Waterbottle Koozie

Waterbottle Koozie, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Made for Aunt Jessie- my sister-in-law- who is pregnant and needs to drink a lot of water.

Lizzy's Space Heater Companions

Lizzy's Space Heater Companions, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

What I gave my sister for Christmas. They look great.

Gray Mouse Dress

Gray Mouse Dress, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

I sewed this felt mouse onto a Target holiday dress for my own Gray Mouse.

Korknisse with Holiday Pagoda

Korknisse with Holiday Pagoda, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

What I did this weekend while I was avoiding the sleeves of my February Lady Sweater.

Ridiculously Easy Mary Janes

Ridiculously Easy Mary Janes, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Ridiculously Easy Mary Janes

R.E. MJs 2, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Love 'em. This is the best pattern ever for a beginning knitter.
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=12662.msg99925

Oswald and Weenie

Oswald and Weenie, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

I'm working on Christmas stuff now, so I can't post photos of a lot of things I'm knitting. But I made this for Ivy several weeks ago.

Super Quick Baby Bonnet

Super Quick Baby Bonnet, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Because every newborn needs a handknit, and even when I say I'm not knitting for someone's baby, I just can't let it go. This bonnet is the most gorgeous green ever, but you can't tell because I'm a shitty photographer and have an even shittier camera (i.e., lens cover doesn't even open all the way in one corner).

February Lady Sweater- 10/13

February Lady Sweater- 10/13, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Using berroco ultra alpaca.

Something Good Just Got Even Better

Even Better, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

I scrapped the squirrel idea, as the longer I waited, the more I wanted a knit applique. I whipped these up out of some shiny cotton on my Sunday afternoon at Gauge yesterday and sewed them on last night.

Little Sister's Dress

Little Sister's Dress, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Waiting for embroidered detail- likely a gray squirrel. It is for Ivy. There are no little sisters on the way.

Cabeled Coffee Koozie

Cabeled Coffee Koozie, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Gonna use that kool aid yarn to make more of these as Christmas gifts. Sorry to spoil the surprise.

Done at last!

Done at last!, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

After trying a few different white borders at the sock & not liking them, I got the expert opinion from Gauge owner Allison that they look great the way they are. I finally weaved in the ends, and pronounce these finished. One of them is still too wide, though.

Jo Mama's Socks- completed

Jo Mama's Socks- completed, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Kool Aid Dyeing

Ice Blue Raspberry Yarn, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Ivy K. loved helping me dye yarn. She keeps asking to do it again.

Lemon Lime Kool Aid Yarn

Lemon Lime Kool Aid Yarn, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

The Curse of the JoJoland Socks

Did I have to rip out the first foot because I made the heel-flap too big, creating a sock wide enough for Hagrid? Yes. Did I re-knit that foot and get it right? Yes. Did I do the exact same thing as I knit the other sock? Yes. ("Did you use the same needles?" my husband asked. No. But they were the same size!) Did the second sock also come out wide enough for both of my feet? Almost. Did I fail to notice this until I was two rows away from sewing the seam at the toe? Yes. So, my friends, did I have to rip out the foot of the second sock and begin to re-knit it? Yes. After Karli's help determining that my husband was correct- using a different set of double-pointed needles from the first sock resulted in my knitting slightly more loosely, which added up to a wider sock. Arrrrrrrrghhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! Did I cry? No. Did I throw the sock in the trash can on top of eggshells and coffee grounds? No. I sucked it up. I chose to embrace knitting as a discipline. I chose to humbly learn my lesson and resume my daily work. Did I lose one of my needles last night while I was humbly doing this work? Yes. Do I have a replacement? No. See what I mean about the curse?

So this is what I made this week, when I was not so inspired to finish that f-ing sock.

Ruby's Chocolate Cookies

Ruby's Chocolate Cookies, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Ivy asked me to knit her some chocolate cookies, so I whipped up this batch last night and this afternoon. So easy and fun!!!!

While I wasn't knitting my socks

Noro shrug, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

I made this last week. LOVE it! I have never worn a shrug in my life, and this is really like a short top, but it's so nice.

Here's something else new

I am very excited that this arrived in my mailbox a couple of days ago. It's a beautiful needle felting kit I bought on Etsy from Green Mountain Wee Woolies (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=11818). I can't wait to figure out how to make cute little embellishments for my knits!

Riiiiip

Um, you know that picture of the sock with the foot part well on it's way? That had to go. It was enormous. I learned the hard way that there's a reason that you only knit a heel flap until it's square. I did this ripping at the end of my afternoon at Gauge on Sunday, with the support and encouragement of all my knitting ladies. It hurt. So much that I had to hide the socks from my sight and cast on some quick therapy in the form of Noro Silk Garden. It's going to be a shrug.

JoMama's socks

JoMama's socks, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

I've become more focused on knitting these JoJoland Melody socks that I started months ago. I finally finished the leg parts, so I got more interested. I plan to knit a cream border for the top of the socks as well.

Foot close-up

Foot close-up, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Heel flap

Heel flap, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Pizza

Pizza, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

These represent just a couple of hours of knitting. Super duper easy. Ivy loves it.

What's New in My Knitting World (aka, my regular world)

Monster Pants, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

I'm starting to notice that the knitting is really taking over. My hand-knits are overrunning the house. There's at least one something visible in every room. They are also being gifted like a mo'.

Here are some Faux Crankypants. I would have happily paid for the pattern, but it's not available, forcing me to rip off others' fantastic ideas. These are for my friend Erin's little newcomer, set to arrive in the next few weeks. They can be wool longies or just pants.

From This to This

Posh Deluxe-cakes

Posh Deluxe-cakes, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

A custom creation for Sara, who loves cupcakes.
poshdeluxe.com/

More cupcakes

More cupcakes, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Just realized I never blogged these.

Rusted Root continues

Coming along, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

I'm making good progress on this and decided to try it on this afternoon to make sure it fit over my largest parts. Seems fine in that area, but the arms are too small. I think I'll have to do some finagling there at the end before I do the ribbed border.

For any random person who reads this blog and isn't on ravelry, the finished product should look like this:
http://www.zephyrstyle.com/catalog/item.cfm/2367447/3289215#image_1

Another cupcake

World's Best Cupcake, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Seriously, I've gotta stop with the cupcakes. But kids just keep having birthdays.

Rusted Root

Rusted Root, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

My first sweater/shirt that is not for a baby. I'm only knitting for myself these days, except for the cupcakes. This is from zephyr. It's a really popular pattern, and I think it will turn out really well.

Jojoland sock

Jojoland sock, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

This yarn is gorgeous but splitty. The first pair of socks I knit were with sportweight. This is real sock yarn, and is so slow going!

Worldwide Knit in Public Day 2008

WWKIP Day more, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

I think a lot of people were smart enough to stay out of the heat. I'm sad to be missing the after party at Gauge, but Ivy needs me for nap.

Tada!!!!

Tada!!!!, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

All done. I may not be able to construct an Iron Man suit, but I can make a pair of socks out of a ball of wool and four tiny sticks. And that feels really, really good. Maybe that's because I live in Texas, where no one really needs scarves and hats and mittens. But everyone needs socks.

One sock Done

One sock, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Finished Saturday morning. Next time I'm going to knit both of my socks at the same time using a separate set of needles. I already have my eye on some sock yarn for my next pair...

Instep gusset done

Instep gusset done, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

5-15. Instep gusset done. Just need to finish knitting the foot and do the toe. I already know how to graft, and my feet are small, so I think this should be done in the next day or so.

Heel flap done!

Heel flap done!, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

I started this sock last week. Before I got very far, Bun and I almost got killed by an 18 wheeler, and I didn't knit much for a few days. The first sock photo is from Sat. 5-10. The heel flap took awhile because I got all fancy with the stitch pattern and had to rip back a few times. This photo is from Monday 5-12.

Making my first sock

Ready to turn the heel, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

I'm using some self-striping yarn I bought on sale for $3 about a year ago. Making socks is so fun!

Little Bunny TuTu Dance Troupe

Dance Troupe, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

I knit four of these as favors for Ivy's birthday party. They are insanely cute and real angora.

Pattern from: http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2008/02/bunny-egg-cozy.html

Each bunny was about 30 minutes of knitting. It's a pain to embroider on angora. I glued them to plastic Easter eggs, then added the tutus and ribbon. Voila! Dolls.

Bunny Tutu #1

Bunny Tutu #1, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Here's my first tutu. It's cute in the back but I couldn't get a good photo. It ties with a pink carrot ribbon.

Woodins unfinished

Woodins unfinished, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

This is a work in progress that I was trying to get done for Ivy for Easter. The log that goes with it is big and knit worsted, which means I'm probably not going to get finished by the weekend. I'm trying to get all the Little Bunny Tutu crafts for Ivy's birthday party done this week so next week I can just clean my house. Anyways, this is going to be this:

http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall07/PATTwoodins.html

Cupcakes

Cupcakes, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

I knit these several weeks ago and just got around to photographing them. In true me fashion, I knit another one and gave it away before I got a picture of it. I want to make lots more of the vanilla confetti one, but I used up all that yarn. It was stashed back from one of my first projects, a scarf for Lizzy.

Set for Jenna's Son

Set for Jenna's Son, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Shirt was left over from my fall crafting for Attached at the Hip. I started knitting a different hat for her using stash yarn from Lara's baby pants, but it didn't look good, so I snatched some Caron Simply Soft at JoAnn's on Friday afternoon and had this ready by the shower on Sat. at 2. Thanks, Leanna, for driving so I could finish it in the car!

Lizzy's Earwarmer

Lizzy's Earwarmer, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Whipped this puppy up for her birthday one afternoon last week using some stashed Lamb's Pride Bulky and a photo of something she liked on Urban Outfitters.

5 Hour Baby Sweater

5 Hour Baby Sweater, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

More like 10 hours. I swear, this has to be the worst written free pattern ever.

Baby Doll

Baby Doll, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Baby Doll models my latest creation. I hope Baby Sydney's head is bigger than hers.

Hearts Hat

Hearts Hat, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Blurry no flash photo of Hearts Hat for Baby Sydney. I knit an embossed heart border around the base of the hat using a pattern from Nicky Epstein's Knitting on the Edge, but this yarn was so chunky and irregular that you couldn't see the hearts. Therefore I had to break out the trusty old felt. I also knit an i-cord, shaped it into a heart, and sewed it on the top. It turned out cute, and ended up being a completely original creation. Pretty neat!

Sydney Set

Sydney Set, originally uploaded by Ladymama.

Too bad this baby won't be born by Valentine's Day! Baby legwarmers and impromptu matching hat knit on 9s and 10s using Crystal Palace Puffin, which is fleece. I really prefer natural fibers and didn't think I would like this yarn, but I ended up loving it! It's so soft!!!