Kashmere Kitties are here!

I've fondled the 100% cashmere sweaters at the thrift shop so often, only to be disappointed by a hole (or two!) or the wrong size, or any number of reasons. Well, as I am a very tactile person, I finally thought of a re-use for those super-soft sweaters: Kashmere Kitties!

I used my Ghost Kitty pattern, and after a HOT wash and dry, cut out some kitties in cashmere....oh MY they are soft!

I've listed the first batch in my Etsy shop, and dear daughter has already demanded one of the first black ones as I finish them. Still tricky for me, the hand-sewing. Handling scissors is sooooo painful. But they're just so cute!

OH....also got to re-name my Etsy shop this week! Now it reflects where I am at this time of my life: Red Panty Designs! yay!

the Last of 2009!

Ack! a New Year! well, I need to finish off 2009 before I look ahead....


I knitted 2 owls for my daughter for Christmas, from a very cute pattern. The Brown Owl was 2 strands held together, one a heathery wool, and the other an orange-ish alpaca, and the white owl was Cascade 220, with white angora in the head, wings and tail (because there wasn't enough for the whole body) When I felted them in the washer, the brown owl got covered with the little white flecks, and the ladies I knit with thought that was part of his charm, like he'd been hiding in a barn somewhere, so I left them! His eyes are felt and buttons, and the white owl has plastic toy eyes. I love their feet; the little talons! The pattern was very easy!

then I decided to try a new owl mitten pattern, so I came up with this one. When I started knitting, though, I had to subtract some stitches since the variegated background is worsted weight rather than the DK I normally use. Almost done!

and a Hat to Match!

I had originally used the leftover handspun yarn from my Neck Warmer to knit up a bowl that I intended to throw into the washing machine and felt/full. Sort of an Easter basket, I was thinking. BUT....both my husband AND my mom thought it looked like a matching hat for the Neck Warmer. And truthfully, when I plunked it on my head, it didn't look half bad! It was a little big, and the edges were curling up since they were just knit plainly. After thinking about it for a day or two, I ripped it out last night, and re-knit it as a proper hat, with ribbing at the edges and the whole thing is a bit smaller than the bowl!

And now I have a spring color ensemble!

Knitted Felted Rings!

Several months ago I bought a cute pattern for some knitted, felted rings. I tried it over the weekend, but had to do some MAJOR adjustments to get it to work correctly. However, I think the results are great!! I used up some scraps of Cascade 220, Jo Sharp DK and Galway wool. I sewed on real freshwater pearls, mother of pearl, turquoise, and malachite.

I got my Big Bag swap today!!

Oooo, and it's so Pretty!! My bag was knit by Elizabeth! The colors are PERfect, and there were such wonderful goodies! There was a beautiful piece of batik fabric, Elizabeth says it was dyed by a local artist, AND Elizabeth herself dyed the lovely yarn hanks!! Very impressive! There was divine tea, and thankfully some row counters (I definately need those!) as well as a book that looks good and spooky. A bar of Dagoba chocolate with Lavender in it (I absolutely adore that brand!) and some Eucolan wash topped it off! What a great swap, I have to say this one was easily my very favorite! Thank you thank you Thank you Elizabeth! To check out all the cool bags that are being swapped, go to the Big Bag Kal Swap!

Big Bag KAL progress!

So I have started my Big Bag for the KAL and Swap!! My swappee likes red and blue, and I didn't have any wool in the house suitable, poor me! So I just HAD to go to the LYS Monday, and spent aLOT of money (well, they were having a sale, so I got some stuff for me, and I had to get the Norah Gaughan books 1 & 2, and...)

Anyway, I changed up the stripes pattern a bit, of course that's making counting the rows a challenge [I apparently need a row counter, hint, hint! Any old cheapie one would do!]




That is a 6" aluminum ruler lying on the bag, by the way...it is HUGE!! Using Cascade 220, a 10.5 needle produced a gauge that was just too tight. It felts better if there is a bit of play in the knitting, so I went up to the next size I had on hand, which was a 15 needle. Anyway, it should felt just fine!

I didn't want this to end up too "red, white and blue" patriotic, though, so I remembered these cute little felt flowers. I've got red and light blue, and I'm going to sew them onto the dots after the felting is done, probably with little buttons, or possibly beads.

I think it will be lovely, and I'm about 20 rows from the end, yea!!

Knitting kodama dolls

I've been knitting adorable little kodama dolls over the weekend. I found the pattern ages ago, and was afraid to attempt the double-knitting tubular technique, but the pattern was VERY good at explaining it, and it was a breeze! The pattern was here: http://smartygirl-gets-crafty.blog.ca/2006/12/

They are quick, easy, and use up little bits of yarn. They felt really quickly in the kitchen sink, just like she says! They are about 4" tall.

Smartygirl has a cool pic of the anime they come from; I guess they're little ghosties!