More Free Time = Lots More Crafting

Henry is at long last over, which means I have free time again! Yesterday, I took time to sit down, write in my journal, nap, watch V for Vendetta, hang out with my boyfriend, and, of course... make crafts. I'm totally in love with this flowers and bird card I made!

Isn't it cute?! I love the lace on the front.

It also has a tiny bird on the inside corner...

There's also this one: Not as intricate, but sweet.

It was a fun day! I'm finally going to start back on that cardigan that I've been holding off on for weeks. It's almost spring weather, and I need a short-sleeve cardi to wear with my tank tops!

Spring cards

It's tech of Henry V, and I've had little (read: no) free time in the past few days. However, todayI had at least four hours free. I not only wrote out the patterns for the VT symbol and Hokie feet, I wrote another Intarsia pattern for camouflage! It was inspired by the awesome fatigues I wear in the show. I also started working on another little crocheted bear, and made some cards for my family.

I still haven't finished taking photos of the bears and bunnies I made, but I did post a new card for sale on my Etsy site. Please visit, if you have any interest in handmade cards and knits! I just started selling online, and it's very new to me. I have lovely, albeit few, crafts for sale. Come visit my shop!

Here are some of the cards that I sell.

Pink and blue paisley and a yellow satin ribbon!

These are my favorite cards to make- I love the tiny

crocheted flowers and butterflies.

So, I found this photo of a hat I knit for my Hokie sister several months back. I wrote the VT and Hokie feet intarsia charts, but now I can't find them anywhere- yikes! I'll have to search through my desk. I'd love to put them on a great big orange and maroon blanket.

I've also developed a slight obsession with knitting stuffed animals. I've got tons of scrap yarn in millions of colors, and most of it is worsted weight. I've made a monkey, a brown bear, and now I'm working on a pink bunny for Easter. He's not finished just yet, as he's missing eyes, ears, and a tail, but he's still kinda cute! I think next I'll make a panda. They're my favorite animals, and c'mon, who doesn't love big, fuzzy, monochromatic bears?

Precious.

Owl Mittens!!

My mom complains about cold hands and feet all the time. We've tried buying her mittens, but she still comes back not being able to feel anything in her fingers, so, finally, I decided to whip her up a pair of mittens from Lion Brand's extra warm Wool-ease. She wanted them to have an owl pattern on them- and so were born the Owl Mittens. If I were to make them again, I'd definitely make them with a yarn that shows patterns and cabling better, since the cute little owls are kinda lost!

Here's the pattern:

CO 30 stitches, join in round.

LEFT MITTEN

Row 1-3: [k1, p1] to end

Row 4: [k1, p1] x7, place marker, M1R, k1, M1L, place marker, p1, [k1, p1] to end

Row 5&6: [k1, p1] to end

Row 7: k7, M1, k7, sm, M1R, k all stitches between markers, M1L, sm, k to end

Rows 8&9: k to end

Row 10: k14, sm, M1R, k all stitches between markers, M1L, sm, k to end

Row 11: k to end

START OWL (underline notates using contrast color)

Row 12: k14, sm, k all between, sm, k2, p1; k12; p1 

Row 13: k14, sm, M1R, k all between, M1L, sm, k2, p1; k12; p1

Row 14: k14, sm, k all between, sm, k2, p1; k12; p1

Row 15: k27, p1; k12; p1

Row 16: k2, M1, k12, place all stitches between markers on holder, CO 2, k2, p1; k2, k8 in contrast color, k2; p1

RIGHT MITTEN

Row 1-3: [k1, p1] to end

Row 4: k1, p1, place marker, M1R, k1, M1L, place marker, p1, [k1, p1] x13

Row 5&6: [k1, p1] to end

Row 7: k1, M1, k1, sm, M1R, k all stitches between markers, M1L, sm, k to end

Rows 8&9: k to end

Row 10: k2, sm, M1R, k all stitches between markers, M1L, sm, k to end

Row 11: k to end

START OWL

Row 12: k2, sm, k all between, sm, k14, p1; p12; p1 

Row 13: k2, sm, M1R, k all between, M1L, sm, k14, p1; k12; p1

Row 14: k2, sm, k all between, sm, k14, p1; k12; p1

Row 15: k27, p1; k12; p1

Row 16: k1, M1, k1, place all stitches between markers on holder, CO 2, k14, p1; k2, k8, k2; p1

TOP- BOTH MITTENS

Row 17: k19, p1; k2, C4B, C4F, k2; p1

Rows 18-24: k19, p1; k2, k8, k2; p1

Row 25: k19, p1; k2, C4B, C4F, k2; p1

Row 21: k19, p1; k2, k8, k2; p1

Rows 22&23: k19, p1; k2, k1, p2, k2, p2, k1, k2; p1

Rows 24&25: k19, p1; k2, k8, k2; p1

Row 26: k19, p1; k2, C4B, C4F, k2; p1

Row 27: k19, p1; k2, k8, k2; p1

Rows 28-30: k19, p1; k12; p1

Row 31: k19, p1; p12; p1

END OWL

Rows 32-34: k to end

Row 35: k2, k2tog, k11, ssk, k to end

Row 36: k all

Row 37: k1, k2tog, k11, ssk, k to end

Row 38: k to end

Row 39: k2tog, k5, k2tog, k4, ssk, k11, slip last stitch to next row

Row 40: k2tog, k10, ssk, k1, k2tog, k6, k2tog, slip last stitch to next row

Row 41: k2tog, k2, sssk, k3tog, k2, ssk, k1, sssk, k3tog, slip last stitch

Row 42: [k2tog] x3, [ssk] x3

Break, thread through live stitches. Cinch and tie off thread.

THUMB

Divide 9 stitches as 3-3-3 across the needles

Row 1: Knit across all stitches, pick up five in the gap

Row 2: Knit to last five stitches, k two together, k three together

Rows 3-12: K

Rows 13&14: K2tog until 4 remain, break, cinch, thread

Now wear!

The Ugly Dragon

So, here's the namesake himself, looking particularly smashing on the purple backdrop. First crocheted project ever. He comes from this pattern, here:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-snow-dragon

I just added some color to him, to use up some purple and white yarn. C'mon, he's kinda cute!