Crazy beautiful sun...

crazy beautiful sun
Originally uploaded by adhd_knitting

This is exactly what the sun looked like today Sunday, August 30, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada at sundown. I have never seen anything like this is my entire life. It was surreal...

Red Hot Hot Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Hot Hot Chili Pepper
Knit up a bunch of these Red Hot Hot Hot Chili Peppers. A fast and fun way to spice things up with your knitting.
















What you'll need:
1. US 6 needles straights or circulars
2. Fjord yarn Red and Dk. Green
3. Darning needle
4. Filler *Optional
Here's How:
With MC (red) CO 1 st.
1. K1 f&b (2 sts)
2. Purl
3. K1 f&b 2 times. (4 sts)
4. Purl
5. K1 f&b, k2, k1 f&b. (6 sts)
6. Purl
7. K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
8. Purl
9. K1 f&b to end. (8 sts)
10. Purl
11. K1 f&b EOS (every other stitch) starting with k1 f&b on 1st stitch. (12 sts)
12. Purl
13. K2tog 2times, k4, k2tog to end. (8 sts)
14. Purl
15. K1 f&b 2 times, k4, k1 f&b to end. (12 sts)
16. Purl
17. K1 f&b 3 times, k6, k1 f&b 3 times. (18 sts)
18. Purl
19. *K2tog, k1, rep to end. (12 sts)
20. Purl
21. *K2tog, k1, rep to end. (8 sts)
22. Purl
Cut red yarn. Add green yarn for the stem.
23. Knit even.
24. Purl
25. K2tog to end.
26. K2tog, BO
With darning needle seam together. You can add filler if you want a fuller looking pepper...

OCD POOL FELTING FEST

OCD POOL FELTING FEST
Originally uploaded by adhd_knitting

It's a pool party, and the only one who came was me and my long forgotten knits and bits...

ocd felt feast

ocd felt feast
Originally uploaded by adhd_knitting

This is what happens when you get an OCD stroke of felting frenzy. I took some of my little knitted and crocheted items that I hadn't thought about in ages and threw them all into the pool and felted them with soap. It was a long hot day...

My First Fondant

First Fondant
Originally uploaded by adhd_knitting

This was my first attempt at making a birthday cake using fondant. I learned a lot on this cake, and now know some do’s and don’ts for the next time. And oh yeah, there’s gonna be a next time. The possiblities are endless…

My Big Fat Hairy Cacti...

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
Yarn Fjord color Dk. Green
Mystique White by Knitting Fever

Novelty yarn for Desert Flower *Optional.
Needles 9 US (set of 4 DPN's) You can use the Magic Loop method or 2 circular needles. Whatever feels good to you.
Filler to stuff your cacti.
Darning needle

HERE'S HOW:
With your DPN's and MC (Dk. Green) CO 48 sts. dividing them evenly onto 3 needles and join to workin the round.
Round 1-25 Work 4x4 ribbing for 25 rounds.
Rnd 26 Decrease round: K2tog,(staying in pattern) k2, p4, k2tog, rep to end ending with p4.
Rnd 27-30 Follow the pattern evenly as follows. Knit the knits, purl the purls.
Rnd 31 Dec. round: K3, p2tog, p2,rep. to end.
Rnd 32-33 Work in pattern.
Rnd 34 Dec. round: K2, k2tog., p2, rep. to end.
Rnd 35-36 Work in pattern.
Rnd 37 Dec. round: K2, p2tog., p1, rep. to end.
Rnd 38 Work in pattern 2x2 ribbing.*Optional you can add eyelash yarn held together with MC if you would like to add to the topportion.
Rnd 39 Dec. round: K2tog, k1, p2tog, p1, rep. to the end.
Rnd 40 Work in pattern.
Rnd 41 Dec. round: K1, p2tog, k1.
Rnd. 42 Work in pattern.
Rnd 43 Dec. round K2tog to end. (6 sts)
With your darning needle sew through these 6 stitches and gather and seam through to secure thecacti. Cut yarn.
*Optional If you used wool, you can hand felt your cacti to had firmness and stability.
Take your filler and fill your cacti until it is evenly filled.

To cover the bottom of My Big Fat Hairy Cacti:

You will need your DPN's, pick up sts. evenly onto 3 needles. join.
Round 1: Purl
Rnd 2: P2tog to end.
Continue rounds 1 and 2 until you have a few sts. left.
Then with darning needle, sew through remaining stitches and secure.
Cut yarn.

PIG'S IN A "FELTED" BLANKET

This is another way to reuse or redo felted crochet or knitted wool.
My version of “Pigs in a Blanket”. You won’t be serving these little porkers at any cocktail parties,
but you’ll squeal with delight at how much fun they are to make.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
FLAT FELTED PIECES OF PINK AND CREAM FELT. (1 SQUARE 4"X4" PINK , 1 SQUARE 4"X4" CREAM) *YOU CAN MAKE THEM SMALLER OR LARGER.
2 TINY CIRCLES OF PINK FELT FOR THE EARS. 1/4" OR SMALLER
OVAL SHAPE PINK FELT FOR THE NOSE (YOU'LL HAVE TO EYEBALL IT FOR SIZE).
SCISSORS
NEEDLE AND THREAD
GLUE
BLACK BEADS FOR NOSE
PLASTIC EYES

PIGGIES IN A FELTED BLANKET WITH
A SIDE OF SUNNY-SIDE-UP EGGS AND
SAUSAGE…

HERE'S HOW:
Use the picture as a guide.
For the Piggy part you take your pink square and roll it from side to side. Sew together.
Then take the cream or contrasting color felt for the Blanket and wrap it around the Piggy (wrap like you would a pastry). Sew together.
Then you take the tiny pink circles for the ears and just pinch them and place a stitch to secure them so they stay curved and then sew them in place.
Now glue the oval pink nose and sew or glue the little black
beads for the nostrils.
Now add the eyes with glue.
There ya go, “Piggies in a Felted Blanket”.

"Cactus Cakes"

Here's a link to the "Cactus Cakes" tutorial:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23510559@N06/sets/72157621973217005/

What a great way to recycle, upcycle, reuse, and redo something old to something new.

No, you don’t eat them silly, you display them, anywhere you want. They are made from leftover wool knitted or crocheted mishaps. I can’t bear to throw anything fiber related out. I must admit I didn’t come up with the name “Cactus Cakes”, though. I was just calling them "Cactus". A fiber friend marked this as a favorite and said they looked like “Cactus Cakes”, hence (who says hence anymore) the name “Cactus Cakes”.

What You'll Need:
1. Long pieces of felted knits/crochet fabric. The long strips will depend on the size "CC" you are going to make. 24"
strips will make a decent size "CC"
If you don't have any pieces from past, "OOPS, I accidentally washed my favorite cashmere sweater".
You can also go to any thrift, salvation army, or your neighborhood garage sales to find old knitted/crochet blankets,
sweaters, etc.
Or just go through your closest, I'm sure there is something just collecting dust that can be felted for this project.
If all else fails, then just knit or crochet a flat piece of fabric using yarn that will shrink (felt).
2. Very sharp scissors or rotary cutter.
3. Fabric glue or needle and thread.
4. Fun fur or any brand of eyelash novelty yarn.
5. Beads, embroidery, studs, sequins, etc. can be added as well.

How to make:
1. Take your felted fabric and cut it into long strips approximately 24" long and approximately 1"-4" wide.
(Remember these are just suggestions. You can make your strips any length or size you want).
2. Take your first strip and now you are going to cut V's across the top border from end to end. Repeat this on all
your strips. You will need to make some longer and shorter then others if you want to roll one inside another in order
to be able to make them into different levels.
3. After you have completed cutting all your strips, you are going to roll them into your "CC". To make them stay you
can either sew them (I like to use upholstery thread, they come in many colors.) because it is extremely strong. Fabric
glue is another option. Either way is fine.
*Optional, you can add beads, embroidery, studs, sequins, or whatever you can find to embellish your "CC".
Make one or make a ton. They will bring color and character to any room.
You can also add them to headbands, or as a brooch, the options are endless...

"My Big Fat Hairy Cacti" Pattern:

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
Yarn Fjord color dk. green
Mystique by Knitting Fever

Optional* Laines Du Nord Opaline Yarn used for Desert Flower
Needles 9 US set of 4 DPN's You can use the magic Loop method or 2 circular needles. Whatever feels good to you.
Filler
Darning needle
HERE'S HOW:
With your DPN's and green yarn CO 48 sts. dividing them evenly onto 3 needles and join to work
in the round.
Round 1-25 Work 4x4 ribbing for 25 rounds.
Rnd 26 Decrease round: K2tog,(staying in pattern) k2, p4, k2tog, rep to end ending with p4.
Rnd 27-30 Follow the pattern evenly as follows. Knit the knits, purl the purls.
Rnd 31 Dec. round: K3, p2tog, p2,rep. to end.
Rnd 32-33 Work in pattern.
Rnd 34 Dec. round: K2, k2tog., p2, rep. to end.
Rnd 35-36 Work in pattern.
Rnd 37 Dec. round: K2, p2tog., p1, rep. to end.
Rnd 38 Work in pattern 2x2 ribbing.
*Optional you can add eyelash yarn held together with MC if you would like to add to the top
portion.
Rnd 39 Dec. round: K2tog, k1, p2tog, p1, rep. to the end.
Rnd 40 Work in pattern.
Rnd 41 Dec. round: K1, p2tog, k1.
Rnd. 42 Work in pattern.
Rnd 43 Dec. round K2tog to end. (6 sts)
With your darning needle sew through these 6 stitches and gather and seam through to secure the
cacti. Cut yarn.
*Optional If you used wool, you can hand felt your cacti to had firmness and stability.
Take your filler and fill your cacti until it is evenly filled.
To secure the bottom of the cacti:
You will need your DPN's, pick up sts. evenly onto 3 needles. join.
Round 1: Purl
Rnd 2: P2tog to end.
Continue rounds 1 and 2 until you have a few sts. left.
Then with darning needle, sew through remaining stitches and secure. Cut yarn.

FUNTTONS

I AM IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING MY FUNTTONS AGAIN…LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS A PARTICULAR CHARACTER YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE…

These FUNTTONS are light as a feather. I can make them in any theme you like. They can be made into buttons, necklaces, rings, magnets, pins, earrings, stitch markers, or anything else you can think of...
1. I first make the base. This is the button that I created many years ago. You can't imagine how light and airy they are.
2. Then you choose a design, theme, whatever.
3. I then take your picture/pictures, theme, whatever and create these fun Funttons. Both sides can be decorated. The front of the button is slightly rounded, the back is completely flat.
4. I can add crystals or studs to your funtton if requested. Then I lightly sand them to make sure they are smooth.
5. After all the art work is applied, they are then sealed. This is the longest part of the actual process. I seal them approx. 4 times for a stong seal and shine. Sanded once again when they are completely dry.
6. I can drill a small hole through the Funtton for you if desired.
7. Then I ship them to you and you can decide what you are going to use them as. The options are endless...
So that is what goes into the making of my "Funttons"

"Wind Dancing Wind Chimes"

I made this wind chime out of vintage jewelry for a Ravelry friend in memory of her mom. I also wrote a poem to go with it based on information my friend sent me about her mom...

Your Panties Rock!

Don’t get your panties in a knot. Unless your felting fiber rocks...
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

1. Bag of office supply style rubber bands.
2. Old pantyhose (if you use fishnet stockings, they will make a cool fiber indentation in your rocks).
3. Yarn that can be felted.
4. Washing machine with a HOT cycle.
5. Laundry soap. 
6. See note below 
7. *Optional, bells to put inside your yarn balls before felting them.

**Optional, I used rubber stamp/ink pad to use as a guide for my needle felted word "KNIT" on one of my rocks.
If you decide to do this technique, only stamp one letter at a time because the ink will smear while you are needle felting each letter.

HERE'S HOW:
1. Gather up leftover yarn that will felt. Enough to make the size rock you are seeking. Remember
that there will be shrinkage.
2. Make sure that the yarn you use is a natural fiber that can be felted.
3. Make sure that you wind your yarn into tight little balls or big balls, it doesn't matter. Size is irrelevant.
4. Then grab a pair or two of some old pantyhose.
5. Take the yarn balls to be felted and start to knot them into your panties like the photo's to the right.
on the right. You will need lots of rubber bands to tie them with. Make sure your not wearing your panties at the time…
6. When all your balls are knotted up, throw them into the washing machine on the hottest cycle.
Run them through the whole washing cycle to get as much water out as possible. If they aren't felted enough after just one wash, do it again until your satisfied with your rocks.
7. Let them dry. Completely… Drying time will depend on the yarn and the size of the rock.
Display them as is, needle felt them, or use them as a pin cushion. Whatever you choose. Your
Panties Rock!
*NOTE
This is a PM I received from one of our creative minded Ravelry member PamelaBee. I thought the idea was brilliant and asked if I could add it as a bonus to this project.
She said of course, so here it is:
PamelaBee said: Just a random thought (you get a lot of these when you get older). If you stuff a bell inside your initial ball of yarn, you can transform these into cat toys and give them to cat-owning people who have severely hacked you off. The constant tinkly noise will get on their nerves but they’ll be stuck with it because it will, of course, become the cat’s favourite toy… :)
I said: Pamela, your brilliant. Can I post this with my pattern and of course you get full credit your name included? I love your way of thinking. Hugs, Gail
PamelaBee said: Course you can - glad it raised a smile. I’ve seen a similar type of ball at our local County Show and the lady had put beads inside one of those little plastic containers that Kinder Eggs come in - (don’t know if you have those in the US but any tiny plastic container will do just to increase the noise level) and stuck it inside the ball before winding and felting. You would then have a double whammy and combine the torture with both cat and baby … :)
I said: LOL, I’m going to edit my pattern right now with your add on. Hugs, Gail

"BERRY PICKIN'S"

"BERRY PICKIN'S"
Originally uploaded by adhd_knitting

Size
small/med
Needle
US 6 / 4.0 mm US 9
A fruity fun way to display your strawberries.
Here’s the pattern:
Yarn used: Comfort by Berroco 9701 (Cream), 9755 (Red), 9720 (Beige), I also used Green
Needles: US 6 and US 9 Circulars 16” Set of 4 DPN’S US 9
Darning Needle
Extra Novelty Thread or Yarn to embellish the strawberries. I Used Tilli Tomas w/beads.

Hat Pattern:
With US 6 circ. Needles and the cream yarn, CO 80 sts. And join to knit in the round. PM (place marker) Working st st (knit every round when working in the round) Be careful not to twist any sts.
Rounds
1-10- Knit
11 – Add the red yarn with the cream and K1, Sl1, to the PM
12 – cream only knit even.
13 – red only knit even.
14 – cream knit
15 – red knit
16 – cream knit
17 – red knit
18 – with cream only purl
19 – with red only purl
Now cut the red yarn and using the cream only knit rounds 20-24, cut cream yarn.
Change to larger circular needles and using the beige yarn
25-28 Purl
29-32 Knit
33-34 Purl
35 – Knit
Now Decrease rounds.
36- K8, k2tog to end. (72 sts.)
37-38 Knit
39- K7, K2tog to end (64 sts.)
40-41 Knit
42- K6, K2tog (56 sts.)
43- Knit
44- K5, K2tog to end. (48 sts.)
45- Knit
46- K4, K2tog to end. (40 sts.)
47- Knit
48- K3, K2tog to end. (32 sts.)
49- Knit
50- K2, K2tog. to end. (24 sts.)
51- Knit
Now switch to DPN’s if you haven’t already.
Divide how ever many sts. You have left evenly on three of the needles. (8 sts., 8 sts., 8sts.)
52- K1, K2tog. to the end. (16 sts.)
53- Knit
54- K2tog. to the end. (8 sts.)
55- With your darning needle and the remaining 8 sts.draw through and close the top of the hat. Darn any loose ends in.
Strawberry Pattern (make 2) I added a 3rd strawberry for flavor.
Using the red yarn and US 9 needles
Co 3 sts.
Row 1- Inc. Knit f&b of first st, k1, knit f&b of third st. (5 sts.)
2- Purl
3- K2, kf&b, k2 (6 sts.)
4- Purl
5- Knit f&b next 2 sts., k2, knit f&b last 2 sts. (10 sts.)
6- Purl
7- Inc into 1st st and then every other st to the end. (15 sts)
8- Purl
9- Inc. into EOS (every other st) to end. (23 sts.)
10- Purl
11- Now add the green yarn and knit 1st st green and every 5th st. green.
12- p1 red, p3 green, p2, red, p3 green, p2 red, rep. to last 2 sts p2 green.
Now cut the red yarn.
13- Knit all green across row.
14- Purl
15- K2tog 5 times, k3tog, k2tog 5 times. (11 sts)
16- Purl
17- K2tog 2 times, k3, k2tog to end.
18- P3tog, p1, p3tog.
Now with the 3 remaining sts and 2 of the DPN’s start working your I-cord in green for 6 rows.
Cut green yarn and with the cream yarn cont. working your I-cord for approx. 10”-14” or desired length.
Repeat Strawberry Pattern for other side of hat.
Then mark the sides of the hat that you want them and sew them on…

"FELTED FREE FLOWING FLOWERS FOREVER"

"FELTED FREE FLOWING FLOWERS FOREVER"
Originally uploaded by adhd_knitting

UP-CYCLE, RECYCLE, REUSE, REDO, FOR A FAST, FUN AND FREE WAY TO HAVE A GARDEN FOR LIFE.
Green Thumb not included, or needed!


FELTED FREE FLOWING FLOWERS FOREVER
copyright © adhdknitting
Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted
Cascade Yarns 220 Wool
Noro Kureyon
CROCHET/KNITTING
Instruction’s for your “FFFFF” garden.
Preparation for your room divider:

You should first sand the area you are going to use for your “FFFFF” garden. I used a fine grade of sandpaper and lightly sanded the area I was doing as I went along. (I didn’t want open areas to be sanded and dull looking). If you are going to do any painting on the divider, do that first. The painting thought came to me as an after thought, I did however attempt to paint around the garden.NOT A GOOD IDEA…

I then went through all my mishaps, frogged or just unused felted knitted or crocheted projects from my stash. (thrift stores are also a great resource for old knitted/crocheted sweaters, blankets, etc.). *Important note: when buying used items that your not sure of their fiber content, please be sure to read all labels to make sure they can be felted. If there are no labels, make sure to test a section before cutting the fabric.

If you are going for a specific color theme, then try to coordinate that ahead of time before cutting and gluing your “FFFFF” onto the divider.

I then cut them into petal shapes for the flowers.(you can use stencils or cookie cutters for any shape you choose)

For the stems, I basically did the exact same thing, except I cut long strips from my leftover recycled wool and then rolled them and scrolled them to form the stems. You can also use I-cords to achieve a 3D effect for the stems or the flowers.

A FABULOUS WAY TO PLANT A GARDEN

I used just a regular craft glue. Alene’s put’s out some really great glues. Here is a site that has different types of glues for all types of projects: www.beaconcreates.com/cchart.html

Bazillion Bullion Bag

Bazillion Bullion Bag
Originally uploaded by adhd_knitting

I have OCD to thank for this one. Yes, I learned how to make “bullion's” and I decided to take about 50 skeins of Kureyon yarn by Noro and separate the colors. Yes I separated all the colors to make these “bullion's”. I know some of you may not believe this but by the time I finished crocheting all these “bullion's” I had over 1,000 beautifully separated color coordinated “bullion's” crocheted of separated Noro yarn. How do I know there were over 1,000, well one of my sons and I counted every single one of them. Then we separated them into piles of each matching color. After this long process, I still didn’t know what I wanted to do with all these wonderfully separated color coordinated crochet “bullion's”. I placed them in the corner and just looked at them for a while until I came up with this fabulous bag. I love it. I don’t know if I will be making any more “bullion's” for awhile, though.

Pattern from
ADHD KNITTING

There are two ways to create this bag.
1st Option:
You can recycle an old knitted or crocheted bag from boring to extraordinary. Just by revamping your bag to create your own “Bazillion Bullion” bag. That is how I made the original bag. The bag was a friends who asked me to spice it up, and well, let’s just say I went a bit OCD and I’m glad I did.
In the pictures to the left you can see the original brown bag as it was given to me.

Bullion Pattern:
Depending on the size of the bag you are going to use will depend on how many bullion’s you are going to have to crochet. In the bag I made I used approx. 200 bullion’s including enough for the strap.
Follow this link to understand how to create the bullion’s.
www.healmyhands.com/how_to/bullion_stitch.html

After you have crocheted all your bullion’s, you will now need to sew (darn) them all together. I made 10 rows of 15 bullion’s across. Neatness or evenness isn’t that important.
When you have your bullion cover completely sewn together you will now sew it to the front of your knitted or crochet bag. After you have done this you will add a border of bullion’s in an uneven fashion to add that extra interest to your bag. (look at the border in the pictures to the left to see how I did the bottom bullion’s. I then lined my bag, (my girlfriend actually did the lining) she is an amazing experienced seamstress. I used two different fabrics to compliment the colors of my bag. Batik is the main fabric and then I used a Embroidered Sheer chartreuse fabric for the inside of the pocket. I then added magnetic snaps (optional) across the top of my bag and finished off the strap with approx. 30 more bullion’s. On the strap I didn’t bother to sew them together first as I did on the bag. I sewed them directly onto the strap itself. I could of done the same thing with the bag, but I found it much easier and quicker to sew it together first. I did not sew the bullion cover to the bottom of the bag. I like how it hangs. You’ll see when you do it yourself. Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions regarding this technique.

2nd Option: is to knit or crochet your own bag:
Here’s the pattern for a basic generic knitted bag:
You will need:
2 ball of Iceland Crystal Palace Yarns
US 13 needles straight or circulars:*

Actually you can use any yarn or size needle you like, depending on the yarn you are going to use, and the size you are going to make. The bag pattern I posted is just a Basic bag pattern to give you an idea. I also felted my bag just a bit to give it better structure and more stability. You can only do this if you are using a natural yarn that can be felted. Be sure to refer to the yarn label.
Bag Pattern:
CO 40 sts.
Work garter stitch for the entire bag until piece measures 20”. Then BO stitches loosely. Fold bag in half and seam both sides together.
Strap:
US 13 and Iceland
CO 4 sts. and work garter stitch until strap measures your desired length, and BO. I worked mine approx. 30”.
Sew strap to each corner of the bag and put aside.
Now work your crochet bullion pattern as listed in the tutorial link given above.
Then follow the directions above to complete your fabulous “Bazillion Bullion” bag…

"Indian River Poncho"

"Indian River Poncho"
Originally uploaded by adhd_knitting

"Indian River Poncho"

This poncho can be knit to any size just by changing the amount of stitches you cast on, and on the amount of rows you choose to knit.
You can use this basic pattern as a guide.

Here's how to knit this super fast and easy poncho:
This poncho is worked in three panels.
1st panel: With US 13 needles and any variegated (preferably hand dyed yarn)
CO-30 sts. wk. st.st. for 15" BO
2nd panel: CO 50 sts. wk exactly the same as panel 1.
3rd panel: CO30 sts. rep. as panel 1.

After you have finished all 3 panels you will now seam them up in the same order 1,2,3.
Seaming instructions:
Starting at bottom (pick an end) and on the RS sew panel1 to panel 2 for 12" then leave 8" opening for armhole, then cont. sewing to the end of the panel. Rep. this with the other panel. Sewing panel 3 to panel 2.

Now with the right side facing you, pick up 110 sts. across.
Bottom portion which is the part where you sewed 12" tog.
Work st.st. for rows 1-4
Eyelet rows are worked throughout rows 5-7 except on the purl side do everything purlwise.
Row -5 purl
Row -6 knit
Eyelet Row -7 work as follows:
Knit 1, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, rep. to end.
Row -8 Knit even.
BO.

Top (collar portion)
With wrong side facing you, pick up 110 sts. and work approx. 8"-10" or about 30 rows.
Next you are going to knit the eyelet row as you did for the bottom portion of the poncho.
Knit one row even.
BO
Now you are going to make your fringes. (that's why you knitted the eyelet rows, the fringes will be knotted through each eyelet. I made my fringes longer on the bottom then the top, I also braided some of my fringes on the top (collar) area. Simple and easy and ready to wear.