A New Year ... and more knitting ahead of me in 2012.

Well I hope everyone had some nice memorable holiday cheer last year. A happy new year is ahead of us now along with ... yup, more knitting of course.  First I'll just give you the update on what I finished for Christmas gifts in 2011.  Of course I got a pair of fingerless mitts done for my DH. So he won't get cold hands while he reads the Kindle I got for him for his big Christmas gift this year. [he gave me a Touch Kindle so I could be read to with text-t0-speech while I knit.]

And I also completed the fingerless mitts for my dear daughter [DD] who knew they would be a little late getting to her. Oh ya, there's a story behind these

Hourglass Mitts by Anastasia Blaes.

I love the way they work so well being worn over a pair of leather gloves too. Keeps you hands extra worm on those very cold days.

But I did say there was a story behind them didn't I?  Okay, I'll admit to not always being the perfect knitting machine that I seem to be at times. Dare I say that I don't believe in being "perfect" anyway? Well the pattern for this traveling stitch design comes with a 60 row chart. That's sixty rows mind you. So I knit up the right hand without a hitch and was on my way to completing the left hand up to a few days before we were to go up to New Hampshire to see the kids for our Christmas get-together. I'm on row 59 late into the evenin' and I'm determined to get 'em done & have them on the blocking board before going to bed. They may still be damp when we leave for NH in a couple of days but that's okay, they can dry in their new home. All I have to do after this last row is the 4 garter stitch boarder and then the thumb ... the Thumb. There was NO HOLE for the thumb. I forgot to do the gusset and hold off the stitches for the thumb. Where was I suppose to do this? Well way back on row 17. That's right; row seventeen.

I've knit over 40 pairs of fingerless gloves and mittens in the past few years and never once did I forget to do the gusset for the thumb. Now someone made a very good suggestion of using EZ's afterthought thumb. BUT, I had already done the right hand correctly and the left had to match because it was a gift right. So yup, I frogged back to row 17.

It's all in the process isn't it? So I'm over it now. And I'll never forget the gusset again!

One last pair of fingerless mitts for a gift went to the munchkin, JD because she wondered where her's were. [inspite of the fact she was the only one who got a sweater] At least she loves my knitting right? Well she's only 5 1/2 and I needed to "size up her hands" I told her. So I had her measure her's with mine to give me an idea of how small to make her mitts.

And they seem to fit her perfectly.

So now I can knit for myself!  And with that in mind I went crazy casting on ...

but I also completed a couple of hats and a pair of mitts for myself by Christmas.

Urban Knitster Slouch Hat by Melissa Leapman. It's in her new book; Stashbuster Knits. A fantastic book by the way!

Autumn in Garrison by Kate Gagnon Osborn 

And a revised version of Susie's Reading Mitts.

I used  Aslan Trends Invernal in both of the last two knits. Lovely yarn to work with BTW.

And now I'm on to the many other projects that just suddenly jumped onto the needles before I knew it. OCKD or Startitis?

And next week I'll tell you about ....

So little time and so much knitting to do!

A spinner at work ...

Not me. Not yet. But I noticed others around me are doing it. It could be addictive. I know, I know. That's why I haven't even attempted any spinning. [a drop spindle doesn't count; I only tried a homemade one & bought only one book ...] So I try to keep my distance but as I walked out the door to head over to my LYS ...



She has on her Halloween suit also. And what a lovely web she spins!

Do you think she would help me with my knitting?



A few more inches on a neckwarmer. My mindless knit. Easy knit.



A little more than half way on Buddy's coat. My sister, Cindy's new friend. He's going to need it soon too judging by the early cool weather this year. I better not stop now.

I did have to start some mittens in Interweave Holiday 2009 Mag for the Grandkid Christmas gift basket. Christmas gifts are piling up. Can't stop now tho.



But a lace sampler scarf will go on the blocking board tomorrow once I graft the two ends together. I'll hand carry it to Seed Stitch Fine Yarn to be put on display. You're not afraid of lace knitting are you? You are? Trust me, it's easy. Join me in a class after Christmas.

And there's more than one project waiting to be cast on. The least being Christmas ornaments. More hats and mittens anyone ...

How about it Ms Spidy? Will you help me with my knitting tonight??

Happy Halloween Everyone!~

Christmas knitting isn't done yet?

~ Author Unknown ~

’Twas the night before Christmas and all around me
There was unfinished knitting not under the tree.
The stockings weren’t hung by the chimney with care
’Cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.


The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
But I had not finished the caps for their heads.
Dad was asleep—he was no help at all.
And the sweater for him was six sizes too small.


When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I put down my needles to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash.
Tripped over my yarn and fell down in my stash.


The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow
Reminded me how far I still had to go.
When out on the lawn I heard such a noise,
I was sure it would wake up both Dad and the boys.


And although I was tired and my brain a bit thick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nic.
Yet what I heard left me very perplex-ed
For nothing I heard was what I expect-ed.


"Move Rowan! Move Patons! Move Koigu and Clover!
Move Shelridge! Move Starmore! Move Spinrite! Move over!
Lopi, don’t circle around, just stand there in line.
Pay attention you sheep and you’ll work out just fine!

I know this is hard, as it’s just your first year,
But I’d hate to go back to 8 tiny reindeer."
I peered over the sill.What I saw was amazing!
Eight wooly sheep on my lawn all a-grazing!

And then in a twinkle, I heard at the door
Santa’s big boots stomping on the porch floor.
I rose from my knees and got back on my feet.
As I turned around, St Nic I did meet.


He was dressed all in wool from his heat to his toe
And his clothes were hand knit from above to below.
A bright Fair Isle sweater he wore on his back,
And his toys were all stuffed in an Aran sack.


His hat was a wonder of bobbles and lace,
A beautiful frame for his rosy red face.
The scarf on his neck could have stretched for a mile,
And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.


On the back of his mitts was an intricate cable.
And suddenly on one I spotted a small label:
"S.C." in duplicate on the cuff.
So I asked, "Hey, Nic, did YOU knit all this stuff?"

He proudly replied, "Ho, ho, ho, yes I did.
I learned how to knit when I was a kid."
He was chubby and plump, a well-dressed old man,
And I laughed to myself, for I’d thought up a plan.

I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,
And the next thing he knew, he was tied to a chair.
He spoke not a word, but looked down in his lap
Where I had laid my needles and yarn for a cap.

He began then to knit, first one cap then two.
For the first time I thought I might really get through.
He put heels in the stockings and toes in some socks,
While I sat back drinking a scotch on the rocks.

Quickly like magic his needles they flew,
Good Grief! He was finished by two!
He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,
And over his shoulder he looked back at me.
I heard him explain as he sailed past the moon,
"Next year, start your knitting sometime around JUNE!"

_________________

Hohoho,

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all good knitters [and crocheters]!

And to all a good Knit night.

What's up with my knitting ...

Did it win over the time slot in my weekend; over housework or gardening? Did I ignore everything else and just knit? Or did I fit it in between the two? Or did I give in to my "knitting goddess" and dedicated my whole weekend to what I enjoy most ... knitting of course.

Well I did accomplish knitting the little swatch for Knit and Knag's Mystic Meadows KAL. And I set that little piece in different poises to get the proper color photographed. Not bad results!




So many possess ...
for such a small piece, huh?

~~~ Notes to Sammie in GA and Sara in NH:

Hey Sammie ... here's a tutorial you would like. Just check out the link here!

And Sara ... check out these cute guys! ~~~


I did plant my garden ... and enjoyed the Buggle Weed and

the Columbine ... before they fade away for the Summer.

But nothing to show you there besides dirt and poles and ... well you know.

But I also did my housework ... well the living room anyways.

Considering I have such a clutter going on there. But it's ME!

Oh by the way, there's a book reading and signing down at Seed Stitch tonight. [June 2 - Ann Hood - Author of "Comfort" Book Signing. Join us if you can - it's free!]

Well there was one other piece I was knitting on ... BUT [there's that word again] I'm waiting until I finish before I show you what it is. It's going into Seed Stitch Fine Yarn.
This piece I'm working on is to be put on display at Seed Stitch ... so I'll wait to see if I goof up badly just because I'm under pressure to "get it done!" ...


Murphy might be sitting on my shoulder. You know Murphy?

Let it snow, let snow, let it snow ...

What do I see outside of that window?



I open the door and look up the street ...



Across the street ...



And then down the street ...


The mound of snow at the bottom of this picture in front of the fire hydrant is the roof of our car in our drive way. Looks like a lot of snow but we've had more than this before and of course this storm isn't over yet.

This is just the beginning!

So inside the door I look ...



And this is where ...

the DH and I plan to spend the day and stay cozy!



And I'll try to get more socks knitted.

Christmas knitting while it's snowing ...

That's all I'm going to do this weekend! Knit, knit, and more knitting!! (picture taken before snow)

I want to finish this sock and it's mate to be worn on Christmas day.

And of course, more of these guys ... LOTs more!

And since we're expecting a N'oreaster this Sunday, I'll have time for dreaming about woolly sheep while I knit. (don't tell my DH tho. He's already worried I might want to buy a live one some day.)

Like my little ornament? I got him last year at Bottman Designs.
I have an ornament by Laini also. I'll show you a picture of her next time.

I'm keeping my nose to the grindstone ...

and doing nothing but Christmas knitting this weekend. If I survive that and the extreme cold we're going to have ... well I'll be back next week.

And just in case we get snow this Sunday ... for your reading enjoyment ...

Playing in the Snow

(by Karla Kuskin)

Under my hood I have a hat
And under that
My hair is flat.
Under my coat
My sweater's blue,
My sweater's red.
I'm wearing two.
My muffler muffles to my chin
And round my neck
And then tucks in.
My gloves were knitted
By my aunts.
I've mittens too
And pants
And pants
And boots
And shoes
With socks inside.
The boots are rubber, red and wide.
And when I walk
I must not fall
Because I can't get up at all.

BTW, I've been asked a number of times, "Where do you get your knit fiber purchases?" Well one thing I do is check out the recomendations give by Sock Porn on Etsy Friday. Check out this really neat place called Pea Soup ... cute huh? And there's some pretty darn cute things at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn in Salem also.

Altho, they don't have everything online yet so you'll have to go down to the store to find those really neat gifts. (I got one this week that I can't show you 'coz it's a gift already wrapped and for someone who reads this blog. So she'll have to wait, tehe) And my t-shirts? Well, most of my t-shirts are from Threadless. Happy shopping and ...

Happy knitting everyone!