Masterpieces: My deer for Valentine's Day

More than a month has past with no posts...  Last post was a bit intense and wasn't sure how to follow it up...but thankfully I finished some knitting so let's start there! 

Project details
Ravelry Project link
Pattern: my dear - a deer trophy by Claire Garland
Yarn: Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool in Natural
Cast on: February 3rd, 2015
Finished: February 13th, 2015
Notes: When I saw this pattern, I simply knew I had to knit it for my hubby!  He's a hunter and has been hoping to get a buck so he could get it mounted.  His grandfather has one that is named Buckey and I know it's always been special to my husband.  I figured while he's waiting for his, I would make him this one.  I wasn't sure if he would like it but he loved it!  I was so happy with his reaction and it put him back on the knit list. .He had been put on the no-knit list because of an incident with a hat from Target.  I'm not going to run out and start knitting him a bunch of stuff but he's knit worthy again.

I haven't talked too much about this on the blog but I swear I'm NOT a toy knitter!  I keep repeating this to myself as I seam things together.  I want to love it because they are so cute but I struggle with the stuffing and seaming.  My Christmas secret knitting for the girls is still...well not done!

I had an issue with this one because I overstuffed the head...which I had understuffed the last toy I knit and struggled so I was thinking I was learning from my mistake by making another one.  The head after you knit it on a loose gauge is supposed to shrink down. BUT if you over stuff it...it won't shrink and hence will be slightly too big.  After throwing a small temper tantrum, I'm really happy with how it came out and SO excited that my husband actually hung it on his wall with his other prized stuff.

Hope you like it!

Happy Knitting!

Did you knit your significant other a Valentine's Day gift?

Masterpiece: Alicia's Wedding Shawl

When my friend and podcasting co-host announced that she was engaged, I immediately told her I was knitting her wedding shawl.  We worked together over the course of a couple months to figure out what yarn and pattern she wanted. Originally we picked a different pattern but it just wasn't working out so we went back to the drawing board and I could not be happier with how this turned out! 
Project details
Ravelry Project link
Pattern: Aphrodite by Sivia Harding
Yarn: Juniper Moon Farm Findley
Cast on: February 8th, 2014
Finished: April 26th, 2014
Notes: This is one of those projects that is so special!  I really wanted it to be perfect!  I took my time with figuring out the pattern and once it clicked I was able to knit this relatively quickly.  There are beads in the edging that you can't really tell are there but add to the weight and helps with the drape.  So glad I was able to knit this for such a very special day!

Alicia surprised me by actually walking down the isle in the shawl!  I freaked out because I had been following the wedding through her instagram tag and I saw her walking down the isle in the shawl and was just floored!  It was so awesome and made me feel like I was there. 

For her bridesmaids, Alicia knit them beautiful Traveling Woman shawls.  This is my favorite picture of all the shawls because you can tell a Knitter was getting married!  Love this so much!

Hope you enjoyed these pictures!  Alicia was such a beautiful bride and I'm so thankful to be her friend.

Happy Knitting!

FO round up

There has been knitting/spinning/crocheting and PLENTY of it lately!  As I've already mentioned, the Harry Potter Knit/Crochet House Cup has brought on productivity like there has never been in the barknknit house!  I am focused and I have plans each month and love it!  I have managed to knit all things the last two months but I am pretty worried about November.  I have two big projects to complete...my BROOM and my OWL and still have classes, Tri-wizard tournament, yule ball, and Headmistress Challenge to do.  This might be the month I don't get all things done....but I WILL try!

I've been able to get a lot of Christmas gifts knit and have more planned this month.  I'll be doing the same kind of collage as I did last month for the term but I wanted to throw up some FO pics for today's post.  Bring some knitting back into this knitting blog. haha.

Today we'll focus on hats!  There were  a couple hats knit last month and 2 more planned for this month.   Since most of these are gifts I can't say who they are for but here they go.  These three were all done using the Rib-a-Roni hat by Jane Tanner.

Always my favorite model! :)



This is one of three matching hats, this is the biggest of the three.

This is my model when CGR is sleeping and need to post my class. 

I also sent my SIL who is expecting a baby sometime between now and the end of Dec.  We just hope that baby wants to stay put a little longer but he/she is wanting to break free.  Her due date is Dec 24th but not sure she'll make it that far.  She had her baby shower a couple weekends ago and I sent her some hand knits so she'd have a gift from us to open and the baby would have some hand knits to keep him/her warm.  You know every baby need some cute knit items.

Aviator hat and some booties

Well, hope you enjoyed the round up!  There has been more productivity but you'll just have to wait to see it all in the collage, which should get posted soon!  I'll also share more of my projects through this month as I'm working on them.  Lots going on...especially since this is the last month of the Fall term.  December is a break month but it will be planning for the new term that starts in Jan!  So fun!

Happy Knitting!!

PS...yes, I realize green has been my theme lately.  It's not even my favorite color but I just happen to have a lot of it in my stash right now.