Where Did BrownieKnits Go?

So, if anybody is still reading this blog, you might have noticed that I didn't post for about six weeks. Wonder where I was? Well, I just updated my Recently Completed Projects list for November and December. It was a busy Holiday Knitting Season. Combined with the Custom Stitches KAL at the store, I was really busy. Not to mention that little thing called my day job! Here are pictures and a few details about the projects that I completed.

Katie opening her Lucy Bag on Christmas morning.
Pattern: Lucy Bag
Yarn: Universal Worsted Wool (3 skeins)
Needles: 11
Here is Katie's Lucy Bag prior to felting.

Meg and Pete opening their blanket on Christmas morning.
Pattern: Plymouth's 8 hour afghan book
Yarn: 10 skeins of Encore (hold double)
Needles: 13

Hard to see, but this is a dog toy I knitted for the my little girl. She carries her toys around in her mouth as a comfort. I made her a pink and green bone out of a sturdy nylon in green and pink. (I-cord braided together.) The big boy got homemade dog treats as he doesn't typically care about anything but food. Well, I guess I was wrong!!!! A tug of war occurred over the knitted toy. I'll have to make up a bunch more of these. It is holding up better than any store bought dog toy I've found and it was pennies to make!!!!!

Spidey hit our Christmas!!!! Here is Aidan in his Spiderman hat/mask and he tackled his dad with the Spiderman crocheted afghan!
Patterns: Knitty.com Jeckyl & Hyde hat/mask and Spiderman crochet afghan (online)
Yarn: Encore Worsted
Needles: 7 for hat and H for afghan

My February Ladies Sweater!
We got in a shipment of Karabella Aurora 8 and I had to make some garments out of it!!!!
Pattern: February Ladies Sweater (free online)
Yarn: Said Aurora 8
Needles: 7

The Custom Stitches KAL has been so much fun. I made this sweater first and love it!
Pattern: Ingenue from Custom Knits
Yarn: Plymouth Mainland
Needles: 6

Also from the KAL...
Pattern: Tuxedo Vest from Custom Knits
Yarn: Wool Bam Boo
Needles: 5

Love this pattern!!!!!
Pattern: Swirls Crochet Hat (free online)
Hook: G
Yarn: Aurora 8

Sweater for Kennedy
Pattern: Piccolo Sweater from Doggie Knits by Corinne Neissner
Yarn: Cascade 220

Believe it or not, that is just a portion of what I made. I foolishly sent out several Christmas gifts without taking pictures of them. I made my Dad a Steelers hat and my brother a Duke hat. I used a free simple hat pattern with a rib that flips up and then stockinette around the head. I ordered decals for Steelers and Duke online and then attached them to the rib portion of the hat. I also made a Lucy bag for my mom that turned out really well. I did a brown bag with a teal stripe in the middle of the bag.

I hope that you too have had a productive knitting season. Now I'm on to finish a dog sweater for a friend, knit myself a vest, and knit on my projects for teaching. Oh yeah, and maybe a to be announced new KAL!!!!!

Needle: 7

Stash!!!!!

I have to start this post by sending out a HUGE thanks to my ever so patient husband. He calmly helped me for three days--yes, three days--enter my yarns, books, magazines, needles, and hooks into Ravelry. What a HUGE job. I took pictures of all the yarn and put all the yarn amounts and details into the database. It created a massive organization of the yarn room too. It looks great and I know exactly what yarn I have. If you are on Ravelry, check it out in my notebook. I learned a great deal about using the database, so if you get motivated and need help, feel free to ping me.

This was one of my 2008 New Year's Resolutions. I made it...just under the wire!!!!

My help during the long organization.

Addicted to Stitch Markers

I must confess that I've become a stitch marker addict. I love them. I love to find really cute ones and match them to my projects. Dorky? Yes. I admit it. My wonderful Santa brought me some sushi ones and a big sweater one in my stocking/gifts this year. Aren't they cute?

The sushi markers were purchased on Etsy.com, which is the best resource for markers that I have found. The big sweater was purchased at Wool & Company in Geneva, Illinois. This is a fantastic shop if you are ever in the area.

Anybody else addicted to these little buggers? I'm trying to think of a cute way to display them in my yarn room so that I can enjoy them even when I don't have them on my knitting. I'm not a fan of clutter, so I need an organized and clean way to display them. Hmmmm....