December, 2008

Happy New Year, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! I had a busy knitting month, but I don't feel like I have a lot to show for it. All that Christmas shopping and cooking (and eating) must have gotten in the way. Well, here's what I did get done:

First, more hats. Two more earflap hats and 2 more pairs of fingerless gloves. They were for gifts and very well received. And by the way, the two hats I made last month, one for each of my children (and I use the term children loosley, they are 21 and 18), were very big hits. My son wore his the whole week he was home, even around the house. (maybe I should turn the heat on!) I also have requests for 2 more, another for my son and one for his friend. I have other things I want to knit!!

I also made him a tie, no not the one I started .... months ago, but a new one. It was shown in this month's Knitter's magazine and I thought, that's cute, I can whip that up before the holidays. Hmmm... the knitting wasn't too bad. It is Opal's Harry Potter sock yarn, but it was a bear to finish. You sew the back together as a center seam, not so bad, but the main part of the tie is overlapped and sewn together. I had to tack down the one layer (hard to see) and then sew the other layer. I might not do this again.

Also from Knitter's Magazine, Winter 2008, came an idea for another sweater. They made a sweater (pg. 89) using 2 strands of different colors of Trekking XXL sock yarn. It is knit on a size 8 needle as a worsted weight. What a great idea. I didn't love the sweater they made, so I looked for another worsted weight pattern and decided on the South Slope Cardigan from Oat Couture. I too, used 2 strands of two different colors of trekking XXl and size 8 needles. The sweater is knit on the diagonal giving a nice effect to the colors. It was a fun way to use sock yarn and really gives you the chance to create "custom" colors.

Well, I must have really liked Knitter's Winter 2008, because I am kntting another sweater from it (Triple Checks, pg.94) and was hoping to have it done in time for this, but I'm not quite there. Hopefully this weekend. It uses Berroco yarns, Inca Gold, Bonsai and Geode. I am using Berroco's Inca Gold. Soft Twist and Jasper. I am working on the band, which ties in the front and hope to be finished very soon. I will post an update, when I finish (hopefully Monday).

I have also started a sweater from Jenny Watson's Catwalk Pattern book out of Noro's Kureyon Sock Yarn. It's going to be a cute little cardigan. I love, love, love the colors. (but you knew that already)

Yes, there are still the UFO's, waiting patiently for me to get back to them. And I will... just not sure when.

Until next month, a very Happy New Year to you all! Nancy