Holiday knitting begins!

Whew, I've been busy! School and family are keeping me busy! I managed to make a scarf for my sister-in-law, which turned out nicely, and I have a ton of projects started/planned out.


I spun some fiber, finally, and got this pretty yarn- have a bunch more to spin before I can make anything though!


I just finished another Turn a Square Hat, and it looks nice, for Dad for Christmas. Lets hope THIS doesn't look like a woman's hat. (rolling eyes here!) I am working on another of Ysolda's Elijah elephants for my oldest- he's one arm, and 2 ears short, but adorable. I bought yarn for 2 of her Poppy dolls, for my niece and my daughter, plan to make a Socktopus for my littlest, a hat for my BIL, and I have mittens started for my husband. And I want to make the kids all hats and mittens. Plus I have finals before the holidays LOL. Sure, I'll get it all done, right?

Completed project photos!

I decided to use the leftover yarn I'd dyed with koolaid to make my daughter a pair of anklets for her birthday. They took a couple of weeks, but were a super quick knit- I just didn't have much time to work on them. They're very cute! I used to 8 stitches per inch pattern, child size medium, and used two repeats of the Spring Forward chart on the instep. Very cute, and she likes them a lot! I STILL have yarn left LOL.



I also made her a doll quilt, and a little quilted bag. I had so much fun doing this, but wow, I am not exactly a natural with the sewing machine. :) There are lots of "oops" spots on these, but you know, she doesn't mind, and I think they look pretty good for my first try at quilting. Binding is HARD, and I need practice... lots of practice.

I'm hard at work on a scarf for my SIL, and it's about 65% complete. It looks nice! I also took the very fine Merino/Silk/Nylon blend mess and untangled it... I can't remember if I posted on here, but when I went to ply, it got crazily snarled and in a fit of rage I chucked the whole ball on a table where it has sat happily while I occasionally glare at it. Anyhow, I untangled, and managed to ply it into 57 yards of fingering/sport weight yarn. Now I have about 2.5 oz of that fiber still left to spin... not sure I have it in me!

Yay! Finished socks!

They're so pretty and well, SPRINGY! I love them, despite my hesitations about the yarn choice. They're a bit snug (silly me realized I've been knitting them at a tighter gauge than called for... not sure this yarn would've worked at all at a looser gauge though!) So, my pretty Spring Forwards are done, blocked, and just a touch damp still. Plenty of yarn left over to maybe make my niece a little pair... I'd make my daughter some, but I don't think the yarn will hold up to her abuse!

I've made a little more progress on my daughter's sweater. I've decided to use the lace pattern from Knitty's Helena on the bottom portion of the sweater. I was very close to the stitch numbers for that sweater anyhow, so I increased 4, and am on my way with the lace. Too bad it is so big, and well, I am not really enjoying knitting it.

In other news, I'm heading back to school myself, so my knitting time will be even further reduced- yikes! Wish me luck!

Someday they'll be done...

I can't believe I haven't finished the Spring Forward socks yet. I have really bad second sock syndrome!! I am making an effort this week, and I WILL finish them this weekend! I am so bad about knitting at night, getting too tired, and falling asleep... Oh well. I have one full repeat to go, then the toe, and they're done! I think I may continue on my daughter's sweater (which has sleeves separated) and maybe some mittens/hats for the kids once these are done.

Happy Feet!

This week has been very long, and very hard. With a screaming, teething toddler, two bored older kids, a very grumpy self, and a migraine, I've been in a rotten mood to say the least! I tried spinning some of the beautiful fibers I purchased a while ago, and ugh. I almost threw it all out the window. I decided to start knitting myself something happy and cheery and focus on that.

And so, I have one sock of the two done! The simple Spring Forward socks from Knitty, done in Dream in Color Smooshy. I'm underwhelmed by the yarn. I won't be purchasing it again, but it served the purpose intended of cheering me up. Unfortunately, the socks have to stretch a lot around my foot, and I'm afraid they'll wear out quickly. Bummer-they're super cute! I added rows to the heel flap and picked up more stitches for a longer gussett, and if I hadn't, the sock would never go on. I do NOT have big feet- US 6-7, generally a 6.5, but I have a super high arch. Grrr. I'll finish the pair, and I guess start ANOTHER pair and try different modifications. I think I need to read up on some other methods of sock construction!

Sourwood Pictures!

Whew, I was able to work hard and finish them up Friday night. They're beautiful! I'm still not thrilled with the thumb, but my sister seemed to like it, and well, they are for her! I'm so glad she liked them. I also had her try the sock I started, and it is a good thing I stopped- it wouldn't go on her foot. So that one is being frogged...




I cast on for the Hemlock Ring Blanket, but I'm iffy on the yarn... I kind of want to use it for a sweater for me. :) It's blue, and I'm thinking I might like the blanket better in a cream. Not sure yet.

Projects galore!

I gave up on the butterfly socks for my sister's birthday. I don't know if her foot is like mine- but I have a high instep and could barely get it on, so it is sitting, waiting for me to decide what I am doing with it.

Instead I'm making her Sourwood Mountain mittens and what a quick knit! I was a bit intimidated by all of the charts, and pages of instructions but it is not hard at all. The thumb isn't my favorite though, and I'm not about to rip back to that point. I'll live with it (or rather, she will...)

I also bought yarn to start the Hemlock Ring Blanket, still have the sweater for my daughter in the works, and a whole BUNCH of sock yarn to play with :). I'm excited!