Pipers piping...

Corrected 8th September 2008 - row 18.
Corrected 9.9. - row 48

cast on 39 stitches
1.- 4. *K1 P1* K1
5. K1 P1 K1 P33 K1 P1 K1
6. K1 P1 K35 P1 K1
7. K1 P1 K1 P33 K1 P1 K1
8. K1 P1 K35 P1 K1
9. K1 P1 K1 P14 K3 P16 K1 P1 K1
10. K1 P1 K18 P1 K16 P1 K1
11. K1 P1 K1 P15 K1 P17 K1 P1 K1
12. K1 P1 K18 P1 K16 P1 K1
13. K1 P1 K1 P14 K5 P14 K1 P1 K1
14. K1 P1 K14 P7 K14 P1 K1
15. K1 P1 K1 P12 K7 P14 K1 P1 K1
16. K1 P1 K14 P1 K1 P7 K12 P1 K1
17. K1 P1 K1 P10 K7 P1 K1 P1 K1 P12 K1 P1 K1
18. K1 P1 K11 P4 K1 P1 K1 P7 K10 P1 K1
19. K1 P1 K1 P8 K7 P1 K1 P1 K6 P9 K1 P1 K1
20. K1 P1 K9 P6 K1 P3 K2 P6 K8 P1 K1
21. K1 P1 K1 P6 K5 P2 K6 P1 K6 P7 K1 P1 K1
22. K1 P1 K7 P6 K2 P7 K2 P5 K6 P1 K1
23. K1 P1 K1 P4 K5 P2 K8 P2 K6 P6 K1 P1 K1
24. K1 P1 K5 P7 K3 P10 K1 P5 K4 P1 K1
25. K1 P1 K1 P3 K4 P1 K10 P5 K6 P4 K1 P1 K1
26. K1 P1 K5 P5 K7 P9 K1 P4 K4 P1 K1
27. K1 P1 K1 P3 K4 P1 K9 P8 K4 P4 K1 P1 K1
28. K1 P1 K5 P4 K8 P14 K4 P1 K1
29. K1 P1 K1 P3 K14 P7 K4 P5 K1 P1 K1
30. K1 P1 K7 P3 K7 P14 K4 P1 K1
31. K1 P1 K1 P3 K14 P4 K2 P1 K3 P6 K1 P1 K1
32. K1 P1 K8 P1 K1 P3 K5 P13 K4 P1 K1
33. K1 P1 K1 P3 K12 P1 K1 P1 K2 P1 K4 P8 K1 P1 K1
34. K1 P1 K8 P5 K1 P2 K1 P1 K1 P12 K4 P1 K1
35. K1 P1 K1 P3 K11 P1 K2 P1 K3 P1 K3 P1 K1 P6 K1 P1 K1
36. K1 P1 K7 P1 K2 P2 K1 P3 K1 P2 K1 P11 K4 P1 K1
37. K1 P1 K1 P4 K9 P1 K3 P1 K3 P1 K1 P4 K1 P5 K1 P1 K1
38. K1 P1 K6 P1 K5 P4 K1 P3 K1 P9 K5 P1 K1
39. K1 P1 K1 P5 K7 P1 K4 P1 K4 P6 K1 P4 K1 P1 K1
40. K1 P1 K5 P1 K5 P1 K4 P1 K1 P3 K1 P5 K8 P1 K1
41. K1 P1 K1 P9 K2 P1 K2 P3 K1 P5 K1 P5 K1 P3 K1 P1 K1
42. K1 P1 K4 P1 K5 P1 K5 P1 K4 P1 K1 P2 K10 P1 K1
43. K1 P1 K1 P8 K3 P1 K2 P3 K1 P5 K1 P6 K1 P2 K1 P1 K1
44. K1 P1 K3 P1 K5 P1 K6 P1 K2 P8 K8 P1 K1
45. K1 P1 K1 P7 K8 P2 K1 P6 K1 P2 K3 P1 K2 P1 K1 P1 K1
46. K1 P1 K2 P1 K4 P1 K1 P1 K6 P1 K2 P8 K8 P1 K1
47. K1 P1 K1 P7 K8 P2 K1 P7 K1 P7 K1 P1 K1
48. K1 P1 K8 P1 K1 P4 K2 P1 K2 P8 K8 P1 K1
49. K1 P1 K1 P7 K8 P2 K1 P1 K1 P5 K1 P7 K1 P1 K1
50. K1 P1 K15 P2 K3 P6 K9 P1 K1
51. K1 P1 K1 P9 K4 P4 K1 P15 K1 P1 K1
52. K1 P1 K16 P1 K18 P1 K1
53. K1 P1 K1 P33 K1 P1 K1
54. K1 P1 K35 P1 K1
55. K1 P1 K1 P33 K1 P1 K1
56.- 59. *K1 P1* K1
Cast off and weave in ends.

Drummers drumming...

cast on 39 stitches
1.- 4. *K1 P1* K1
5. K1 P1 K1 P33 K1 P1 K1
6. K1 P1 K35 P1 K1
7. K1 P1 K1 P33 K1 P1 K1
8. K1 P1 K9 P13 K13 P1 K1
9. K1 P1 K1 P12 K13 P8 K1 P1 K1
10. K1 P1 K9 P13 K13 P1 K1
11. K1 P1 K1 P13 K1 P1 K3 P1 K3 P1 K1 P9 K1 P1 K1
12. K1 P1 K10 P2 K1 P1 K1 P1 K1 P1 K1 P2 K14 P1 K1
13. K1 P1 K1 P13 K3 P1 K3 P1 K3 P9 K1 P1 K1
14. K1 P1 K10 P2 K1 P1 K1 P1 K1 P1 K1 P2 K14 P1 K1
15. K1 P1 K1 P13 K1 P1 K3 P1 K3 P1 K1 P9 K1 P1 K1
16. K1 P1 K9 P13 K13 P1 K1
17. K1 P1 K1 P12 K13 P8 K1 P1 K1
18. K1 P1 K9 P13 K13 P1 K1
19. K1 P1 K1 P16 K2 P2 K2 P11 K1 P1 K1
20. K1 P1 K9 P1 K1 P1 K1 P3 K1 P2 K2 P4 K10 P1 K1
21. K1 P1 K1 P7 K6 P1 K2 P1 K4 P1 K1 P1 K3 P6 K1 P1 K1
22. K1 P1 K6 Å4 K1 P1 K1 P5 K1 P2 K1 P6 K7 P1 K1
23. K1 P1 K1 P5 K6 P1 K2 P1 K6 P2 K7 P3 K1 P1 K1
24. K1 P1 K3 P5 K2 P1 K2 P7 K1 P2 K2 P5 K5 P1 K1
25. K1 P1 K1 P3 K5 P2 K2 P1 K8 P3 K1 P2 K4 P2 K1 P1 K1
26. K1 P1 K3 P3 K3 P1 K3 P8 K2 P1 K3 P4 K4 P1 K1
27. K1 P1 K1 P3 K4 P5 K10 P2 K2 P2 K3 P2 K1 P1 K1
28. K1 P1 L3 P3 L2 P1 L3 P10 L5 P4 L4 P1 K1
29. K1 P1 K1 P3 K4 P4 K12 P2 K1 P1 K4 P2 K1 P1 K1
30. K1 P1 K4 P4 K3 P12 K3 P5 K4 P1 K1
31. K1 P1 K1 P4 K5 P2 K12 P3 K4 P3 K1 P1 K1
32. K1 P1 K4 P5 K2 P19 K5 P1 K1
33. K1 P1 K1 P5 K24 P4 K1 P1 K1
34. K1 P1 K6 P22 K7 P1 K1
35. K1 P1 K1 P7 K21 P5 K1 P1 K1
36. K1 P1 K7 P 20 K8 P1 K1
37. K1 P1 K1 P8 K18 P7 K1 P1 K1
38. K1 P1 K9 P15 K11 P1 K1
39. K1 P1 K1 P11 K13 P9 K1 P1 K1
40. K1 P1 K15 P5 K15 P1 K1
41. K1 P1 K1 P15 K3 P15 K1 P1 K1
42. K1 P1 K16 P3 K16 P1 K1
43. K1 P1 K1 P14 K5 P14 K1 P1 K1
44. K1 P1 K14 P7 K14 P1 K1
45. K1 P1 K1 P13 K7 P13 K1 P1 K1
46. K1 P1 K14 P7 K14 P1 K1
47. K1 P1 K1 P13 K7 P13 K1 P1 K1
48. K1 P1 K14 P7 K14 P1 K1
49. K1 P1 K1 P13 K7 P13 K1 P1 K1
50. K1 P1 K14 P7 K14 P1 K1
51. K1 P1 K1 P14 K5 P14 K1 P1 K1
52. K1 P1 K1 P33 K1 P1 K1
53. K1 P1 K35 P1 K1
54. K1 P1 K1 P33 K1 P1 K1
55. K1 P1 K35 P1 K1
56.- 59. *K1 P1* K1
Cast off and weave in ends.

I just can't leave you off like this... here's a drum ornament to crochet for your tree *blush*

12 Days of Yule - Last Episode

It has come to my attention that dishcloths are despised and unvalued projects... Tsk, tsk, tsk...
So for the last project I'm going to post a couple of pretty ornament dishcloths.

Melissa's Bell and Sue's ball.

These are easy to make,
fun to knit even if one isn't experienced in knitting,
lovely little project to take the thoughts away from the mastodont epic knitting project,
quick and appreciated, because they are so versatile, and HAND MADE!!!

So, just go on and knit them, any color cotton will do, and if you don't give them away, use them to bring a little Yule spirit to your kitchen.
It's much more fun to wipe the surfaces and clean the dishes with a PRETTY cloth than a boring, dull store bought plastic thingy.

And as something cute and funny, Christmas Dolphin :-)

And then my own special Yule gift to all of you: 12 Days of Christmas Dishcloths ;-)

Now Yule is over... for this year ;-)

I'm back, but you have to wait for the twelfth day till tomorrow :-) Actually, the 12th day of Christmas is 5th of January, so there's plenty of time :-D

Here's a photo of me opening my Yule presents :-) I had a lovely Yule with my parents, sisters and their families :-) I got good gifts, some of what I need, some of what I want and some lovely, not needed surprises, to lighten up my days :-)
When I got home there were more surprises waiting; three swap packages :-) One Halloween package and two Christmas packages. The Halloween package took good time to arrive... there's still a couple of those on their way - or not.
I made some Yule gifts, and I think they were well received, but my family behaves so well it's difficult to say ;-)
My husband and dog had been "alone" home the Yule, and I got a very loving and affectionate welcoming :-D I have two boys clinging on me, as if they'd never been hugged and cuddled with :-) Now it's almost 2 A.M, my hubby is sleeping and my dog came to fetch me to bed :-)

So good night to all :-) I wish your Midwinter feast was lovely :-)

12 Days of Yule - Episode Eleven

This is pineapple lace Christmas tree.

Christmas Tree Air Freshener
Christmas Tree with 12 inch styrofoam cone core

I am going to throw this Christmas Tree Towel Topper on the deal ;-) It's kind of cute too LOL

12 Days of Yule - Episode Ten

Furry Christmas! Nice knitted wreath and small Yule tree. This is what I think is sensible and meaningful use for special effect yarns. You can use any furry yarn or yarn that looks like moss, or the unusable mohair...

If you don't have any awkward fake fibers in your stash, you might want to try making the wreath with loops instead.

12 Days of Yule - Episode Nine

More holiday cross stitches. There's Snow Place Like Home by Barbara Ana.

Am I boring? Probably... but I've been cleaning the whole week, and finding... er... what ever. That grey fine powder that gathers all over the place, especially on top of things. And I'm allergic to that stuff. So I'm sore, feel like I'm getting flu, and tired, and snotty - again! and all that, so this is what you'll get today. It's a really nice chart, you know. You could make a Yule shopping tote with this as decoration.

Anyway, we had Chanukkah party today. Cardamom coffee and Sufganiyot :-) I don't drink coffee, so it's tea for me :-) I love doughnuts! :-)

12 Days of Yule - Episode Eight

Did I mention that I like poinsettias? Here's a cross stitch ornament with poinsettia, "Shades of Christmas"

Not into poinsettias? You're weird... Here's a Santa Cat ornament. You can either crochet it or cross stitch it.

And here some really beautiful Christmas angels, one for each year.

------

What have I been doing? I'm trying desperately get my Six Sox Turkish Socks done, and for some weird reason they are the MOST BOOOOORIIIING socks I have ever knitted... I don't understand. The pattern is nice, I like colorwork, the yarns are nice, the colors are nice, and the socks are going to be wonderful... but I CAN'T STAND KNITTING THEM!!!
So I crochet things in between. I even started a tatted snowflake, just to avoid knitting the damned socks... *sigh*

12 Days of Yule - Episode Seven

Now, this is a... er... I really don't know how to describe this... You remember that I said about kitsch a couple of days ago? LOL
Now, THIS is kitsch! And I simply love it!
I don't know what to do with it, but here's the swan doily :-)

Besides, "On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me seven swans a-swimming". They do have the pattern for a doily with seven swans a-swimming ;-)

What about geese, then?

Mimi's crocheted lawn goose outfits
Mary Sue has developed 30 original, unique crochet outfit patterns and is selling all these as an e-book...

Now, talk about kitsch! I have seldom laughed as well :-D

Well... not for everyone's taste, I can think ;-)
Here's a filet crochet goose :-)
Ducks in a row afghan - make them in white, and you'll have geese a-laying :-)

Edited later on 13th :-)
Some pictures of swan doilies from a Chinese site
Small doily with four swans
Swan symphony - a little different 6 swans doily
with patterns
Really cute 8 swan doily with ruffles and waterlilies :-)
And another similar swan doily :-)

12 Days of Yule - Episode Six

I really like poinsettias. They are my favorite Yule flowers. You know that the red leaves are not petals of the flower. The little yellow dots are the flowers, the red leaves are just leaves. Also, it's poisonous for cats to eat. So, keep an eye of your flowers and cats. ALL Yule flowers are bad for cats.

Anyway, this quilt is a beauty. It probably won't be done in a couple of days, but perhaps for next Yule ;-)

Poinsettia Wreath

P.S. Make a visit to this site: http://knittingpatterndepot.blogspot.com/

Crocheting lace

I joined a couple of crochet groups at Yahoo!
This is my first effort in lace crocheting for a long time. The needle and yarn are as they should be, but my hand is way too loose.
My grandmother told me, when I was 10 and asked her why her doilies are so smooth and pretty, and mine are loose and sloppy, that it's just a matter of experience, and my hand will become better the more I crochet. It was only now I realised, that the most important thing is to have a steady tension on the yarn and good rhythm in crocheting.

Yesterday Annie's Attic published a pattern of the kind of angels I was looking for day before, and I have been fighting with angels... I forget rounds, cannot understand simple instructions, didn't care about counting my stitches, and it was absolutely horrible. So I have been "tehcorcing" and frogging - crocking as my husband says (nothing to do with crock, everything to do with crocs) - swearing over the poor angel, and crocheting the pattern over and over again, with small variation every time. I think it is as it should be now.

A member of the group found a Chinese photo album service, and there's a lot of people, who have been saving different craft projects, crochet charts, cross stitch charts, and everything possible... I have been spending a couple of nights there, looking at the vast supply...
If you are interested - and prepared to loose a lot of time, and get a lot longer "to do" list, then here's one of the contributors. When you're done, go and see her fans and friends...

12 Days of Yule - Episode Five

The project for today is a small, cute pillow.

I really like pillows too... when I was small, I dreamed about a bed filled with pillows... all kinds of pillows, oriental, lace pillows, pillows that looked like clouds, or carrots, or sheep... I love pillows. So - fill your couch with Yule pillows LOL

Patchwork pillow with trees
Patchwork pillow with star
Large patchwork pillow
Sewn Christmas Cat pillow
Knitted "ho ho Santa" pillow
Knitted reindeer pillow
Cross stitch Noel pillow (wait for the ads to load up and then close it.)
Appliqued "Trim Up The Tree" pillow
Crocheted Christmas Wreath pillow

12 Days of Yule - Episode Four

Today we'll be making an angel. Not the one in the picture, that's Noreen Crone-Finlay's "Angel of Knitting". I just like it :-)

The project for today is Angela. I love doll making too :-)
Here's another angel cloth doll, and here's third.
Too complicated?
Ok. Here's as easy as can be angel cat.

I find the lacy doily sort of an angels kind of fascinating... Sort of kitsch, but... I don't know. There's something intriguing in kitsch - after all, it IS kitsch ;-)
Here's a flying angel ornament in the same style. Looks more complicated than it is.

This one, knitted tiny angel, is really cute :-D

Here's a tape lace angel. It will be wonderful as an ornament, as card decoration (or scrapbooking) or in a crazy quilt. It would work as a bookmark too.
Yes, it's bobbin lace. You can do that, can't you?

How about a tatted angel? Surely that... No. Ok. Well... just browse this page yourself. I'm sure you'll find an angel that fits your budget, skills and time frame :-)

It's Finland's Birthday :-)

Some patriotic patterns :-)

First, it's virtually impossible to find blue-and-white ribbon anywhere outside Finland, so you can make your own ribbon to be worn on the wintercoat by taking blue and white yarn, casting on about 30 stitches and knitting 4 rows with blue and then 4 rows with white and then binding off and weaving in the ends.
You can also crochet this.

You can also stitch a small Finnish flag.

I don't approve using the Finnish flag as blanket (afghan) or dishcloths, but it's quite nice to take any two-colored pattern and make it in blue and white. For example this iPod bag is perfect :-D

This is also very pretty, though it's a handkerchief, and wiping one's nose on the Finnish flag is NOT ok.


Here's a couple of small charts for you to make for Finland

12 Days of Yule - Episode Three

Snowmen :-)

This is Mr. Flurry.

If that's too much - or you'd like to give him company, here's one tree ornament snowman and here's another, and here's a third, that can be made into fridgie or pin as well.

This one is REALLY easy, so no excuses LOL

more snowpeople patterns
crochet snowpeople
folk art snowman (pdf file)
Frosty the snowman (pdf file)
roly-poly snowman (pdf file)
mr Snow Man
mr and mrs snowman
snowman
snowman bookmark
flat snowman
Bo the Snowman ornament
Wright's crochet snowman
snowman potholder
snowman doorhanger/greeter

Some Yule Patterns

crocheted:
http://home.wideopenwest.com/~sag55/christmas.html

http://shonasplace.greycastle.net/Crochet/Patterns/christmas.html

Happy Hooker's Christmas
http://members.aol.com/DREAM13150/Christmas.html

12 Days of Yule - Episode Two

The heart wasn't so small or quick as I thought... but here's another - probably also larger than presumed ;-)

Knitty Gritty's knitted and felted poinsettia wreath

It is Pick up Sticks! poinsettia wreath.

If you feel a little overwhelmed by it, then here's a cute little felt poinsettia pin
(And somewhat cryptic mat... ;-))

or perhaps a crocheted version :-)

December 1st

Lacevember is over. I did manage to knit some lace. A couple of lace bookmarks LOL
Well, it IS lace!

I almost finished my 6Sox socks. The new 6Sox socks are slipstitch chainlink socks.

I managed to get my swap packages sent. It was a fight, and I'm going to take next month of off swaps, even though Color*iffic is tempting me with "polkadots and peppermint sticks". I can give myself a package ;-)

Feline Flip-Flop's theme for December is Silver and Blue... I can see many Russian Blues ;-) They are both silver and blue :-D

Softie of the month is "Winter Wonderland" :-)

In Whiplash, the theme is "gift or decoration" - and the time to do this is till next year! Now, NO-ONE can say they don't have time or idea!

12 days of Yule - Episode One

I am having a little Yule calendar of my own :-)
Twelve small projects to knit or crochet (perhaps even cross-stitch or something else) when waiting for Yule :-)

Yes, yes, I know, no-one has any time :-D But print these out and save for next year :-) Yule will come again in 13 months ;-)

First day: a small multidirectional heart :-)
http://www.interweave.com/knit/interweave_knits/web_projects/Heart_Sachet.pdf

It would do fine as a Valentine's token as well :-)