FO (Sewing): Shoulder Bag

I also wanted to make a bag for my swap partner in the Fantasy Swap, and I had come across some nice and fairly easy looking shoulder bag patterns in a magazine (Pauline in 3 Varianten - Sonderheft Patchwork Magazin Nr. 7 - Taschen selber machen). 

Most of the sewing was indeed fairly straightforward - apart from the fact that my sewing machine just doesn't seem to like working through multiple layers of fabric and fusible fleece. Oh, and I still have to work on my curved seams. 

The hardest part was turning the strap right side out... oh, did my fingers hurt... a day later it felt as if I had hit my finger with a hammer! And I will have to do it again, because I definitely want to make another bag for myself. It's just the right size to take anywhere - it's not huge, but it will hold a purse, keys,... even a small knitting project if need be. 

FO (Crochet): (Not so) Lil' Baby Unicorn

When the fantasy swap came up in the Geek & Nerd Swap Group and my partner had unicorns on her list of favourite fantasy creatures I knew immediately what I would make for her. I've had this cute Lil' Baby Unicorn pattern by Rachel Hoe in my queue for quite a while, because I wanted to make a baby unicorn for my daughter. I think I will have to make another one for her as a present for her upcoming birthday. These unicorns are just so darn cute!

The pattern calls for 8-ply yarn and a 3 mm hook (5 mm for the mane and tail). I used 10-ply cotton and went up to 4 mm and 6 mm hooks - resulting in an actually Not So Lil' Baby Unicorn. Forgot to take measurements before I sent it off, though.

As it always is with Amigurumi, the individual body parts worked up really quick... but when it comes to sewing those parts together I slow down... because (as you might know by now) that is the part that I still don't like a bit. The thing that always keeps me going is knowing that it will be worth every single bleeding finger...

... and it was!

FO (Knitting): Green Monkey Socks

My green Monkey Socks are finally done! Finished them about a week ago, but just haven't gotten around to share a picture here - little one keeping me busy during the day, working on my WIPs in the evening... I sometimes wish there were more than 24 hours in a day.

I absolutely enjoyed making these socks. As I've mentioned before, the lace pattern was pretty easy to remember - perfect for knitting while watching soccer on TV (I didn't plan this, but - yes - I am following the world cup). Oh, and I so hope the yarn (Lana Grossa Meilenweit Cotton Stretch) will prove to be hard-wearing enough for everyday socks - I just love the feel and look of it!

Knit WIPs again...

Mystery Blackberry Shawl

Yes, still working on the Mystery Shawl. I have completed the first three clues out of five, took a break from it to finish some swap projects (again...) and hope to pick it up again soon to start the next clue.

I am at a point now where I feel I can't more than four rows at a time before I need to change back to a project that takes less focus. Knitting lace with lace weight yarn is just so much more challenging knitting lace with sock weight yarn...

Green Monkey Socks 

Socks again! This pattern (Monkey by Cookie A) was one of the options for the sock KAL in the Beginner's KAL group, and I loved the look of it. The lace pattern is easy to remember and knits up quickly.

I had been wanting to try a "cooler" sock yarn for a while and went with a wool / cotton blend for these socks. I'm very happy with how that yarn is working up - it's got a great stitch definition and does indeed feel a lot more summery than standard sock wool. I'll have to see how it will hold up with washing and wearing, but I so far love that yarn.

Dream Socks (Solid Socks June / July Mystery)

Uhm, yeah - more socks! Once again I just couldn't resist the Solid Socks Mystery. Oh, and it's such a lovely pattern this month - so glad I joined! Last clue was released last week, and I'm looking forward to finishing these.

All Seasons Cardigan

I haven't made any clothing for my little girl in a while - but have had the All Seasons Cardy by Kelly Brooker queued for quite some time. What I love about the pattern is that it is written for lots of different sizes, but also for a couple of different yarn weights. I had some nice dark red yarn lying around; bought it a while back with a different pattern in mind, but have since lost interest in that particular pattern - so I decided to use it for the All Seasons Cardy instead.

I still have a couple of inches to knit for the lace section, but it's working up quickly, and I think my daughter will be able to wear it soon.


Harvest Cardigan

I have actually made some progress on the cardigan I am knitting for myself. I'm ready to start the garter border now - and then I "only" need to knit the sleeves. Yay! Maybe it will be ready (and wearable) when autumn comes...

FO (knitting): Tequila Sunrise Socks

With my Shadowboxing Socks done, and the start of the Solid Socks Mystery still a couple of days away at the end of May, I felt I needed another quick pair of socks on my needles. Vanilla Latte Socks had been in my queue for a while, and I had that very cheery looking striping yarn in my stash. It seemed a perfect match - and I have not regretted my choice of pattern and yarn. 

The socks knit up quick enough, but still took me ten days to complete because... well... as usual I was working on multiple projects at the same time. I chose a twisted stitch ribbing for the cuff and a slip stitch ribbing for the heel flap. And - oh - I love that colour way... although it turned my Vanilla Latte into Tequila Sunrise...

Funny thing is - these are actually not the colours I would usually go for, and I'm not sure why I bought that yarn in the first place - guess it must have been a miserable, grey and rainy day... but hey! I couldn't be happier now. It's almost a pity that the last couple of days have been so hot - so I haven't had a chance to really wear my new socks yet (except for two minutes to take a picture).

FO: Shadowboxing Socks and Crochet Dragon

Just want to show you the last two projects I finished in May.

Shadowboxing

The first one are my HiyaHiya Shadowboxing Socks. I absolutely enjoyed knitting these. The lace pattern is really easy to remember, making these socks a nice relaxing knit. Only thing I modified was the heel flap - I used a slip stitch ribbing rather than the regular 1x1 ribbing the pattern called for. 

Here be dragons...
My last May project was a little dragon I crocheted for a swap. I actually finished it a good two weeks ago, but didn't want to post pictures before the parcel had arrived.

I found the pattern in a magazine (Simply Häkeln Spezial Amigurumi Vol. 1), and I knew I had to make that dragon at one point. Then the D'Clutter Swap in the Geek & Nerd Swap group came up, my partner loved dragons, and I figured it was the perfect time to use up all that green cotton yarn that had been sitting in my stash for months. As it always is with amigurumi, I loved making all the individual parts, even the tiny bit of embroidery for the face... but sewing it all together... oh, that's the part I don't like. And it seems to take ages... mainly because I don't like it and work on other projects between sewing on limbs. But it's so worth it in the end. Because... well, just look at that cute little dragon...

FOs (Sewing): Reversible Drawstring Bag and The Owl Dress

Reversible Drawstring Bag

I tried out another project bag tutorial and loved it. It's fairly easy to sew, the bag is a nice size (perfect for socks), and it's reversible! I made this as a last minute swap gift - but I will make at least one for myself once I've finished some other sewing projects.

The Owl Dress

Yes, it's done! I finally finished my daughter's owl dress. It sure isn't perfect, but I'm still really pleased that I made it through the pattern (to be found in: sabrina Nähen special: Kinderträume aus Stoff zum Selbermachen).

It was a great learning experience, and it did turn out cute! What I love most about this dress is that it doesn't look to "girly" - it's just the perfect little dress to wear while out playing.

My little girl had been very excited about this dress ever since I had told her what I was making and that it would be for her. Then on Friday I received the owl buttons I had ordered (I had been looking for owl buttons for weeks, and finally found some that I liked last week), and I told her that she could wear her dress as soon as I had sewn on the buttons. Actually wanted to do that Friday night, but got distracted... Saturday morning after breakfast, she goes to the living room, sees her dress... "button?, button?". Oops... So, I sat down to attach those buttons, told her to sit down beside me and watch... which she did very patiently - I've rarely seen her sit that still... Needless to say she had to put it on rightaway - and she seemed so happy wearing it! 

I'm already looking into sewing more clothes for her - started working on a pair of trousers, and found some other adorable dress patterns...