Nothing doing

Yargh - I haven't finished anything this week! Plus, even after two trips through the washer and dryer, my sweater is still not felted correctly. I should have known that the accursed thing would stymie me :)

I'm hoping to finish a pair of fingerless gloves today...yesterday I fell asleep at 9:45, and I'm tired right now (2:30), but I really want to get some things done.

Plus, I need to go check on my sweater; it's going through another wash/dry cycle :)

The ever expanding list

I was certain that this year I'd finish all my Christmas presents before Christmas...and that's exactly what would have happened, had I not decided to expand my list. Now, instead of just a few ends to weave in (grin), I have several projects I've not even started! I think that, where Christmas and crafting is concerned, I am way too ambitious. If only I was so ambitious about everything else!

I wish I had some pictures for you, but - alas - I do not. It just seems that I can't take the time to take pictures during the weekend days, since I need to knit, and I can't take pictures when I come home from work, because there's no light left. Blargh!

I have finished 3 One Scarves and 2 Cabled Keyhole scarves. Still on the docket are several pairs of wristlets, one beret, a small quilt, two scarves and something else that I can't for the life of me remember. Eeeeek!

I think that I have solved one issue...my dad's mittens. I keep meaning to make him a pair, but I always leave it too long. I have a sweater I knit for myself that is so scratchy, it makes me want to die. I believe that I'll felt it, cut it into mittens, and sew him a pair! Anyway, that's my plan now. Perhaps in a few hours, I'll have come up with something equally insane :)

Wow - snow

It's very snowy outside - we may have to shovel the driveway three times when it's all said and done.

However, being snowbound leaves more time for knitting. In the past week, I've finished three scarves, and another is half done. The project season may end up all right after all. Later, I'll try to get some pictures in the snow, but you've got to believe me for now :)

I'm also going to make those Juerga fingerless gloves/wristlets, I think using Madelinetosh dk. I have two and a half skeins left, which should give me at least three pair.

I need to decide if I'm going to spin up some silk/cashmere for another scarf, or if I'm going to try and double or triple some stash yarn to get the correct weight. The problem is that a singles might not hold up well, but a two ply will 1)take longer and 2)be heavier. I want the scarf to be warm, but not weight a ton. We shall see.

Scarfing up time

I've finished my second One Scarf - I really enjoy this pattern!

Here's a crummy pic of the inside out fingerless gloves for my niece:



Once I can get home with some sunlight left, I'll get a better picture. I still haven't gotten to try them out on her yet, but I have hope for this weekend.

Here's a picture also (finally) of my bonfire glade scarf:



I'm happy with how it turned out, though it's actually a bit long. If it were in darker colors, I might almost think of it as a gift for a man.

I think I might be going the scarf route as presents this year...we'll see. I'd really like to make some fingerless gloves or mittens, but I don't know if I'll have the time.

If only I didn't need to sleep, eat or shower, I'd get so much more done!

Oh no

I may have to knit these, Anne Hanson's latest. Considering my love of feather and fan and the fact that I'm working on Sprossling (which uses double eyelet rib), why wouldn't I make them?

This would be a good day to call in sick for a knitting health day. After all, there's only 2 1/2 weeks 'til Christmas!

Possible knitter?

I was at my sister's house yesterday, knitting on that One Scarf from KnitCircus, when my niece came over to me and asked if she could hold my knitting (she's 2 1/2). I gave it to her, and she started trying to knit! I was using big needles (US 15) and roving, so it was sized for her to manipulate. My sister joked that her daughter would end up knowing how to knit before she did :) It's been the story of our lives that I try to teach my sister a craft and she never takes to it. The only craft she really got into was card making, but chasing my niece around all day leaves little time for hand crafting anything.

I'm almost done with that scarf; I actually finished the 8 repeats of the cable pattern, but I think I might want to do a few more. I've gotta think about it. I also need to work on the lace fingerless gloves and the fingerless gloves for my niece. A few weeks ago, my sister and I were talking about the fact that her daughter runs warm and doesn't like wearing winter clothes (example: she's still in capri pants and shorts). I asked if she'd wear mittens, and my sister said no way, so I said, what about fingerless gloves? We thought it just might work, so I started fiddling around with different patterns. No final thing yet, but some options - the main thing is: tight or loose? I don't know what will be more hateful, and I haven't been able to put anything on her yet :)

Couldn't resist

A few weeks ago, I broke down and bought a subscription to KnitCircus, since I seem to be singularly unable to win one, though I've entered a ton of contests :) I did not buy the gifts issue, because I figured I didn't need it and should save my money, blah, blah, blah. Well, I just bought it - I couldn't resist any longer.

I'm off to peruse it!

Done, and buttons

The socks are done! DP loves them, since he didn't realize I was making them for him.

I got the buttons from jennybuttons - they're gorgeous, and I think they'll be perfect with the sweater. Little bronze buttons with a hand hammered look...swoon :) I've got to get the back of the sweater finished so I can start on the sleeves. I'm just so excited!

We had a nice snowfall today (it's even better since we don't have to drive anywhere), and we're having a tree-trimming party with my sister and her family. I'm making a big pot of chili, some cornbread and a caramel nut tart for dessert. I have coffee and port, and I'm ready to go. Unfortunately, I have to shovel the driveway before they get here! I hurt my neck and shoulder yesterday - I was moving an upright piano and one of the casters came off, so I had to lift it up and push it on two wheels - but snow waits for no (wo)man, so I'll soon be off to the garage. I love shoveling, but it really cuts into my knitting and baking time.

DP lost the blue fingerless gloves I made for him last year, so I'll have to make him another pair as soon as I can. I have some of the terra cotta colored Madelinetosh DK left, which feels like it will make good glove material. It's soft and a bit bouncy, which I think he'll like. He's able to wear merino and other fine wools, so I'm going to make these and see what happens. It's too bad he's allergic to angora, because my brown angora mitts would fit him perfectly. Sigh!

Almost done

I just have the heel on that one sock, and then they're done. I didn't get as much done yesterday as I wanted to, even though I got home by 6. Tonight, I won't get home before 9, but I'm hoping to get something done between work and my class.

Life is sucking more than usual right now, and I don't know what to do about it.

Snow and socks!

It snowed this morning! I was setting up for a meeting, watching the snow drift down, and wishing I could just be at home. Sigh.

I'm almost done with DP's plain stockinette socks. I have to finish the ribbing and do the afterthought heel, and finis. I'm pretty happy with how the striping worked out, since I didn't really plan for them to stripe at all. The yarn is STR mediumweight in Muddy Autumn Rainbow, and the heels are the same yarn in Bella Coola. The mediumweight gives a good springy sock that's not overly thick, but is nice and warm. I've discovered that DP needs at least some nylon or mohair in his socks, because he just ripped through the koigu autumny socks I made last year. Huge holes under the ball of each foot. I think I'm going to rip out the socks from the toe to the ball, and reknit them in something with some strength. I love making socks for him - he always appreciates and wears them, and he chooses his own colors. Something we can collaborate on :)

I ordered the buttons for my Uinen - little handmade brass ones from an Etsy store. I think they're going to be awesome. I'm tracking them on their journey to me, and they are currently in Coppel, TX. Maybe I'll get them by the weekend!

I'm still trying to work out the pattern for my handwarmers; the transition is tougher than I thought it would be, and I spent two hours screwing around with it to no avail. I think I have to tweak the lace to make the pattern run over fewer rows so the transition isn't as jarring, and possibly combine two transitions to make it work. If I ever finish the dang things, I'll let you know.

I don't know what to do about Christmas...maybe stockings with lotion bars or something? Is it better to give something that people might not like or give nothing, or just give everyone $25 and be done with it?