Not So Secret Knitting

i've been a knitting machine in the past 3 weeks.  well, it's easy to make a lot of knitting progress when you're off from work, but whatever.  i have some projects to show.

1.  my last project of 2007 was the celestine tree topper.   my version isn't a tree topper but a jingling "ball" toy for my 1 year old niece. 

i used 12 different colors of patons classic merino (and size US6 dpns -- oops i meant size US3) and i put in two big jingle bells.   half the fun was letting j think that i was making a hat.  j's not a big fan of multi-colored jester hats.  when he saw that i had made a toy, he was considerably less horrified and may have admitted that  it was kind of cute.

2.  my first elizabeth zimmerman project, the baby surprise jacket.  this jacket is also for my little niece.  i hope it fits.  anyway, this was a fun knit and super easy if you aren't afraid of following a pattern that's written more like a list of  suggestion than an actual pattern.

i used caron's simply soft in paisley print that i had in my stash.  yeah, it's acrylic, but if my niece is going to wear this, it needs to be easy care because there's no way her mom is handwashing anything.  the buttons were purchased from graceful stitches.

and finally ....

3.  kate gilbert's super cute bird in the hand mittens.

i made my version with ella rae classic in burgundy red and off white.  i was a woman obsessed making these mittens and after a good blocking which took care of the slight puckering from the stranded knitting, i'm really pleased with how these turned out.

i love the picot edge.

and the little birds on the thumbs.

that's all i've got for now. 

Comments

[Laurie]

Your mittens came out GREAT. That's the best shot of the thumbs I've seen. Suddenly I understand the little thumb birds better.

[Emily]

Those mittens are awesome! Are they for you? I must see them in person, if you have them. Also, that jingly ball is an awesome idea. I'm stealing it.

[Mintyfresh]

I love, love, love that ball. I might go cast on for it immediately. And the mittens are perfection. (So as not to neglect the Baby Surprise: Nice job!)

[Coleen]

love them. a little obsessively, I think. I love them and I think I might just need to make a pair for me.

love them!

[julia fc]

Heart the mitts, fer sure, but the bumble toy? Ohmighod.Converted from a tree topper? You are a resourceful goddess. and I love the colours. I must find a baby to make one for.

[JessaLu]

That's some nice knitting you have there - I especially like the mittens. :o)

[Milly]

I am envious of anyone who can do those mittens they look difficult!
Yours are gorgeous, by the way.

[LizKnits]

those mittens are just divine... the bird... too cute!

[Beth S.]

Those are the best bird mittens ever. I LOVE how you handled the embroidery. Really beautiful detail! :-)

And I like your colorful Celestine much better than the plain white ones.

[Alison]

I also love how you did the embroidery. I may try that on my next pair...

[Deborah C.]

I love the toy - I've added it to my mental list of good things to make as gifts for babies. The baby surprise is one of my favorites, it's a lot of fun to knit.

[caro]

Holy crap, your mittens are perfect. LOVE love love the birds.

[Laura]

Your birds, specifically, are absolutely the best ones I've seen! Superb!

Pointy toy = Brilliance, as well as using CSS for the BSJ. It came out just lovely and the yarn didn't pool at all as I would have suspected from a commercial yarn. I'm sure it's pure snuggly soft sweetness. One day I really will make this little sweater.

[heather]

Nice work! the BiH look great - I loved that pattern! I'll be making another pair for myself.

[The Feminist Mafia]

Pure brilliance with the difference colors on the bird embroidery!!!

[Marlena]

Everything is great! I love the toy idea, the adding bells. It never occurred to me to do something like that, and I have some odds and ends I want to make cat toys with.

[Sofia]

So cute! :D Love them all* kisses from Portugal*

[aliena]

Es genial lo que haces. Te felicito!!!!!!!!!!
Besos

[Teenuh]

Awesome knitting. I may have to make those mittens, they are super cute!! And I am in love with the yarn color you used for the baby surprise jacket. That is on my to-do list as well.

[Tracey]

Oooh, Oooh, Oooh! I love the toy, that's great, I may need one to squeeze the bejeebers out of at work. I love the mittens too, very sweet.

[Danielle]

I want a blue eyed birdie too. I love the jingle ball toy too.

[mai]

i LOVE the celestine tree topper! it looks so fun with all the colors!

[benedetta]

the celestine is the perfect toy to make for my little niece, who will be 1 in April!
thank you for the inspiration, as always!

[schrodinger]

I LOVE that toy and want to make one right now. The sweater and mitts are very adorable too (esp. the extra detail on the birdies) :)

[tiennie]

Beautiful beautiful projects! I love the mitts!

[Chris]

That toy is really cool!! And the mittens are absolutely stunning.

[Jen in CT]

I just died of cuteness.

Those mittens are just fabulous! Nice job. :-)

[Cathi]

All gorgeous- the mittens are amazing. I was wondering how you were churning stuff out so wildly, but now I get it.

[Wanda]

Love those mittens. Too cute!

[Adam]

Oh yes. My children are totally getting geometric handknit toys. And maybe some jester hats too. ;)

Oh, and using blue and orange for the bird details? Genius x20.

[Felicia]

What a clever thing that jingle star is! The twelve colors make is so festive. And the magic of those mittens is amazing. Color knitting scares the jejebers out of me.

[claudia]

Super cute stuff here.

[Vicki]

Beautiful work! Love your mittens. And that Baby Surprise -- the color is wonderful and the buttons are perfect!

[Oiyi]

Oh, gorgeous knitting! The birdies are so cute. I still need to do a BSJ. Just need to buy the pattern. The Surplice Jacket was fun.

[britt]

Love the toy! Super adorable (now could you post all errata for each pattern? J/K!

[Haddy]

The birds! I've been wondering why that pattern is name such. So cute! I wanna make them!

[wenders]

Okay, I am so glad I'm not the only one who hadn't figured out where the bird was yet. Yours are the best I've seen so far... lovely!

[Sara]

For crying out loud, send some knitting mojo my way, will ya? ;-)

The mitts are absolutely lovely... I wasn't sure I wanted to knit the pattern until seeing yours!

[Teresa C]

I love your birdies! Especially the blue eyes, so cute.

[Macoco]

oh so that's where the birds are! I kept seeing versions of this mitten, but could never figure out where a bird came in to play.

[Cheryl]

Wow, you got a lot done on your vacation!

[Vera]

Stunning mitts!!!! I want to make and wear them even if it's not cold enough.

The toy and sweater are darling too.

[Cheryl]

you've really rocked the knitting mojo! The bird embroidery makes me grin.

[Melissa]

I love the toy and those mittens! Oy! Too cute!!

[kat]

wow, great projects~ LOVE the mittens and that toy is adorable. You have been one busy lady :)

[meg]

Such great projects! I already had the mittens on my ravelry que, but I think whenever I get around to knitting them I will have to steal your embellishment and embroider the birdies!

[Jackie]

I love your color combo! And I hadn't seen the little bird thumbs - I think now I am truly tempted to knit these. Up on the queue they go!

[Carole]

Excellent on all counts but I especially love that you embroidered the bird with colored yarn. That extra attention to detail really makes it pop!

[Amy]

They all look great, but those mittens are totally making me swoon. Great job!!!