Pixie Bonnets for Kayla and Jocelyn

Another call for Pixie Bonnets!

My friend, Colleen, saw the pixie bonnets and wanted some for her girls, but they aren't infants any more and my pattern is only for infants. The pattern was easy to expand and these are the three products of my experimentation.

Kayla

Jocelyn

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Round four (I think) of the beloved Pixie Bonnet.

The bright pink, white and green bonnet was made from remnant yarn. It's the smaller of the three and I followed the pattern directions, but I increased the cast on to 66. It's decorated with a bright apple green ribbon woven around the back side of the bonnet, with a white button strung through the ribbon.

The grey bonnet was made using Loops & Threads Impeccable in True Gray. It's the medium sized hat and I altered the pattern by casting on 70. I crocheted a pink butterfly from one of the many patters on Crochet Pattern Central and added in a dark gray line of yarn for the body and antenna.

The pink, brown and cream bonnet was made using Loops & Threads Impeccable worsted in Neopolitan Ombre. It's the largest bonnet and I cast on 74. It's decorated with a cream braid that I sewed on to the crown of the bonnet and little, fuzzy pink flowers that I made up just goofing around and embellished with pink beads.

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The success of these bonnets is due to the adorable little heads they top. It doesn't get any cuter than Jocelyn and Kayla. Just look at the lovely faces I get to knit for.

Sisters at Play

*Thanks to Krisie, James and Kendra. Your generosity helped buy materials that made these gifts. :)

Fingerless Gloves for Kayla

I found the pattern for these Fingerless Gloves from a link on Knitting Pattern Central.

Using 3.25mm double pointed needles, I made these gloves using Premier Yarns Serenity Sock Weight in Amethyst.

I like this pattern for using sock weight yarn for something other than socks. However, the thinner the yarn, the more knits it takes to cover the same space. This was my first venture with a thumb hole and I'm happy to say that it went pretty well.

Kayla and Brisbie

*Thanks to Krisie, James and Kendra. Your generosity bought the yarn that made this gift. :)

Wristie/Coffe Cup Sleeve

From your wrist, to your coffee cup! No more wasting resources on a coffee sleeve with every cup.

All wristies were knit using size 8 needles and worsted weight yarn.

Skull for Liz

Skull Sleeve

Worked with:
Size 8 needles
Patons Classic Wool in Mercury (main color)
Premier Dream in Cream

I'm not sure why, but when I wrote this pattern, I worked the skull from the top down.

CO 33
Row 1 - rib stitch 1x1
Row 2 - rib stitch 1x1
Row 3 - k all
Row 4 - p all
Row 5 - k14, k5 in white, k14
Row 6 - p13, p7 in white, p13
Row 7 - k13, k7 in white, k13
Row 8 - p13, p1 white, p2, p1 white, p2, p1 white, p13
Row 9 - k13, k1 white, k2, k1 white, k2, k1 white, k13
Row 10 - p14, p2 white, p1, p2 white, p14
Row 11 - k15, k3 white, k15
Row 12 - p14, p1 white, p3, p1 white, p14
Row 13 - k15, k3 white, k1
Row 14 - p all
Row 15 - k all
Row 16 - rib stitch 1x1
Row 17 - rib stitch 1x1

Monkey set for Sara

(Can't find where I wrote the other patterns down. To be continued...)

Fish Hat for the Dodge boys

I found this adorable Fish Hat at Knitty.com via Allcrafts.net.

I used Lily Sugar 'n Cream cotton worsted weight yarn. The body is from a giant mixed ball that I don't know the name of and the accent colors are Hot Blue, White, and Mod Green.

I had a bit of trouble with the tail, so I'm not super thrilled with how it turned out. I read and reread the instructions, but I couldn't really suss out the where and how. I decided to just go ahead with it and mess with it when it was done. The end result? Well, it's done! :)

Ethan

Britton

For some reason the kids didn't want to wear it as a hat or just pulled down over their faces.
They wanted to be completely consumed by the fish hat.

Even dads like fish hats. :)

Another Pixie Bonnet

This Pixie Bonnet pattern from Allcrafts.net has become one of my favorites to knit. It works up really quickly and the way the top comes to a peak is just adorable.

I made this one from a fuzzy, light blue remnant that has a thread of black in it. I'd say it is probably worsted weight. I also decided to add a little ball on a string.

Just adorable!

Pixie Bonnet for Christine's Baby Girl

I found the pattern for this Pixie Bonnet for free on Allcrafts.net.

I used more of my Premier Yarns Angel self shading yarn in the color 'Baby Daisy' (which is a worsted weight) on size 7 needles.

This is a newborn pattern but what's nice is that there seems to be a lot of room for variation in size with the rib stitch. I just love how it comes to a peak in the back.

I crafted this bonnet for Christine's little girl that is still on her way. :)

Many thanks to Jillian for being my accommodating model even though she wasn't newborn sized anymore. :)

Daven's Hat

I used Premier Mega Brushed in the color Apple Green, which is a worsted weight yarn.

This patten is worked in the round.

US 7 circular 16" needles
US 7 double pointed needles

Cast on 80.

Row 1 to 4 - rib stitch [knit 1, purl 1 around - knit where you knit, purl where you purl]

Row 5 to 30 - stockinette stitch [knit every stitch]. Measures about 4.5" from the edge.

Row 31 - (K2tog, K8) repeat to the end.
Row 32 - Knit every stitch
Row 33 - (K2tog, K7) repeat to the end.
Row 34 - Knit every stitch
Row 35 - (K2tog, K6) repeat to the end.
Row 36 - Knit every stitch
Row 37 - (K2tog, K5) repeat to the end.
Row 38 - Knit every stitch
Row 39 - (K2tog, K4) repeat to the end.
Row 40 - Knit every stitch

Switch to double pointed needles to finish. 8 stitches per needle works out nicely.
Row 41 - (K2tog, K3) repeat to the end.
Row 42 - Knit every stitch
Row 43 - (K2tog, K2) repeat to the end.
Row 44 - Knit every stitch
Row 45 - (K2tog, K1) repeat to the end.
Row 46 - Knit every stitch
Row 47 - K2tog every stitch, leaving 8 stitches.

Cut the yarn, weave the tail through the remaining 8 loops (beginning with the next loop you would have knitted) , and cinch together to close the hole.

You don't have to knit the top to such a small diameter, but I don't really care for a puckered look, so I tried to work the hole down as small as possible.

It came out a little bigger than I had intended. This pattern is a large kid's or small adult's beanie.

The yarn was nice to work with; fuzzy and light. I had a little trouble getting tangled on the extra fluff when I was decreasing, but otherwise, I'd like to work with it again.

Happy Birthday Panzer!

Panzer, whom I call 'Pants' mostly, has turned a year old!

He is quite the odd little animal to cohabitate with. He thinks he is one of the dogs, but I would equate him more to a raccoon or a squirrel; something you would think is a bit too wild to live indoors.

Panzer is fascinated by electronics. He waits for the DVD and Xbox to open so he can attack the CD trays, he wants to know where the paper comes from when the printer is on, and he is a big fan of the ceiling fans. He won't leave my laptop alone either. He is either running across it, batting at the screen or trying to get underneath it. If my laptop is open and the screen goes to sleep, he will come over and touch the keyboard to get it going again. He gets excited when I play music over the laptop or my Ipod - circling around, digging underneath, smelling and tasting the noise-maker all in the effort of finding where the sound comes from.

Panzer waiting patiently for the chance

to get his paw caught in the DVD player.

Panzer is really active. He needs constant stimulation. He is hard on the furniture, the old cat, and my flesh. He prefers to attack one of the dogs (Tatum) and lick the other (Brisbie). The licking seems cute and affectionate, but Brisbie is not his biggest fan and she growls at him when he tries to groom her. Panz thinks he is one of the dogs and gets really upset when they go somewhere he doesn't. When they go outside to play ball, he expects to go too and then spends his time jumping out of the bushes and attacking the dogs as they pass, and climbing trees at maximum possible speed.

He is a ruthless bag-ivore (be it plastic or paper), a murderer of yarn (especially if it is attached to a project), and a thief of other people's food (no matter how full his own bowl is).



What's good about him? He is hilarious and adorable. Panz is very interested in everything I do. He waits outside of the bathroom for me, throws himself down on my lap in a fuzzy little ball, lays across the back of my neck to watch me knit or type, every move he makes is accompanied by a tiny trills and squeaks as though he were a toy, he plays fetch with his favorite toy.

He also has the most amazing fur. I keep saying I'm going to make myself a Panzer hat one day. And the belly. He has the cutest, fat, squishy belly. If you can survive the retaliation, it's well worth a squeeze.

As I type this, he is using my arm as a prop to hold up his leg while he cleans it. Glad to be of service...

Happy Birthday, Pants. :)

Bloons Tower Defense

I just found a free online game that I am in love with!

Bloons Tower Defense is on the Free Web Arcade site and it is absolutely hilarious.

I got addicted to Tower Wars maps playing Lord of the Rings, Battle for Middle Earth, Rise of the Witch King strategy game. I was looking around the internet for more tower wars style games when I came across the Tower Defense Games page of Free Web Arcades.

In Bloons, you build defenses for waves of creeps, in this case the creeps are balloons, that move long the track and you have to shoot them all before they reach the end of the track. You lose a life for each creep that passes the end and gain money for all the creeps you kill. This tower defense game in particular is cute (not to mention actually survivable) because of defenses like the 'Monkey Dart Tower' and 'Super Monkey'.

There are four different versions on this website and each map has added monkey defenses: the Super Monkey even gets Laser Vision.

WoW Hearthstone

I play World of Warcraft and in my search to find WoW crafts online, I've noticed that people have made very cute things, but haven't posted any patterns.

I wanted to make a hearthstone (used to recall a character to it's home) and I tried very hard to document my wanderings as I made up this little plushie.

(fyi - hearthstones are kept in your bag.   /wink)

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Rambling pattern follows:

I used Lion Brand Vanna's Choice in Beige for the main color and Lion Brand Wool-ease Blue Heather for the rune.

US F hook

Chain 5 loosely.

Round 1 - 2 sc in the top of the second st, sc in the top of the next 2 st, 3 sc in the last st, (turning the work in a circle) sc in the top of the next 3 st. This should create a flat, oblong circle. {10}

Round 2 - 2 sc in the next 2 st, sc in the next 2 st, 2 sc in the next 3 st, sc in the next 3 st, 2 sc in the last st. {17}

Roundd 3 - 2 sc in the next 2 st, sc in the next 6 st, 2 sc in the next 3 st. {22}

Round 4 - 2 sc in the next 4 st, sc in 7 st, 2 sc in 4 st, sc in 7 st. {30}

Round 5 - sc in 2 st, 2 sc in 1 st, sc in 1 st, 2 sc in 1 st, sc in 5 st, 2 sc in 1 st, sc in 6 st, 2 sc in 1 st, sc in 1 st, 2 sc in 1 st, sc in 6 st, 2 sc in 1 st, sc in 3 st. {36}

Round 6, 7, 8 - sc around. {36}

This is the point that I embroidered the hearthstone symbol on the face of my project using the blue yarn.

Round 9 - sc in 2 st, (sc2tog, sc in 3 st) around and sc in the last 2 st. {29}

Round 10 - sc in 1 st, (sc2tog, sc in 3 st) around and sc in the last 1 st. {23}

Round 11 - sc in 1 st, (sc2tog, sc in 3 st) around and sc in the last 1 st. {17}

At this point I stuffed the hearthstone with polyfil.

To close, I went about another round of sc in 2 st, sc2tog. I started to loose track since the opening was so small.

I finished by sc2tog until it was closed.

Right before I pulled the tail through the last 2 stitches, I add a few poly-pellets to give the bottom a little weight. That was a messy experiment...

Popeye Has Been Adopted!

Our spunky little foster cat, Popeye, has been adopted from Whiskers, Tails and Ferals. He has gone to a nice family with two little ones. I'm so happy that Popeye has found his forever family.

Panzer has had a funny reaction to Popeye leaving. He didn't spend any time searching the house for the missing kitten, like he did when Link was adopted. Panzer became highly affectionate and demanding of my attention for a few days. I think he was a bit jealous of the one on one time Popeye and I spent; maybe Panzer is happy to have all of my attention back.

In addition, Panzer has lost his playful outlet and has reverted back to attacking the dogs, our old cat, my hair, and using our furniture like a race track. He might even be a bit more excited than usual... Now all the personal time that can be afforded to me comes from Panz's renewed fascination with paper bags.

We hope Popeye is having fun with his new family. :)

Popeye and the Dogs

I am pleased to report that Popeye is acclimating to our dogs. We have a lab (Brisbie) and a lab/german shepard/etc mix (Tatum). Both dogs are fairly excitable and curious, especially when there is a new smell in the house.

On the first day that Popeye and the dogs began to share the living room, I was prepared to separate them after a short while, but I didn't have to. Suddenly Popeye became aware of the dog and no-dog areas of the room. He played in the cat area and peeked out at the dogs from behind the couch.

Dog watches Cat, Cat watches Bird

(Tatum is the brown dog, Brisbie the yellow one.)

The biggest surprise that day was when Popeye curled up and went to sleep on the cat tower. It was the first time he had gone to sleep outside of his crate or his favorite hiding corner, under the curtains. And on dog day #1 of all days. Since that Monday, the upper rungs of the cat tower are Popeye's favorite napping spot.

Another startling advancement happened the next day when he wandered past the dogs on their dog beds (they were obeying the rules without taking their eyes off of him for a second) and down the hallway, then used the littler box in the bathroom. I'm amazed that he chose to treat our house like his own so early in his introduction to our dogs.

Unfortunately, this doesn't mean that everyone loves each other and they all roll around together in a field of heather. Popeye doesn't care for the dogs but is becoming quickly tolerant of them. He plays his way out into the living room, forgets they are there, complains at them, then darts away. The good news is that he doesn't stay hidden for long. Less than a minute behind some piece of furniture and he is back to what he was doing.

Popeye's reaction is much different than anything I had expected. He doesn't treat the dogs as though they are predators, which would be natural. He treats them like any other moving, noise making thing in our house; potentially scary. He gives the dogs a wide berth while walking by and doesn't let their presence deter him from what he is doing. Popeye has no problem objecting when the dogs try to get closer or they surprise him.

In summation, Popeye still enjoys himself the most when the house is on the quiet side, he is adjusting well to our dogs, and becoming very comfortable traversing our house. Still not a fan of the video camera though. :(

The cure for feline photophobophobia? Why, a little white mouse, of course.

Furrballicide

(He didn't want to be videotaped, but the mousefur toy could not be ignored.)

CUTENESS NOTE: Not only are Popeye's ear hairs white, but he has one, tiny, white whisker.