Gauntlet no more

I loved the baby alpaca on these gauntlets I knitted up from a pattern in "Exquisite Little Knits", soooo soft! However, the color proved to be something I could not wear out, a little too rustic. They have been undone, frogged and are now working their way into my current project. The Skull Illusion scarf on the next post. The color is much better with this scarf, and I will splurge on some more baby alpaca in a more acceptable color, since I know the gauntlets will be perfect for the dreaded winter.

The hat that won't make it

This seemed like such a good idea at the time, a double knit hat with a liver bird pattern for Ronan for Christmas, DH even helped me design the pattern (thanks Chris!). However, after nearly completing the pattern I figured that it's TOO BIG! I haven't had the heart to frog it yet, it shows a lot of time and effort, I just don't think that I can do it again, it's also just not as cool looking as I would have hoped, maybe stripes are needed?

Skull Illusion Scarf

As you can see, it's not finished (yet) but I'm so excited with my first attempt at illusion knitting, isn't it so cool? Anyway, the pattern I got from Ysolda Teague here
the directions are great if the grid is not you 'thing'. For the skull color I used the baby alpaca (from knitpicks) from my undone gauntlets and the black is Encore D.K. (25% wool, 75% acrylic) from a local (and internet) store, Smileys Yarns. I have 2 balls of each and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that is enough. I will let you know. The big thing is that I will have to learn to block now...

Jack the Bear

Isn't he adorable? He's only little 11 inches tall (when stood up) and his arms and legs move. I found him relatively quick and easy to do, using some of the yarn I had left over from Mr. Bean's bear #2. I knitted this from a pattern in The knitted Teddy Bear, which has some really sweet bears in it, I got the book from the library, but I'm pretty certain that I will need to buy it now because they are too cute and these bears will make some great gifts for friends and friends kids, particularly when I splash out and actually buy some decent yarn. I forget which bear it was and I don't have the book right now, but I will try and remember to put up his real name soon enough.