Show and Tell!

Here are some pictures of my progress on the Feather and Fan wedding blanket.

Where did the time go?

Whoa! It's been a long time since I've updated this thing.

During the Christmas holidays, I used my drop spindle to spin some Kauni pencil roving into a beautiful, slowly striping, rainbow yarn. After much deliberation, I knit all of it into one wide scarf. I couldn't stand to cut the perfect flow of colors through the spectrum. Next time I spin something with such a stunning colorway, I'll ply it for even more lovely color blends. Alas, I had to knit this one right away, so I made a scarf with single ply. I used this free pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/riverrun.

Now, as my wedding approaches quickly, I have begun working on a fast, stash-busting project for the home Robert and I will share. I want it to be fun, with the colors and widths of the stripes being randomly selected from the kaleidoscope of worsted weight acrylics in my stash. Some of the fun lies in the patchwork quilt effect of knitting from my stash. Nearly every stripe carries a memory of a baby blanket, scarf or stuffed animal from years ago. I am using the classic Feather and Fan stitch pattern based on the written pattern here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sweet-stitchin-betties-group-feather-and-fan.

Later this month, I'm going to try something new. As a self-taught knitter, I've never attended a knitting class. That's about to change, though, because I'm enrolling in a class for a lovely finish-free shell at my local yarn store, The Hook and Needle. I'll post my progress, as well as my thoughts about knitting with a group.

Boot Socks: Done!

I forgot to post pictures of the finished boot socks. They're cute, but I still won't buy another of the same kind of kit.

Anemoi and Chevrolace

Robert's hat is finished, just in time for our ski trip!  

He'll be handsome as he glides down the slopes in his new maroon and gray beanie. I'll post pictures of his lovely head after he opens his present, but for now I have pictures of the hat itself. This was my first foray into charted stranded colorwork, and you can see my skills improve from the bottom of the hat to the top.

I have also started Sarah's present: I'm knitting "boot bands" using Knitty's Chevrolace Sock Pattern.  Essentially, these are sock tops to wear poking out of tall boots.  I simply do not have the time to knit lace boot socks, but I can knit cuffs to fake the look.

The Kit...

I have made significant progress on Mama's boot socks, and I have decided that I am totally unimpressed with the kit.  The yarn is low quality, and the soles are thin.  I will still finish the project, and I will use the other kits that I bought at the clearance price, but I will not buy any more kits from the same company.

On a more uplifting note, the Cascade Mulberry Silk yarn that I purchased has come in! I'm going to head by the yarn store later to pick up the ball that they wound for me!  This yarn is for Robert's birthday present, the Anemoi hat found on Ravelry. I haven't done much color work before, so I hope mine looks something like the beautiful one in the picture.

Bekah's Arm Warmers

I finished Christmas present number two! It was more of a mini-project.  It didn't even take an entire ball of yarn! I bought two balls for this project, so the extra may get dedicated to my other sister's present. Two presents for the price of one!

I still think Bekah should have bought a whole jacket, but I still made arm warmers to keep her wrists from getting cold in her three-quarter sleeve peacoat.

Mama's present is next; I'm knitting slipper socks for her.  This is my first time using a kit, so it is an experiment.  I probably would not have considered a kit, but Hobby Lobby put some on clearance.

When yarn goes on sale, I look, even if it does mean buying a kit for the first time.

Daddy's Crazy Socks

My first Christmas present for 2012 is finished! 

Doesn't it look pretty displayed on my new 100% cashmere sweater that I snagged for just a few dollars at Goodwill?

I used Walk Away sock yarn in "A Step Up" to make socks for Daddy. The colors are a little crazy, but they made the knitting more fun. Besides, crazy colors won't show under Daddy's boots, and they are just as warm as boring solids.

My (free!) pattern came from here: Tanis Fiber Arts.  It was wonderful, even if it does have a grafted toe. I hate kitchener stitch, but I forced myself through it.