new arm warmers! Knitted using Cheryl Niamath's pattern, Dashing . I was in love with the pattern, and interested in using some yarn a friend gave me. It was my first cable knitting experience, and it was a good one. I wear these babies everywhere since the weather has been cold, and they keep my wrists and hands nice and warm!

They've definitely captured my heart. It was a great first cabling experience! I didn't like how much they pilled up right off the bat, but I suppose it was bound to happen eventually...

I almost never take them off...

New Hat Pattern!

The Top-Down Baggy Beret

This hat was adapted from "Knit and Tonic"s Le Slouch
I adapted the already wonderful pattern because I was interested in knitting a hat from the top down. Knitting the hat from the top down insures that you can try it on as you go, and increase the rib as long as you need. I used Judy Becker's instructions on the Figure 8 Cast On to start myself off, and then I mixed a little bit of my own ideas in with the original pattern... And a hat was born!

You Will Need:
5 US #10 dpn (4 will do, but it's harder.)
1 US #10 24" circular needle
Crochet Needle

2 skeins of worsted weight yarn, any color. I used regular old Red Heart "White" and "Black", so you can substitute any worsted weight yarn you wish, in any two colors.

Pattern:
In CC (Shown in white):
Cast on 10 st using fig. 8 method
Row 1: Increase every stitch by knitting the front and back of each stitch (KF&B)
Row 2: Knit normally
Row 3: Increase every other st. using KF&B
Row 4: Knit normally
Repeat rows 1-4 once.
Row 9: Increase every 9th st. (K8, KF&B... to end)
Row 10: Knit normally (100 st. total)


K 10 rows in MC (Shown in black)
K 10 rows CC
K 10 rows MC

Row 41: In CC; K2, K2tog to end (66 st. total)
K 4 rows CC in a K1 P1 rib
K 5 rows in rib

BO using crocheted cast off, making sure to create an extra link between each BO st.

Moving Over

I've decided to open up this new account devoted to my many arts and crafts (mainly knitting.)
Most of you probably found this via my livejournal: roethkemanray
Welcome!