The world seems absolutely stuffed full of Doctor Who fans. And, Who related knitting patterns abound. You can knit a scarf from just about every season of Doctor Who. (Did you know there are 26 original seasons, six series, a seventh series in the works, and countless specials and movies? Wow!) You can knit a Tardis ornament for your tree, or a Tardis teapot cover. There are dalek toy patterns, and dalek washcloths. Heck, you can even knit Tardises (Tardii?) for your feet.

Tardis Socks

The pattern is Tardis Socks Tribute by Ellen Botilda, and it is available for free from Ravelry. I knit them from Berocco Comfort sock in colourways 1763 Navy Blue, 1734 Liquorice, and 1702 Pearl. To make sure that the colourwork would actually fit over someone’s heel, I knit the upper part of the leg with the sock inside-out. The little white sign was added at the end, using duplicate stitch.

Unfortunately, I am not a Doctor Who fan. As a child I was traumatized. Anyone about my age who lived in Ontario as a child can tell you all about how TVO put Doctor Who on right after Polka Dot Door, and how frightening the music was. Terrible!

Anyway, these socks will be on their way to their new home later today, and I already have another pair of socks on the needles:

Plain 'ole socks

A pair of plain, top-down socks knit from Crystal Palace Maizy in colourway Earth. And, believe it or not, these aren’t for me either. I swear, this is my last commissioned project for this year!

Tardis Socks is a post from Reflections in the Pond

A week gone?! Actually, this past week has gone by every slowly for me. Sadly, little Mr. C has been waking up in the middle of the night every night since Christmas. I don’t know if it is bad dreams, growing pains, or what, but it is really wearing me down. Unlike my husband, when I wake up it takes me a very long time to fall back asleep, so most days I’ve been like a sleep zombie, barely holding it together until bed time. And this, as we all know, isn’t very conducive to crafting.

I do have a few knitting projects on the needles though, since knitting is easier than needlework when one is sleeping walking through the days.

Narnia Shawl by Lily Go

My lovely Narnia Shawl by Lily Go is coming along nicely. Although, when I tried to knit it last night, I made mistake after mistake. I’m using Classic Elite’s Classic Silk in colour Old Lilac, and it looks just perfect. (It’s even better because my husband bought the yarn for me, of his own free will, as a surprise!)

I’ve also knit one sock of a pair:

Tardis Socks Tribute by Ellen Botilda

Dr. Who fans will recognize these. I’m knitting these as a commissioned project (sorry guys, I’m not a Dr. Who fan). The yarn is Berroco Comfort Sock, and the pattern is Tardis Socks Tribute. (I will be duplicate stitching on the little sign later.)

And my first finish of the year is an afghan square:

Never Ending Love Afghan Block

The pattern is Never Ending Love by Aurora S. I added an extra row of double crochet to make it 12″ (I crochet very tightly). It is made from Bernat Satin in colourway Flamingo. And, sadly, I made it as part of a comfort shawl for a lovely lady I know who’s mother passed away right at the start of the year.

I’m also working on a wrap kit from Mary Maxim that is just plain stocking stitch squares. Surprising, this is the project that I’m having the most trouble with. I think the suggested gauge in the pattern is wrong. (It says 17 stitches for 4 inches using US10 needles, when the suggested gauge on the band is 18 stitches for 4 inches using US8. So, if I wanted the flowing fabric in the finished model, like one would get using US10 needles, I think the gauge would be closer to 14 stitches for 4 inches. And that is what I am going with. The fabric is so much nicer and more suitable for a wrap!)

So, that’s the state of my projects right now. Soon I’ll be adding some more sewing projects. I’m just waiting for some fabric to arrive. The project I’m most excited about is the Craftsy Block of the Month class. It teaches twenty beginner quilt blocks, assembly and basic machine quilting all for free. Check it out here.

Knitting WIPs is a post from Reflections in the Pond

I really enjoy making gifts. I do know, though, that not everyone likes to get handmade gifts. Thankfully, my mom and dad both appreciate it when I make them something. Some years I cross stitch them gifts, but for the past few years I’ve been knitting gifts.

This year I made my dad a Dublin Cap by Wooly Bear Hand Knits (Rav link) using Mary Maxim Starlette Tweed.

Dublin Cap

My mom got a Molly Stark Scarf by Beth Leggiere of handknits.net (pattern no longer available) and a Graduated Ribs Hat by Mary Keenan, both knit from Kraemer Tatamy Tweed Worsted.

Molly Stark Scarf

Graduated Ribs Hat

And, to keep her hands warms, I made her a pair of Commuter Fingerless Mittens by Stephanie Sun (from the First Fall 2011 issue of Knitty). I used a lovely pink shade of Mary Maxim Starlette. The buttons I picked are very cute; they have a snowflake etched into them.

Commuter Fingerless Mittens

And to house her new Kobo, I knit her a Kobi Kobi Case, just like mine. Again, I used plain old kitchen cotton (Lily Sugar ‘n Cream), which will hold up quite well in her purse.

Kobi Kobo Case

My yarn stash saw a small increase thanks to a couple of wonderful gifts from my parents. I got yet another skein of On Your Toes Bamboo, one of my favourite sock yarns, as well as a kit to knit a wrap. I’ve been wanting the kit since it was released in 2010(?), so I am super excited to be able to finally make it.

I hope all your handmade holiday gifts were met with excitement and gratitude, and I also hope that your stash is a little bigger now than it was at the start of the month.

A Knitted Christmas is a post from Reflections in the Pond

Sometimes things just aren’t meant to be. Unfortunately for me, it looks like some yarn I really love isn’t meant to be a pair of socks.

You may remember that back in September, I tried to work on a pair of socks while I was away for a short holiday in Las Vegas. They didn’t work out too well…

6x2 Rib Socks

Yuck! They didn’t stripe at all like they were supposed to!

So, I ripped them out, and started from the toe up, using no particular pattern. Things went pretty well…

Purple Striped Sock

…until I got to the heel. I’ve tried four different times to come up with a nice heel for these socks. But I gave up after my last attempt when I ended up with this:

Pointy Heel!!

Who’s heel is shaped like that?!

So, I ripped the sock out. The yarn has returned to my stash, to sit for goodness knows how long and think about what it did wrong.

Cursed Socks is a post from Reflections in the Pond

A little over a week ago friends of ours gave birth to a beautiful little girl. And, being a knitter, I was still hard at work on my gift. After some marathon knitting and seaming sessions (which were much less painful than labour), it is done!

Baby Blanket

I knit it using Bernat Pipsqueak in colours Whitey White, Pretty Pink, and Sitting Pretty. The pattern is Blanket #5032 (such an evocative name), and it is available for free from the Bernat website. (Note that you need to sign up for a free account. And also note that the pattern is on some of the ball bands for this particular yarn.) It turned out quite large, almost four feet square, and it is so soft and cuddly.

I almost don’t want to give it up. If the yarn wasn’t such a pain to work with, I’d be crocheting or knitting myself a blanket from it. Baby Man has actually asked me to make him a blanket, but I’m hoping it was just a passing fancy. The yarn sheds quite a bit when you clip it (and their are eight ends per square in this blanket, and 36 squares total), so I’d really rather not have the house covered in fluff again. Thankfully, though, after a wash and a dry, all the shedding seems to have stopped.

Soon, this blanket knit with love will be off to its new home, and there it will hopefully be used to keep a precious new life safe and warm.

Pink Blankie for a New Baby is a post from Reflections in the Pond

Well, so much for my attempt to post every day this month. Honestly, for the past couple of days I just haven’t felt much like writing. And so, I haven’t. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t been working away on a bunch of projects.

First, I finished up Baby Man’s trick-or-treat bag. Yes, I know it is really late, but I’d like to think I’m ready early for next year. You may remember, that I actually knit this bag in 2010. This past week I just added the fabric lining.

Boo Bag with Lining

I also knit myself a hat using an absolutely lovely milk fibre yarn called Rosários 4 Sole Latte . The pattern is A Hat for Eudora, and the pattern is available here.

Hat for Eudora

The hat turned out very soft and drapey, and it is flattering too! I can’t wait to wear it.

I’ve also been working on Christmas gifts, but I can’t share those until after the holidays. But just wait until you see what else I’ve made myself! Tomorrow!

Small Projects is a post from Reflections in the Pond

While parts of Canada and the US have had snow already this autumn, thankfully here in Southern Ontario we have seen nary a flake. That is a little odd however, since by now we have usually had one day cold enough to see just the tiniest, wee amount of snow floating in the air. It hardly every makes it to the ground, but it is pretty nonetheless.

With snow on my mind, if not in the air, I knitted up some little snowmen. These first five are for a lady I know through Ravelry:

Snow White Snowmen

And these last two were actual a bit of a mistake. They were knit first with an off-white yarn. Oops! But, they are still cute.

Off-White Snowmen

The pattern is Tiny-Tiny MochiMochi Snowmen by MochiMochi Land. They are meant to be really tiny when knit when fingering weight yarn, but I knit mine with worsted weight, and they ended up about 3″ tall. The yarn is Bernat Satin in Snow, Silk (the off-white), Lavender, Teal and Flamingo, and Mary Maxim Starlette in Berry Red and Dark Willow.  You can see close-ups of the first five on my Ravelry project page (if you are a Ravelry member, that is).

And, if it snows soon here in Southern Ontario, we all know whose fault it is.

As an unrelated aside, I’m taking part in the BlogHer NoBloPoMo over on my regular blog. You can find it here.

Little Snowmen is a post from Reflections in the Pond

Knitting black socks isn’t really all that fun. The stitches are difficult to see in anything but bright light, and, well, black can be a little bit boring. And when you are knitting men’s socks, all that black can seem like it is going on forever.

Right now I’m working on Hot Stuff! Socks from Wendy D. Johnson’s book Toe-Up Socks for Every Body using Berroco Comfort Sock in colour Black. I picked the largest size, even though my husband has very narrow feet (sock sizes are generally done by foot and leg circumference, since the length is easily adjustable). I knit tightly, so I figured there wouldn’t be a problem. I could use a small needle size and it would work out great.

Hot Stuff Socks (WIP)

I’m sure you can guess what has happened. After turning the heel, and before beginning the colourwork, I asked my husband to try the sock on to see how it feels and to make sure it was long enough. The length was great, but the sock is just a bit too loose.

Now I need to decide if I press forward and hope that the sock will still be comfortable for him to wear, or do I rip out all that work on a black sock and start again using directions for the next size down. If I was using cotton yarn, I would just leave it, since I know that it will shrink a bit, but Berroco Comfort is acrylic and micro-fibre, so it isn’t going to change size at all.

Right now the socks are in a time out. If I am going to rip them out, I need to distance myself from all the work I’ve put into them for just a little while.

Also, if you haven’t had a chance, please vote in my 2012 Monthly Project poll, which you can find in the right hand sidebar (if you are reading through a reader, you will need to actually head over to my blog). So far, Halloween ornaments have a very narrow lead over small Teresa Wentzler projects.

Black Socks is a post from Reflections in the Pond

Yesterday was a pretty eclectic day for me at the CreativFestival…

(I appologzie for the poor quality of the photos. I took them early in the morning, without using good lighting.)

First, I took Fractured Fair Isles, a knitting course taught by the lovely and funny Fiona Ellis. We talked about how you can play with Fair Isle patterns (those patterns around the tops of Norwegian or ski sweaters),  maybe making them asymmetrical, or using non-traditional motifs, or making unexpected colour changes. We all then made up our own little pattern and knitted it up. Here’s what I came up with:

Little Cars Fair Isles

The bottom is a row of cars and trucks (which Fiona said she loved), and the top is a row of airplanes and a helicopter (which I’m not as proud of, but, hey, they are still cute).

My second class was I am a Creative Soul with Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams. The piece is sort of like a sampler, with lots of specialty stitches scattered around. But the wonderful thing about this design is that it is meant for the stitcher to customize. We brought our own fabric, two or three colours of over-dyed threads, and some beads. Jennifer than let us pick a neutral over-dyed, more special beads, a metallic, and a lovely little charm she and her daughters made. I am totally in love with this design and I can’t wait to finish it. I will definitely show more of it as I get a chance to work on it.

I Am a Creative Soul WIP with threads, etc.

My last class of the day was another serger sewing class, with the same teacher as I had on Wednesday. This class was about what you can do with different serger feet, and it was so much better than the class on Wednesday. I now have a book full or directions and little swatches showing the finished piece. (The piping one didn’t turn out quite right because of a problem with the machine, but I’ve got the idea.) And now I know what kind of feet I’d like for my serger.

Sample of Wired Edge and Zipper from Serger

Today’s classes  include one on basic sewing machine maintenance, and three more stitching classes with Jennifer. And, since the show floor opens today, I may even find some time to shop.

CreativFestival – Day 2 is a post from Reflections in the Pond

More baby knits! I whipped up this little sweater the other week. It took me an obscene amount of time to sit down and sew on three tiny buttons, which is why I’m just posting about it now. (I just don’t like to sew on buttons. I know I’m not the only one.)

Jubilee Cardigan

Adorable, isn’t it?

The yarn is Ella Rae Baby Cotton (a cotton and nylon blend) in colour Ecru. The pattern is the Jubilee Cardigan from Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2010.

Now, I know some people are completely against buttons on baby clothes. And I do understand, especially since it wasn’t all that long ago that Baby Man really was a baby. However, these buttons are sewn on so well I think it would take a bomb to get them off. I even let Baby Man had a good yank at them to make certain. Of course, if the baby’s momma decides to take them off, I’d be perfectly fine with that.

I also knit a wee preemie hat, using some Rowan Milk Cotton in a lovely pale purple. The pattern is Swirl Hat by Sheepy Time Knits (Ravelry download link).

Swirl Hat in Rowan Milk Cotton

And, I made Presto! Baby Hat from the 20 Hats Project (free pattern). The yarn is black Rowan Cotton Rope. Unfortunately, I just haven’t been able to get a good picture of it. But, trust me, it is super cute!

Presto! Baby Hat

And, I think that may be it for baby knits for now. (Especially since the baby has decided it doesn’t want to be a preemie and some of these hats won’t fit. How’s that for gratitude! lol!)  I do still have the blanket to finish. And, with some hard work, it will be done in about two weeks. I may also do a pair of booties to match the pink hat and mitts I made last month, but I think that’s enough for now. I’ve got a couple of sweaters I’d like to make for the little man before it gets really cold, which means I need to get to work!

A Wee Sweater is a post from Reflections in the Pond