Finishing Frenzy... Not....

I try to be a good knitter... I want to get some of the WIPs off the needles... I do. Really... I don't need to be racked with guilt over every new project I want to start.

I even have a genuine FO... Nothing special just a pair of toe-up socks using my favorite "plain" socks pattern.

Pattern: Universal Toe-Up Sock Formula by Amy Swenson

Yarn: Knitterly Things Vesper Sock Yarn in Sherbert
Needles: KnitPicks Circulars - size 2

Unfortunately, I also have a new WIP to show you...


It is the Wavy scarf from Knitty.... This is a great pattern; I will certainly make a few of these. But I will slip the first stitch of each row to clean up the edges as they are a bit messy. Easy and fast to knit as long as you commit to knitting one full repeat at a time. It is VERY easy to get lost if you put it down for a while. For the record, that's Eli in the background. I wish I could tell you what the yarn is but it is just 5 balls of wool/silk heavy worsted weight cabled yarn I frogged from a project approx 100 years ago. I do remember I got it out of the clearance bin at Fabric Place in Woburn, MA -- not that it helps me remember what the yarn is.... lol

So the short of it is that my WIP list remains exactly the same length -- but at least it hasn't gotten any longer....

Christmas Cheer

Such a nice Christmas... As is our tradition, Christmas Day is a pajama day. No one gets dressed; we open presents, eat a decadent breakfast (Creamed eggs), watch a movie or two... nibble all day while we play with our gifts, and then have a simple, easy and sinful dinner. This year it was roast leg-o-lamb, brussells sprouts, and twice baked potatos... Later on we had chocolate chip cake for dessert. We also finally got around to a MARVELOUS bordeaux I was gifted last Christmas...


Believe it or not, I didn't get a single fiber related gift. I am on something of a self-imposed fiber/fiber tools restriction. I have enough stash to keep me happy for a while. My only desire is a drum carder, but that is something I am going to have to find for myself as I want a used one rather than new. I am also hoping to work out a way to finish a some WIP inventory. I would really like the Bee Fields shawl and the Tangled Yoke Cardigans off my plate. My point is I requested that I not get anything for Christmas that would encourage me to start a new project.

I gave very few handknits for Christmas this year. As I have been swamped with commissions, all I gave were a couple Live Dangerously; Don't Swatch hats and a single pair of Fetching fingerless mitts. But I did make a few ornaments this year. I am hoping to make a total of six of these by New Years...

Six-Pointed Star

Pattern: Six Pointed Star Christmas Ornament by Barbara Breiter
Yarn: Jawoll Sock Yarn #163 Red
Needles: KnitPicks Options size 2
Changes: The 1/2 inch shell button was an afterthought that dresses them up a bit.

Eli hopes that Santa brought everyone their hearts desire
and wishes one and all a happy and healthy new year!

More Dog Fluff Stuff

Okay, I spent TOO much of today getting the dogs groomed and ready for Camp, so I didn't get the sample squares photographed. I know I promised, but I can only do so much. To pacify you all, here is my second favorite sample piece.

Filigree Scarf

Pattern: Fabulous Filigree Scarf in One Skein Wonders edited by Judith Durant
Yarn: Handspun Rough Collie/Cream Romney Blend
Needles: KnitPicks Options size 6

You can see the amount of color change in the Collie fiber... I didn't honestly notice it so much until it was knitted up. The color is a little more subtle in person, but my digital camera either shot it plain cream or this, so there you go. It is just a nice scarf, it looks like it might be a shawlish size in the photo and the book, but it is more like collar size. It will look nice crossed under my coat this winter.

All Branched Out

Pattern: Branching Out
Author: Susan Pierce Lawrence
Source: Knitty
Materials: Alpaca/Samoyed Handspun 2-Ply Light Sport Weight
Needles: Clover Bamboo Circulars - Size 5

Another Finished Object to add to my collection! As this is as a demo project for my "Spinning Dog Fluff" seminar, I am not sure what will become of it. Kerri has her greedy eyes on it, so in the event I don't give it away before next winter that's probably where it will end up! Here's some press for my Clematis and a look at the fuzzy halo...

M

Tahoe Cardigan!

It's DONE! Okay, it's not blocked yet but that doesn't count... Does it? It started out as the Tahoe Cardigan from Knitty, but I tailored almost everything to suit me. I made the sleeves narrower from the elbow to the wrist;I knit the hems in the same yarn as the body rather than a contrasting color; I shortened the overall length and I gave it a little bit of additional shaping in the chest to better accommodate my more ...ahem... generous curves. In the end it is a basic beige everyday sweater. The pics are crappy but there you go.

Details:

Pattern: Tahoe Cardigan from Knitty
Yarn: KnitPicks Merino Style in Nutmeg (color 23460)
Buttons: Keith O'Connor Pottery Beads at Maine Fiber Frolic

I really love the picot edge on the sleeves and the green raku buttons. They are just enough detail to keep the sweater from being overly boring.

Jasper doesn't understand why I was disturbing his nap with all this photography....

Red, White & Newf Hat

It is a cold and rainy day here in Maine, so it somehow doesn't seem that odd to be presenting a wool/newf fuzz had in June. LOL I really like this hat and it is still hard for me to believe that red, I mean Santa Clause in your face red, natural white, and black newf fuzz could come together with so much subtlety. It is always great when something you make comes together so nicely.

I couldn't conn anyone into modeling it for me, so you get the cereal bowl/tennis ball can shot. I need less camera shy friends.

One more project off my list... WooHoo...