Making Progress and Something New

In my quest to become a knitter I think I'm making pretty good progress.  It's become quite addictive and I've actually had knitting dreams once or twice.  (Is that normal?)  I do find it calms my brain down which I desperately need sometimes.

I've been learning to knit ribbing and to change colors.  I really like the look of the ribbing.  I like that I still have to think knit knit, purl purl, knit knit, purl purl.  It helps with the brain chill. 

I hope to learn how to bind off today as I'm headed to my sister's house later.  (She's an excellent teacher.)  I've also ordered a book from the library that I hope to pick up today.  It's another Debbie Stoller book called The Knitter's Handbook.  I have her crochet book I talked about here.  

I've also found my other crafting has become knit/crochet related.  Carly and I had gone to this fancy knit shop a few weeks ago and they were selling "project bags".  We both had a "what a great idea" moment with those.  What with tiny hands always reaching for our current projects and all. They also make it very simple to take your project with you.  So, we made our own. 

I have two different styles here.  The one on the left has a circular bottom which makes for a happy little area for your yarn ball to bounce around while you're knitting or crocheting.  The right side has a rectangular bottom which I'm testing out to see how happily the yarn deals with that.

I will say the knitting needles rest more happily in the rectangular one. For now I have crochet in the circular one. 

Here's an interior shot.  Let me know if you're interested in a tutorial for these.  They are fairly quick and easy to make.  I plan to have a few laying around so I can keep each project separate.

In other fiber related news... I think I'm also becoming a needle felter. I had done some 2 dimensional felting on another project (I'll share later) and enjoyed it very much.  Last night I started thinking about all the cute 3D projects out there and started trying it out.

It. Was. So. Much. Fun.  I made this cute little cave and bunnies.  (which also look kinda like mice? - so maybe bun-ice?)  My sweet Piper immediately claimed them for her very own and took off.  She's played with them nearly non-stop since last night.  She even slept with them.

I see more needle felting in my future for sure.  Along with knitting.

As for what I'm reading, I'm still working on The Exiled Queen.  I haven't mastered knitting well enough to be able to read while I'm knitting.  I have been listening to audiobooks though.  Right now we're listening to Classic Fairy Stories which we all love. 

I'm yarning along again with Ginny today (and all the rest of you). I can't say enough how encouraging and wonderful everyone at the yarn along has been.

Quick Kitty Inspiration

Piper was given five sweet little stuffed kittens for Christmas.  She loves them dearly and carries (at least) one everywhere she goes.  She talks to them, pets them, has the rest of us pet and talk to them, even lets them sleep in her bed.  Basically, they are very loved little kittens.

Well, yesterday she declared that the grey kitty (who's name is apparently "Concrete" - can you tell her daddy works in construction?) needed a bed.  So, in a perfect storm and quick and crafty I made "Concrete" a bed.

I'd gotten this basket back in the summer at our local "treasure" shop for something around a dollar.  I was keeping some of my sewing supplies in it but it was the PERFECT size for the kitties.  Then we went shopping in my fabric stash.  Piper picked out this lovely tie dyed fleece. 

Then it was just a matter of loosely cutting two circles of the fleece by following the base of the basket.  Sewing those together, stuffing, and trimming up the edges with pinking shears.

With one of the scraps we even made a little kitty "toy".

I think Concrete is pretty happy with his new digs.  This entire project from the beginning spark to completion took all of about ten minutes.  How's that for instant crafty gratification??

And just because it's so cute, here's a picture of my budding photographer/blogger/princess taking pictures of our project.

Happy crafting!

Becoming a Knitter

I'm finally learning to knit!!  It's so exciting.  I've been wanting to learn for years.  I've even been carrying needles around for the last few weeks.  Then one day at my sister's house it all clicked into place.

Thank you to my 6 yr old photographer!

It's a pretty slow process, coming from crochet.  I'm sure I'll get faster with time.  I've learned to cast on and the knit stitch.  Carly (my sister) says "baby steps".  So I'll keep practicing those.

My ultimate goal (at this point anyway) is to knit my own socks.  I can't wait! 

I've also been crocheting, of course.  I don't think I'll be one of those people that totally gives up the other skill.  I've made, and am making, more of those cute cowl's I showed you in the last post.  I even made one for P.  

I'm joining in over at Small Things this week for her yarn along.  I really enjoyed it last time.  (plus it's motivating)  This week I'm reading The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima.  It's book two in the Seven Realms series.  Great series so far.  I will readily admit...I have NO desire to read any book that doesn't have castles or dragons or fairies or magic in it.  (I'm drinking out of a Harry Potter coffee mug right now for goodness sake)  I like to escape when I read.  And yes, the books I read are usually found in the teen section.  I'm okay with that. :)

If any of you knitters at the yarn along have suggestions for beginning knitters I'd love to hear them! 

Oh and I have a sewing project coming up!  One that benefits crocheters and knitters alike.  So look for that probably next week.