Sad.

A few years ago I knitted my first ( and so far, only...) pair of socks.

(I am planing on knitting more socks. I just haven't gotten around to it.)

 I did the yellow on first. by the time I was getting to the end I realized that I wouldn't have enough of the yellow to make another sock. So I put blue on the toe and decided to make the left sock in opposing colors. Every one asks why I don't have matching socks on...

THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THAT WAY!!!

they are a pair, really they are!!!

~

The other day I noticed that I had a hole in the left sock.

This.. was a sad day. I love these socks. there cheerful color-ness.

they make me feel rebellious to the laws of fashion.

who says that socks have to be an exact pair?

I am thinking that I may darn them so I can get a bit more life out of them.

This is Peanut. she was bugging me really bad that day.

You can see the hunger glinting in her eyes.

Isn't she a cutie? I love that thing! ( and yes I did just refer to my dog as a "thing".)

Happy Darning~

Kacie

The Ring bearer.

Spring is in the air! and so is the snow....

~

I haven't gotten that much done on Frodo, but I have the foundation of him.

First the yarn.

For his sweater I got Favorite Wool 100%Wool. colors-Lichen and moss.

I love this yarn because it's CHEAP! only $4.20 a skein!

And for his pants I got

Berroco Ultra Alpaca-light-50% super fine alpaca 50% Peruvian wool. Color-brown

This yarn is so very soft! I love working with it.

Since Hobbits are VERY fond of color ( especially Green and Yellow.)

I was SOOO happy to finally be buying yarn that is bright and cheery instead of..grey..

I was grinning from ear to ear in the yarn shop :)

~

The look that I had in mind for Frodo was an almost vintage Golfer look.

short nickers and a fair isle. V neck sweater.

It took me a few tries to figure out the sweater. but I finally got it

If you look closely you can see that in the color pattern I put golden rings ....

Almost as if it where destiny that Frodo would be the Ring bearer ;)

 ya, I don't think this out to much at alllllll.

I still need to do his under shirt not to mention his hands and feet.

This is for prospective.

From the pictures above, you don't really realise that he is a lot shorter then Gandalf.

(they ARE side by side.)

 that's all I have for today so

Happy Knitting~

Kacie.

Back in the saddle.

I finally decided to knit myself a pair of mittens!

and being who I am, I didn't want just a pair of plain mittens...

so I got onto Ravelry and found a pattern

Eugenia's Mittens

by~Mollie Woodworth.

They are a really lovely cabled pair of mittens.

So I got some Vanna's choice acrylic yarn in Olive.

I didn't follow the pattern to the T.......

I wanted the cables to "weave" more so I repeated parts of the pattern more then what the pattern said to.

Since I did go off the pattern a bit, I messed the cables up..*cough*...can you tell where?

I'll give you a hint some  "weave" and some don't.........

 Over all I am very happy with them!!

they will keep my fingers nice and toasty! :)

I really LOVE doing cables! they are just so much fun to do!

Happy Cabling~

Kacie

P.S. I've started Frodo. Just thought I would let ya know! pictures are coming!

Mounting frustration and Bunny bread.

I am getting to the point on Gandalf, where all I really have to do is all the small little things. such as-

satchel, scarf, and sword....

I have started Glamdring(his sword.) but I have gotten rather discouraged.

I've got the blade "done", I just don't know where to go from there...

I think I'm in a knitting rut right now. I'm just very discouraged from it all. yesterday was no exception.

I decided that I needed some bunny bread.

He kinda burst in the oven but he was a very tasty bunny.

I can't really say "happy knitting" today, so

eat a Bunny, it helps!~

Kacie.

Gandalf's Cloak.

I have finished Gandalf's Cloak!! it only took me a few weeks...

~

After knitting his sweater, I didn't have what I thought would be enough for his cloak. So I got another skein,

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE silky wool! use it!!!

 I just thought I would show you how I wind my yarn.

This is our piano bench.

I wanted the cloak to be full, so I made it full!

this is the back.

shaping for the arm hole.

for ease of riding on horse back, I thought that the cloak should have a split down the back.

You see that little hole? those are belt loops. I figured it would be a lot easier to knit them into the body of the work then trying to sew on little loops afterwards.

boy! am I glad I got more yarn! I had just enough to do the back and start the right front with the first skein.

I didn't figure you would want to wade through a bunch of pictures of grey yarn and knitting needles, so I'm skipping forward to the blocking.

This is all I have left of 2 skeins of Silky wool.

and here is his cloak!

It makes him look a little fat....but I bet that thing would be SOOO comfy!

the back.

It's starting to really look like Gandalf now!

I just find it funny that I put all that work into his sweater, when while he's wearing his cloak, you can't even see it....ehh, you and I know it's there!

plus if I want to I can just take his cloak off!

happy knitting~

Kacie

Pinch me I'm....German.

On Sunday my Brother and I will attempt to run a 5K!!

This will be my first run that I will be in. I'm really excited, except the fact that I am REALLY out of shape and haven't really ran for a few months...

I had fully planed to be in shape for this.

Then I got THE cold.

plus our road has been covered with ice for the past three months.

Having said this, I really am excited to run! it should be "fun", or so I keep trying to tell myself..

The other day my Brother reminded me to where green.

I love green! but after looking in my closet, I came to the startling discovery that don't really own anything green!

How could this happen???

So, I had to make something green A.S.A.P!!!

So, here it is! a Green Ear-warmer!

~

Pattern for

 St. Patty's Ear-warmer

designed by- Kacie.

~

This pattern is knit in garter st. knitting 2 strands of yarn at once. this pattern is super easy and fast! if you know how to knit, increase, decrease, and bind off, you can knit this!

Yarn- Baby Soft, color Pistachio and dark green worsted weight.

Needles-size (US) 9 pins.(straight)

                       ~

CO 9 st.

knit for 16 rows

~k1,m1, knit until last st. k1, m1.

~knit.

~k1, m1, knit until last st. m1, k1.

~knit.

~k1, m1, knit until last st. m1, k1.

knit for 83 rows. or until, holding CO edge at back of head, the needle comes just to back of ear on other side of head.

~k1, k2 tog, knit until last 3 st. k2 tog, k1.

~knit.

~k1, k2 tog, knit until last 3 st. k2 tog, k1.

~knit.

~k1, k2 tog, knit until last 3 st. k2 tog, k1.

knit for 16 rows. Bind off. sew back seem.

                                ~

Since it is knitted from 2 strands it is nice and warm!

If you have any questions about the pattern, ask away!

Wish me luck on my run!

happy Running/knitting!

Kacie

These boot's where made for walking.

I finally got around to buying boot yarn!

Cotton Classic 100% Mercerised cotton. color-Black.

Since the cotton is a little shiny it gives an almost leather look, which is what I was going for.

It was $6.25 for the skein. A bit much for what I got..

I am thinking that when I run out of it I might try and find some stuff that is a little cheaper.

I wanted the boots to have a cuff on them. So instead of knitting them separate then having to sew them on I purled the first 5 rounds. So when you fold the top over it would make a nice cuff.

here it is with the cuff rolled down

picking up the st. for the heel.

the finished boot's!

After sewing the boot's on I decided that I had sewn the boots on to low.

Making Gandalf's legs freakishly long...

So today I sewed them on higher. the picture above is before I resewed them on.

~

I wanted to share another book that I am using that is helping me greatly!

I got it at a used book store for just a few dollars.

and so far it has been a great buy!!!

I highly recommend getting this one! it has the history of knitting and lots of helpful tips

I also really love the illustrations!

I love this guy. He just looks so wise. If you where to ask him the meaning of life he would tell you-

"Knitting, my child"

haha, this one just makes me smile :)

I'm off to go work on Gandalf's cloak now, so.

Happy Knitting~

Kacie

Paint on my hands.

Once again I'm showing you all, that I DO have other interest's other then knitting.

I have always enjoyed painting.

There's just something about mixing the colors and getting paint EVERYWHERE that helps me to relax and unwind if I'm really stressed.

~

Now for a little back history.

A few years ago my Mom got me a reproduction china head doll for Christmas.

through the years I have enjoyed sewing historic clothing for her.
This is her. Her name is Ophelia.

For a while now I have been wanting to paint her portrait, but I haven't been brave enough.

I decided that this needed to change.

So a few weeks ago I asked my Dad ( who is an amazing woodworker/master craftsman (he would be the last person to say so, but he is!!) ) if he would make me some wooden ovals to paint.

And being the awesome Dad that he is, he did!

you can almost see the pencil lines on the wood.

I started with the skin tone and miner shading.

then I moved onto her hair.

then I painted her dress. then...... the part that I had been dreading...

the facial features...BOOOOO

Even though I enjoy painting doesn't mean that I really know HOW to paint!

 I have always had trouble when it comes to painting people and there face's. But I had to try!

It's not perfect. But it's the best I could and ever well do!

I am very happy with how her mouth turned out though. It is usually where I have the most problems.

I am planing on painting another portrait of another doll that I have but I need another oval first.*coughDadcough*

I will have to post up some more photo's some time of all the dresses that I have made for Ophelia.

that's another day..

I don't think you can EVER grow out of playing with dolls!
Why let the little girls have all the fun?
Happy Painting~
Kacie