When you have yarn left over ...

from a project, say it's almost a whole skein or even half, do you toss it away? Or do you put it into a miscellaneous basket? Store in a glass jar that is put on display? Or do you find something to use it in almost right away?



I used up 2 skeins of the Nashua Handknits Sitar yarn for this neck warmer but I did have to use a bit from a 3rd skein for the last 2 rows and cast off. Now that's almost a whole skein left over.

Well I never throw yarn away [even bits & pieces can go into needle felting] ... so I do the rest mentioned above. And this time there was enough yarn for me to create wrist warmers. Boy am I pleased that I did now that the temperature has dropped down to 10 degrees. They really help fill the gap between a coat sleeve and a pair of mittens, gloves or fingerless mitts. Even great to wear inside while I knit.



The pattern is simple. I call them Fill the Gap Wrist Warmers. I made it up as I knit ...

Fill the Gap

CO 33
K2 P1 for 34 Rows
Change to St st increasing 3 stitches evenly spaced on next row. 36 stitches for 12 Rows.
On row 12 or 13 K2 stitches tog, K16, SSK, K to end. 34 stitches; then K1 P1 for 3 rows.
Cast Off in Ribbing. Sew in ends.

This was done to my size hands so make adjustments needed for yours.

I still have a bit of a bobble of yarn left ...

Now what do you suppose I could do with this? Won't throw it out of course.

A neck warmer is the new scarf I hear ...

So I had to knit one.



The pattern is called Thermis Neck Warmer. I used Nashua Handknits Sitar yarn. It's a busy color but it's soft and warm and I love it with my new jacket. I love the pattern ... the way it buttons up or you can wear it unbutton like an open collar.



Of course I had to include a whimsical surprise inside...



Just because I love sheep!

Lights are twinkling ...

and the gifts are all in the Knitting Basket for giving.



With two pair of Fingerless Gloves going into it for two of the oldest of the granddaughters. They're both over 18 and out on their own now.



But I bet they'll love to wear these driving back & forth to work. Used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky weight wool yarn. Really nice to knit with. I used a simple basic mitten pattern and just turned it into fingerless mitts.

And the Bella Mittens done for the younger granddaughters ...

Three pairs done there. And a hat and mittens for my grandson wasn't forgotten either.

So after putting up the tree...

we had a visit from 2 of DH's children.

BTW, the quilt was made by my friend, Sammie from Georgia. She knew last year that I didn't have plans to put up a tree. Too much trouble. I was by myself. DH was still in recovery and in the rehab. And who would notice I didn't bother to put up a tree right? So she sent me the quilt to hang and to put me into the Christmas spirit. Well it came in handy this year too. I love it! I'm in the spirit now.

DH and my DSD [dear step daughter] and DSS [dear step son] look pleased too. DSS is home from Iraq. He goes back the day after Christmas or soon after. DH has another son and daughter that couldn't make it, which was a shame. But we had a good visit with DSD & DSS. Lots of laughs in between the serious talks.



See the quilt on the wall behind DSD? [ignore the open closet door] It's this years gift from Sammie. A 2010 calendar quilt. Neat huh? It can be turned over and used for a table runner after the year is up too. Beautiful fabric on the back.

So let the lights twinkle ...

I'm now ready for Christmas!

Do you intend to leave Santa some cookies?

I'm going to think twice about it.

Santa's Cookies - JibJab.com
Uploaded by JibJab. - Sitcom, sketch, and standup comedy videos.

I might have nightmares now. Or stop eating cookies.

Well maybe ...

Hear my needles click ... knitknitknit.

Christmas is drawing nearer and I'm getting scared. Wish I could knit faster and lift the stress level from my shoulders. I think next year I'll start to knit for Christmas in MARCH ... APRIL ... MAY.

Finished and delivered ...

Project info

Name:

Buddy's Cabled Dog Sweater
Pattern: Cabled Dog Sweater by E. J. Slayton

Made for Little Buddy [my sister Cindy's dog]

Needle and yarn

Needles

US 4 / 3.5 mm

US 6 / 4.0 mm
Yarn: Rowan Harris DK

How much?

4 skeins = 492.0 yards (449.9m)

Colorway: SH010 Pink

He's my sister, Cindy's dog. You look beautiful in your new sweater, Buddy!



Do you think he minds that it's pink? Nah. Because "real men" CAN wear pink right? And it matches the hat I made for my sister last year. She wears it all the time.
Do you remember it?


Then there's the Sampler Scarf from class that I finished along with my students ...

Project info

Name: Knit Sampler Scarf
Pattern: Sampler Scarf by Carol Elliot
[modified: seaman's ribbing instead of the heart.]

Needle and yarn

Needle : US 9 / 5.5 mm
Yarn: Louisa Harding Kashmir Aran

How much?

5 skeins = 415.0 yards (379.5m)

Colorway: #33 dark teal

Haven't decided on whether it's for me or one of NEXT year's Christmas gifts yet.

My Beginner Sock class finished their first sock also and learned both the Kitchener Stitch and the Russian Graft ...

We voted for the Russian Graft as a nice enough toe finish. But I'm still working on my socks using ...

Schoppel-Wolle Sockenklecks Edition Tausendschön [Scarf Yarn]
Might not finish until after Christmas.

But wait ...

I got other Christmas gifts done for the Grandchildren also.



A pair of Bella's Mittens done and another pair started ...



And finally a hat and pair of mittens for my grandson, Cody.

Nottingham by Melissa Mall

Basic Mitten Pattern
by Ann Budd

from The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns

More to be finished or started. Mittens. The hats are done. But I want a few sizes in the mittens to be tried on for fit. That's the trouble of not living close enough to get measurements on the sly. Well the ones left over will be donated so that's okay.

And we all know how much I love to knit right?

Did I tell ya?

The Yarn of the Month for December arrived the day after I posted November's.

And this time I was so taken by the samples ...










I got ahead of the game and knit up the squares right away.

And immediately got smitten!

With which ones you ask?

Hint ...





That'a THREE out of four this time
With the winner in the #1 spot really tough to pick.

But here it is ...



Delightful by Kollage Yarns

Well frankly the only time I would use glitter yarn is for a Holiday garment. And what a nice feel this yarn has. I can see a cardigan with this one. But maybe not for me.

But the other two yarns are the ones I'm more likely to purchase.

Merino Worsted by Abuelita Yarns and
Bulky 2 Strand Pencil Roving by Imperial Stock Ranch.



I feel a VEST coming on ...

Yarn of the Month for November ...

Samples are barely off the needles and blocked and already it's December. You know what that means ... I'm almost already a month behind because the December yarn will be coming in soon and I haven't even given an evaluation on November's.

Well I really wasn't jumping up and down with joy with this batch anyway. Only one was a really nice knit and came out the correct gauge as well. That was ...



Champlain by Nashua Handknits [lower left corner in green & grey]
3.75 sts/inch on US 10s
100% Wool
87 yrs.

I did like the feel in my hands as I knit ...



Wagtail 5 ply by Wagtail Yarns
6 sts/inch on US 5s
60% Fine Mohair 40% Merino Wool
327 yards

But I'm not rushing out to buy any of them.

Diving into my Stash instead and started a 'mystery knit' ...

a mystery only because I'm not telling you what it is yet.

Nope, I'm making you wait ...

Holidays are banging on my door ...

And I'm only half ready for it!

I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving and survived Black Friday. Did I go out and shop 'til I dropped? Well ... maybe one or two stores nearby. Yesterday DH and I did the last of our shopping at the Family Dollar store. With 3 people unemployed in the family this year and DH retired, we're limiting gifts to under $5 each. [it's possible to do, trust me] And now it's time to take inventory to be sure we have all that we planned or need. I even mailed out the only packages I plan to mail this year. Have to deliver 2 next weekend and make one trip the weekend before Christmas to see the grand-kiddies and deliver some knitting, books and toys.

But the big question is ... Do I have enough energy or

will-power to decorate? And do I really need to?

Everythings amazing ... nobody's happy

Boy does this say volumes ....



I bet the under 25 crowd don't like any part of this, but they'll be saying something similar about the younger generation when they reach their "golden" years themselves. It happened to our parents and it's happening with this generation right now.

BTW, I did have a few days of withdrawal [nervousness and anxiety] when I was without a computer for awhile. Same with my cell phone when I had to send it out for repairs because I wasn't willing to buy a new one. Decided I didn't need it after a week but ...

Got hooked the first day it [computer or cell] was back in my clutches. Amazing!

Do you believe in magic?

The magic of creating a Moebius scarf or shawl can be exciting ...



And you don't really have to know mathematics to produce it from string either.

Or the magic of felting ...



With a bar of olive oil soap, some bubble wrap, hot and cold water & elbow grease you can turn a wool knit or crochet piece into something else entirely. Something useful and comfy and protective on the hands when hot coffee, tea or cocoa stays nice and hot in your cup.



I didn't even start out with the plan to make this Felted Vest Coffee Cup Cozy ... but like "magic" ... it just happened!

But the magic of lace is different.



It doesn't look like much when you're done with the knitting like in this picture of the Superior Lacy Sampler Scarf by Filatura Di Crosa. Use special yarn like the Superior cashmere lace yarn or like I did with Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool. Then knit with blind faith.

You see; the magic of lace is in the planning ...

And in the blocking.



When you're done ...

It really looks and feels like magic!