Sunday, January 31, 2016

Knitting Hats, Fingerless Gloves and a Monkey!

To finish out the theme of the Christmas knitting, here are a few more projects that I made. This hat and fingerless gloves set were for Claire. She loves, no LOVES, astronomy and I have been on the look out for something to make, or even buy, for her having to do with astronomy.
 
When I decided to make the hat sets for Christmas, I went to JoAnn's to purchase the yarn. To my surprise I found this yarn! It is Woolease Thick and Quick and its color name is Constellation! Those little specks are a silver thread, making the hat look like a starry sky.  The pattern is named Avery and on Ravelry, here's the link.
 
Here are her handwarmers. I used my pattern Topless Mitts for these. I did use a size smaller needle for hers. I like them better on the smaller needle.


Here is the picture of Rebekah's hat. I did finish it, even though this picture doesn't show it finished. (I forgot to get a finished picture...) I loved making this hat, with the leaves on it. It is worked in the round, which yes, that means I purled the whole thing. I couldn't believe I did that, but I wanted so much to make this hat for her. She likes gardening and working in her yard. The pattern name is Seedling.

 
I wanted to make coordinating hand warmers.  So I used my Peek-A-Boo hand warmer pattern and left off the lace and then put the leaf pattern on it. To my surprise, it worked! The second hand warmer has only one leaf.

 
This is my newest project for me. I finally made myself a Jacobus Sock Monkey Doll.
 
I kept thinking about the movie character Gracie Lou Freebush, from Miss Congeniality, played by Sandra Bullock. How she was a rough and tumble gal, who dressed up and became a beauty queen. I knew my sock monkey was going to do the same thing. Sooooo,
 
Meet Miss Gracie!
 
I designed her clothing myself. There isn't a pattern for them. The designer of the doll, had patterns for clothing and the dress is similar, but hers was made from fingering/sock weight yarn and knit sideways. I wanted to use up stash yarn and what I had to use was a worsted weight yarn.


                        She has a pretty hat, with crocheted flowers and a ribbon down the back.
 
 
And she has bloomers with lace on them.

 
 
Now she has a knitting bag!! One of my friends, Sharon, said she needed a knitting bag and made one for her. Yes, it has yarn in it. :)
 
As part of my birthday, the UPS Store guy had bought tickets for us to go see Garrison Keillor! Such a treat!!!! We have been listening to his radio show, off and on, since we lived in Minnesota in the late 1970's! So, we drove over to Richardson, TX, (where we used to live) and went to the Eisemann Center to spend the evening with a great story teller.


The theatre was packed and he talked, and sang, for the better part of 2 hours. It was a wonderful time and I am so sorry that he is retiring.  I will miss hearing his stories.  I have enjoyed listening to him and am glad that I could go see him before he is retired!