High speed yarn winder

This is a new addition to my craft accessory: a high speed large size yarn winder. It can handle a skein of yarn up to 10 oz. 

It is double the size of my old smaller winder. The small red one will only pull a ball of yarn to about  4oz.

The high speed has extra wheels in the gears.  It does work much faster than the regular one. The manual said 3 to 4 times faster.

Before I could use it my husband has to put some heavy grease on all the sprocket-wheels, then it works fine.

It only takes minutes to wind up three skeins of lace weight yarn with a swift..

The winder is called the U-nitt Metal Jumbo yarn/wool ball winder MH701. I got mine from Amazon over the Christmas sales period.  So you see, I have been busy planning for my new year projects.

My pink and grey morning jacket

I started this jacket a long time ago but did not have enough yarn.  I managed to find some grey yarn in the same thickness and was able to finish it.

The pattern is free and you can find it in Ravelry; just search for "Filigree Cardigan".
It is also available at  http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/filigree-cardigan

It calls for chunky yarn and uses 6mm crochet hook, so it is very quick to make up. I would point out that you would need to choose the yarn with care.  It needs to drape well.

My Maple Mohair Jacket

I love this time of the year.  With all the holiday festivities over, I am busy making plans for the New Year. 

I have been busy finishing some old projects.  This mohair raglan jacket is a classic pattern from the UK Yorkshire Mohair Mill.  

If you are wondering why I knitted a winter jacket to wear in Florida, it is because it can be very cold to work in an office with air conditioning. The weather outside is warm of course.   

I hope you had a wonderful time over the holidays and here’s wishing you a great 2013.

A cleaning Sunday

My husband and friends have gone down to Miami to watch the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins game.  I decided not to go, stay home and tidy up my craft room instead.

I started off by sorting through all the patterns I have dumped on my desk and organized them in a binder.  I finished the arms of my mohair cardigan and am working on the body now.

 I spent this afternoon to install 2 new software and re-install 2 old ones in my computer..

Intwined Studio and Crochet Charts are new.  The Cross Stitch and MasterCook are old.

I don't normally shop over the Thanksgiving holiday.  This year is my first ever shop on-line on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.   I bought a few things; all craft related.

Intwined Studio is a knitting pattern design software $44 and the Stitch Works Crochet Charts is a crochet pattern design software $50.  The applications have a similar look and feel as the other Office programs like Excel and Words.  They are new products, came out in 2010 and 2011.  They have user groups in Ravelry already.  So happy that they keep the price affordable so I do not have to break my piggy bank.
 

Baby Winter Cap

I knitted a baby cap to try out the pattern.  It is very quick to make and it is so cute.

 

It is knitted in the rounds.

 I added six little pink flowers to decorate the sides.

Material: worsted or Aran weight.
Knitting needle size: 5.5mm
Pattern: free from Drops Design (http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/us/pattern.php?id=3860&lang=us)

Teddy Bear - all done

We decided to stay home this Thanksgiving holiday.  Since I am not cooking, I have plenty of time to finish my teddy bear toy.

Going outside for some day light.

Size: 11 inches tall standing
Pattern: Birthday Bears & Blankets by Annie's Attic
Material: Red Heart TLC Amore in Chocolate color
Crochet hook: 4mm

Teddy Bear in progress

The clock goes back today; winter is here.  The weather is beautiful this time of the year.
Sitting outside with Poppy, having a cup of tea, enjoying the morning sun, and crochet a few more rounds of a new project.

A teddy bear in progress, just all body parts at the moment.