FOs: Bump in the Night Swap monsters!

Oh I can't believe I forgot to post pics of the monsters I made and sent off to my swap partner for the Dangercrafts group's Bump in the Night swap!

I came up with an idea for a monster in a costume and improvised my way from there! I used the Angus the Attic Monster pattern from Rebecca's Big Book of Knitted Monsters and his body shape worked very well with my plan for a pumpkin costume. I used Malabrigo Rios, a superwash wool for this project and wow, it is the softest yarn ever! I loved knitting with it. I also used up the leftovers to make a few "Pumpkin Chunks" by fiddling a bit with the Monster Chunks pattern (free pattern on Ravelry or her website) too. I'll leave my notes at the end of this post on the Chunks. I may write up my pattern for his costume too later. Maybe I'll work on an Xmas themed costume too! who knows!

I also sent her some pretty post its, tea, sour patch kid and warhead candies, chocolate eyeballs and pumpkins, a pumpkin candle, Halloween and monster stickers, Halloween pencils and some mini yarn skeins for her Beekeeper Quilt.

Now, onto the pics!

Monster Chunk modifications were as follows:

She writes it to start with 36 stitches and knit to the top then to pick up 36 stitches from the cast on row and knit down to the bottom. I just did it all in one piece:

1. cast on 6 sts, join to work in the round
2. kfb all sts
3. (k1, kfb)around (18 sts)
4. (k2, kfb) around (24 sts)
5. (k3, kfb) around (30 sts)
6. (k4, kfb) around (36 sts) Rows 7-22. knit even
7. (k4, k2tog) around (30 sts) Add some stuffing and your safety eyes now before closing top.
8. (k3, k2tog) around (24 sts)
9. (k2, k2tog) around (18 sts)
10. (k1, k2tog) around 12 sts
11. (k2tog) around (6 sts) Break yarn and thread through remaining stitches.

Making the stem on top was an afterthought for me so I made a little 5 stitch icord and sewed it on afterwards. If I do them again I will just change to green wool at row 28 and do the icord for a few rows there, THEN break the yarn and pull through.

Swap - Dangercrafts Bump in the Night

I am utterly spoiled!

I received an AWESOME swap package from LoveOfWool on Ravelry. The swap was in the Dangercrafts group on Ravelry and the theme was "Things that go Bump in the Night".

She sent me the greatest Black Swan themed monster made of wool she dyed herself! She has her own crown and great costume! Check out her mask! Reminds me of awesome cat-eye glasses from the '50s! She also sent me a skein of yarn she also dyed, a whole bunch of mini yarn balls for hexipuffing, a notebook and stickers, chocolates, tea and teabags and a cute card.

I cant wait to pick which monster to use that yarn for!

FO: Harold the Two'th

I finished Harold number 2 for hubby.

Aren't those little toes and thumbs adorable!? I think he's become my new favourite Dangercrafts pattern! I must make a whole gang of them.

This guy was made of the leftovers from one of my shipments of the Dancing Dog Dyeworks Monster Mania yarn club shipments -- Waltz Worsted in the Monster in a Lemon Tree colourway.

Hexi Puff Swap

I joined a Hexi Puff swap in the Tiny Owl Knits group on Ravelry. I volunteered to have a couple partners.

I received my package from Petra in Germany!

She spoiled me -- 3 hexipuffs plus enough yarn to make probably 4-5 more, 3 pretty stitch markers, tea and chocolate which was consumed before I had a chance to take the pic!

I can't wait for mine to reach her. I hope it doesnt take too long!

Hexipuff check in! Week 4

I'm up to 43 puffs this week.

My plan is to make a giant blanket about 6x8 feet big. Maybe 6x6. According to the pattern, I'll need somewhere around 700-800 puffs. I figured about a year to make them all but when I actually calculate it .... if I make about 5 puffs a week, it will take me almost 3 years to make enough for a blanket that big!!  I'm sure there may be weeks I don't knit a single puff ---- I DO have other things to do with my time too, you know.. and other things to knit on. But, there may be weeks I make more than that. It's ok though ..... I *was* planning on this being a long term knit.

So, on with the progress photos!

Doggie Swap package received!

I joined the Dancing Dog Dyeworks First Anniversary Doggie Swap on their Ravelry group.

This was a secret swap --- I didn't know who I was receiving from, only who I was sending to. Swap packages were to include a knit doggie in a DDD wool, pattern and colours of your choice.

I finished up my partner's package and mailed it out a few days ago. She's in the USA though and I'm sure it will take at least a week to get there. I don't want to post pics of it until after she gets it.

The package that my secret spoiler sent me, however, arrived today! Yay!

From "MostlyMunchies" on Ravelry, I received such a fantastic package! I feel so utterly spoiled and I just love everything in the package.

There was so much in the box!! Two really adorable puppy pals (they are so cute I just LOVE them!), a gorgeous handmade gnome themed project bag, a little knit gnome, pink and yellow yarn, a small felted bowl with 2 mini balls of yarn for my Beekeeper’s Quilt, post it’s, a scented candle, lip balm, pretty stitch markers and a glow in the dark ball for my dog.

Here's some pictures ---

If my spoilee loves the package I sent even half as much as I love this one it will be awesome!

Beekeeper Quilt, week 3 check in

I got alot of puffs done in this past week and I have alot of pictures! I did a bunch for my own quilt plus 6 for swaps. Most of the ones that will end up in my quilt from this week were swap ones that just didn't cut it. They either didn't turn out as nice as I wanted them too or the charts were off centre a tad --- good enough for me but not a swap!

So, my total is up to 29 now plus 6 for swaps.


I've said it before but I have to say it again -- I am loving this project! I think it may be my favourite ever. Each little puff is like a project unto itself, especially when it's embellished with duplicate stitch or embroidery. I get such a little thrill each time I finish one. I can't wait till I get to a year from now and have enough for a blanket.

Here's some for my quilt... 

A mix of puffs... for mine and for swaps...

Swap puffs!!!

My first duplicate stitch attempt --- I think I am in love.