Today we met some friends at a park. They have an area there where you can feed the carp. It was amazing to see them. Literally hundreds of these fish just hang out here with their mouths open wide, hoping that someone will throw them some food.

I am trying to learn how to make granny squares. After about 5 I think I have the hang of this one.

There are many different kinds of granny squares. I like the fact that this one sort of makes a cross look in the middle. I am going to make up a bunch of these and then make a poncho or hoodie out of them.

The current pattern is for a hoodie, but I may just make a poncho instead. We will see. Right now I have to focus on making about 60 for a hoodie, so I am rethinking if I want to do that many and then have to sew them all together.

Well this little scarf is actually on my loom. It is pretty slim, so it may be for Bluey. (Ds's bear.)

This fuzzy white yarn is on my needles. I wanted it to be a looser scarf. We shall see how it looks.

It will be warm and it will be soft. Hopefully it will be pretty too.

Here is a scarf and purse I made up. The purse I made messing around adding different yarns to see what it would look like. Well now I know.  I may sew some fabric inside later. It could be a cute knitting bag, or a bag for DD.

We got a light dusting. Not enough to sled. The kids were disappointed and so was I.

Public schools have been out all week. Perhaps returning tomorrow. And we never even got a real snow.

But what a cute picture to remember January of 2009.

At least they got a chance to wear their new scarves and hats I made.

They really like them, and I feel a certain sense of accomplishment.

I just love how this scarf knitted up. I get compliments on it all the time. People say they cannot believe I made it. I tell them it was really easy. It is the yarn itself that makes it look so good. It is a pink fur with multi colored yarn bits. So it knits up pretty and pink but has hues of yellow, blue, and other colors.

I never was much a scarf person before. Now I can hardly be found without one around my

neck. Of course the weather here allows for them.

I used a loom for the hat and hand knitted the scarf.

I used brown yarn and a brown/beige multi colored yarn.

Trying to give a little of a camoflauge look.

I made this Burnt Orange and White hat for DS. Nana made him the adorable popcorn scarf and had

the longhorns patches embroidered on. So I made him the hat to match. 

Here is my 2nd project on the Knifty Knitter Loom. I used the green loom. This time I followed the directions for adding a brim, which makes it look a little more boyish. Ds really likes it.

I am going to make him a matching scarf this week too. (I will hand knit it.) I tried following the scarf directions on the loom, but it seemed to take much longer than just knitting it traditionally. 

One thing I love about our homeschool Co-Op is-that the classes are not just for kids. This semester

I am taking Loom Knitting. One of the moms that knows how volunteered to teach us how.

I made this yesterday as my first project. it was made on the Green loom. The 2nd largest loom.

One thing I really like about loom knitting (After only trying it once.) Is this truly is knitting anyone can do

Heck even my friend who is left handed had no trouble at all. The stitches are so neat. (As compared to my regular knitting where they are sloppier or the guage may change depending upon my mood.)

It turned out really cute. But it is pretty small. It will fit dd's head but is too short for her.

I followed the instructions that came with the loom so I loomed, then changed colors, then changed back to blue again for a total of 7 inches. I found another pattern on Provo Craft that told me how to add the loopy top. (But I want to find out how to make an actual pom pom.) So I can make one for dd.

Luckily I have an adorable little nephew that this should fit perfectly.

I flattened it here so the colors could be seen.  

Here are the jeans. We cut slits in the sides and front and back. (About 5 -6 inch slits.) Making a total of 4.

I used 2 different materials. SInce my friend Lisa had left over materials from her skits. They matched great with the Mary Engelbright fabric as a coordinate.

I just glued the fabric into the triangle. (You spread it a little b/c you want a flare.)

Then I cut off the bottom to make it even with the jean hem.

We also use a little liquid stitch on the ends so the fabric doesn't fray. Here you can see them completed.

Close up of back pockets. I just cut material out from scraps and glued them on. 

 Close up of the bell bottom.

Once a month some of us moms try to get together and work on crafts. We usually scrapbook or make cards. But Leah who is very crafty, came over to show us how to make these no sew bell bottoms and skirts.

I began with a pair of pants that were too short for dd. I cut off the bottoms, making it the desired length for the skirt.

Then I cut on the front and back seams. We cut up partially on the side seams.

Well this poncho came after hours of work and ripping out what I had made twice....I only had two skeins of yarn and wanted to make a poncho for my dd's friend. Her birthday is coming up soon and I thought it would be a nice gift.

I tried to knit the two colors together but could not make it large enough.

So I decided to knit squares. I knit the sqares 6x6. Some I added in other colors in order to stretch the yarn I had.

Then I tried sewing them together but it looked dumb and you could see that I had tried to sew them together. So I crocheted a border around each square. Now the squares are about 7X7.

Then I laid the panels out like this to see how I wanted to arrange it.

 Then I sewed it up, this time not quite as noticeable since I sewed with white yarn.

Then I added some yarn and fibers and buttons for embellishments. This is the Front.

This is the back. (But I made it so it really doesn't matter if she puts in on backwards or not.)

Here it is modeled with DD sitting.

The girl it was made for is taller and has longer arms.

So it will be a better fit on her.

  Here is the other side.

This is my third poncho.

I am working on one for me now...

Well I must admit I like it much better on him. It is called a boatneck sweater and is supposed to be for beginners. My friend Leah, is the one teaching me to knit..SHe helped me add the ribbing to the bottom.

I was pretty disappointed with the way it looked when I finished. The sleeves are really too small for the sweater. But It looks pretty good on him and you cannot really tell it.

So anyway he will have a nice fishing sweater to keep him warm this fall. That is-if he gets a chance to fish, before it gets too cold Maybe I can redo the sleeves, because the sweater is definitely long enough to last him a year or two.

I think I might try a vest next!

Well I am still working on my leg warmers. :sigh: They are a little messed up so I need to take them to Leah to see if she can help me fix them.

But in the meantime I knitted this up. I used a tassel for the collar

instead of a button. 

Now I am working on a sweater for ds. Then a poncho for ME.

One thing I am really enjoying is that in Co-Op this semester I am getting to take a Crocheting and Knitting Class. It was open to everyone, but most of the people in the class are moms.

One of the ladies is a great crocheter and another is a great knitter.  I am still learning how to begin knitting. Pretty much I can cast on. After that it gets a little hazy for me and I seem to drop alot of stitches.

Anyway, I wanted to do something else and started out trying to make dd a poncho. (I decided to crochet it., because I don't need as much help and I can only get knitting help in class.

But the first rectangle turned out to be very small. (But might have made a good doll poncho.)

Anyway I turned it into this purse. Dd really seems to like it.