Christmas Knitting

No matter how early I start, I think I always end up running out of time for all my Christmas knitting. Two years ago I had to give my SIL only one sock because I hadn't finished the second one. Last year I had to give my mom only one of her washcloths because I hadn't finished hers (I made some for all the women in the family.....they may be simple projects and my family isn't huge...but it was a lot of work)

But anyway, I think I've made a good start. One pair of socks is done. Another is in progress and will go quicker since they are a shorter pair and I'm doing them in only stockinette stitch...that makes them go lots faster!

And as I mentioned before, I'm making lots of jellybums. At least 6 minimum. Maybe another 3 or 4 depending on time constraints. Unfortunately I still haven't gotten word on favorite colors and animals from a couple of the kids and I don't want to duplicate anything...color or animal if I can help it. So...I figure since the style of legs is the exact same on all the animals, I'm just going to start making legs in all the different colors I have and when I figure out and make the critters that need them, they'll be ready!

Crafting Update

I know...I don't update this all that often. Anyway, just updating on what's going on in my crafting world. Main priority for a while was projects for the Odd Ducks Swaps I was in...did a flying monkey for my Oz swap. Can't reveal the other just yet since she hasn't recieved it yet.

Getting going on my Christmas knitting....again, can't reveal too much yet cause I don't know who reads this....although I am making Jellybums for a lot of the kids...should be fun.

My crayons have gotten a recent boost...my coworkers at my new job love them....some they are buying for themselves. Some are buying them for nieces, nephews, friends, etc. Its pretty sweet. One person alone nearly wiped out my supply of larger crayons! I need to get cracking....or peeling first I  guess :) Although, I have set my coworkers to that task when things are slow....some of them find it relaxing :)

Apparently I'm back on a stuffed animal kick

When I first started knitting the Jellybums critters (for which I'm trying to find my own name for right now...thanks for everyone who has posted suggestions) I went on a bit of a rampage making them and ended up burning out on making small things for a few months. Finally after making two shawls, a sweater, a a hat and some other odds and ends I am finally back in little knit mode. My mom requested three for the babies of co-workers (I did twin monkeys for the twins, blue and pink and I'm working on another pink monkey) I must have started the pieces of a moose before I went down in flames, so all he has left is I think the arms and one leg.

I don't remember when I would have told my cousins kids about the stuffed animals but I must have because all the girls have asked for one for Christmas. I'll knit ones for the boys too so they aren't left out. Just have to figure out the colors and critters. Trying not to duplicate for anyone!  I'm making some for a few other Christmas gifts as well..can't name names just in case. I've got my work cut out for me.

Just have to keep other bigger projects on the side for when I want to do "extreme knitting" the little stuff requires too much attention and just doesn't show up on camera quite so well!

"Extreme" Knitting...aka, knitting in unusual locations

Let me preface this by saying: I knit a lot. I knit everywhere. So far the only places truly off limits for me are weddings and funerals. Although I think if someone gave me the go ahead...I'd do it. I do intend to knit at least once on my wedding day, if for nothing other than a photo op :)

I've knit in dentist chairs while being worked on, in restaurants, bars, my bathroom, at the movies, buses, and in countless other places.

Where I live, most of the people have gotten used to seeing me knitting at the bar. But I think it throws the tourists for a loop. On one occasion I know I was photographed (under the pretense of taking a picture of her friend....you know "I gotta get a picture of this cause its so funny but I don't dare just take a picture....so I'll take a picture of you with *fill in the blank* in the background). Maybe it truly was just a picture of her friend...but the amount they were looking, giggling and not-quite pointing...I'm pretty sure I was the object of the photo.

To make a long story short, it gave me an idea. I started carrying it out then but gave up for a while until renewing it yesterday. I want to get pictures taken of me knitting in as many unusual places as possible. "Extreme knitting" if you will...to follow with the concept of "extreme ironing"

I posted this on Ravelry to get suggestions for future pictures and have been getting great ideas. One person is even facilitating their idea by sending me waterproof yarn so I can knit underwater, and glow-in-the dark yarn so I can knit in the dark. I'm so excited to try them both!

Future pictures to watch for: next May you will see pictures of my knitting on my wedding day (if only long enough for the pictures). Around Halloween expect some knitting goodness in costume. Perhaps even this weekend, mayhaps I'll knit at the Renaissance Festival..

Anyway...here goes the current photos.

If you have pictures of your own, please post to http://www.flickr.com/groups/extremeknitting

Presenting: Eloise the Elephant

I am not listing Eloise tonight because I need better lighting but I was so excited to finish her that I at least wanted to post some sort of picture. So here she is!

Coming soon...

I'm currently working on a dog made with the same reclaimed sweater yarn as Odette Octopus. I have everything except the arms done (my least favorite part since they're so frigging fiddly)

Additionally I'm working on a green animal...I haven't decided what it will be...the body for most of the animals is the same so I have lots of choices. I'm thinking another dog but maybe a monkey? Or maybe a green moose? What do you think I should do. I also have patterns for a lot of other animals as well.

More new critters!

Finished the moose this morning but he still needs a name, as does the blue monkey (also finished this morning. Any suggestions?

What's new

Thanks to Raynor Gellatly of Jelly Bums I now have a super cute moose pattern. He's mostly done...just needs a tail, and one more ear and arm.

I'm almost done with a monkey the same color as Duke the Dog ...should be up at least on here in a day or two.

I finally got my hippo commissions finished,

as well a Daisy Dog to join Duke!

Recycling Sweaters

I went to the other thrift store today to see if I could find any unravelable sweaters (is that a word? unravelable?)....and I found three! So yay for that...it means that more of my stuffed critters can be repurposed yarn from sweaters. This website has the info that I used to figure out how to do this, and which sweaters are actually worth attempting it on. Its great...it cost me $1 per sweater....so for $3 I have loads and loads of yarn either for stuffed animals (with the unknittable scraps being great for stuffing) or for whatever other things I can think of. yay!

The long awaited dog

Its not done yet...if you look you'll notice its missing an arm. But since I was talking about it I wanted to post a picture anyway. Haven't settled on a name just yet but I am leaning towards the suggestion of Duke.

Newest Critter

So...I was messing around with some partially made stuffed animals (just the body with legs). I had two of them and was being goofy. I randomly stuck some eyes on it and thought, hey...add some arms and it would be a little alien critter or something.



Haven't done that, but Nathan (my boyfriend) suggested doing an octopus instead...so, here she is...Odette Octopus (made with yarn from an unravelled sweater)