FO Friday 170: Rodents Galore

Spiral Tarot

I underestimated the number of size 6/0 miyuki beads in an 11g. tube, so while I wait, panting and twitching, for the arrival of the postman, let's look at another prior FO, a far more attractive picture, I guarantee. 

You'll remember that before Xmas I made a really cute and quirky tea cosy for my allocated Secret Santa SIL. Well, that was so popular, I have received a few requests from other people who feel that their lives are not complete without twinkly rodents - and first to shower filthy lucre in my direction was my friend Michelle, which resulted in this:

  As you can see, I kept the previous modifications of sparkly beady eyes and glossy stiff whiskers; I used some grey yarn for the mice as well as various tones of brown, changed the ribbon, and embroidered 'OATS' on the side in chain stitch, for that realistic sack look.     Mice eat oats, don't they ?

I liked it, but most importantly, Michelle said she loved it.

Much as I wish I could put it off, I cannot find any more excuses not to vacuum the floor while I wait for the postman to ring twice - I can't even find the dog, he is so well-camouflaged amongst the dust bunnies. As you know, he is my lil chihuahua, so rather than cuties like this:

My dust bunnies look are far more like this:

Wish me luck, and escape while you still can, to Tami's Amis where you can see some beautiful projects ....

FO Friday 78: Buses

What with not having finished anything and the swap, it seems like ages since I've done a FO Friday - and in fact, it is: the last proper one was FO Friday 67; and there was that in-between Wednesday one. Of course, now it looks as if I have been stockpiling against some kind of craft zombie apocalypse.

You remember that Uber-Cool Brother confessed to losing the 2nd scarf I made him ? Well, the third time is the charm, so he has now received the scarf made from 2 skeins of scrumptious Drops Alpaca (such brilliant prices, very reasonable, purchased from Garn Studio with the aid of my friend Miss.Mags) in the colorway '6834 Dark Petrol'  using the 'Flemish Block' stitch pattern; unfortunately, I  cannot get the color right in any of the photos - it is really a navy blue shot through with turquoise/teal, not the flat charcoal back color presented here:

Then Mini Diva's birthday approached, which meant a slight hiatus from knitting that resulted in this:

And I have also completed my 2nd Lady Bertram, using Crazy Zauberball in 'Indian Red', destined for my Auntie Hazel:

I wanted more shawl body than edging, compared to last time, so I kept increasing the stockinette section until I had 122 stitches on each side of the 2 spine stitches; I completed the first set of charts, then repeated charts B and A once more, which left me with a mere 10 or 15 yards of yarn left after binding off.

So now I must focus on Chrissy's Lily's Slice of Pi KAL, and the other VIP (Very Important Project) that has a fast-approaching deadline ....both laceweight on skinny needles, both moving as dispiritingly slowly as the most turgid of molasses ....

Pop on over to Tami's Amis to see things finished more regularly and in a timely manner.

FO Friday 67: Karise Redux

So here it is, another lie exposed .... last Friday I told you all about my likely final Finished Object of 2011, the Karise Shawl I made for Mini Diva's BFF:

But it took a mere 2 skeins of King Cole Merino 4ply in 'Lilac' and odd moments stolen throughout a 4 day period, to knit up another Karise:

Actually, I ran out of yarn with about 80 or so stitches left to bind off .... so I cheated and finished with a bit of Stylecraft DK in a very similar lilac that I had hanging about. You can only notice if you know where and what to look for.

This Karise is destined for my Auntie Vera ( my great-uncle David's 2nd wife: his1st wife Una Jean was my mother's Aunt) in Scotland, as a thank you for her many kindnesses to me.

I am cogitating my New Year goals .... and will likely share them with you soon - but I wouldn't hold your breath.

Meanwhile, over at Tami's Amis, you will find more end-of-year loveliness .....