Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Christmas knitting and more!

Alright, this is the part where I try to tell you all the stuff that I've knit since the last time I told you what I had knit... which was apparently November 2. Ok, here we go.

First, I blocked the gansey. This happened after I had given it to Emerson, during a warm snap.





I made a Turn a Square hat out of black Valley Yarns Northampton and some Noro Kureyon. No pictures yet, but I use it whenever I go outside. I also finished up the Central Park Hoodie, but neglected to take pictures. I also finished up a cropped cardigan I started a long time ago.

Then I guess it was all about the Christmas knitting. I decided to make a sweater for each of my parents this year. It was a big deal, as I usually don't do much thinking or planning about my Christmas knitting. Dad's Cobblestone got finished first.



As you can see, the sleeves are quite a bit too long, but the main problem is that the weather is far too warm here in Kentucky for such a sweater. Knitters: we must band together to end global warming! I think he really likes the sweater though.

My mom's was more of a problem. I realized shortly before Thanksgiving that I couldn't work on in during Thanksgiving, or after I went home for Christmas, because I would be in my mom's presence. Still, I managed to get it done, and I blocked it at my friend Ting Ting's apartment (thank you Ting Ting!)




It turned out well, I think! My mom really likes it, as she likes long tops. It's hard to tell, though, because she hasn't worn it yet... but then, it is also far too warm for this one. I should mention that my buddy Bronwyn made this exact same sweater for herself. I was going to make it in a different color or something, but it was clear that she had the best idea. So there it was.

I did a couple of pairs of Dashings for my aunt and uncle.




They were very appreciative. They definitely go on the list of people to knit presents for in the future. In fact, when I gave my aunt Molly her present, still wrapped, she gasped and said "Did you knit? I love it when you do that!"

For my new baby cousin, I made a Baby Yours sweater.






That last picture is totally the wrong color, but you can see the detail.

Then at the last minute, I also made him a pair of Miittens.



I also got a couple of knitting-related gifts! I got a lovely knitting needle case from a lovely Etsy store. As you can see, I haven't totally moved in, but I love it already. And it smells nice for some reason!



I also got Shear Spirit, which looks like a wonderful book.

And that was Christmas! I've also been knitting some other stuff. For one thing, I've decided that I should do more knitting for charities, rather than just making myself more and more sweaters that I don't need. So I joined a Yahoo group called AC4C (all crafts for charity) and participated in their pet blanket project for December. I went to Michael's and bought some acrylic yarn (something I hardly ever do) and knit it up real fast with big needles. I haven't delivered it to an animal shelter yet, but I will soon.



I'm also working on some Earl Grey socks for Snowflake. I would have liked to have them done by Christmas, but it wasn't in the cards. You can't see the cute little cables unless the sock is stretched out over a foot or something, but I'll take some finished project pictures on his feet when they're done.



I've also been working on a pair of mittens for myself (Yellow Harvest, in the Fall 2008 Vogue Knitting), out of some lovely Mirasol Qina I got at Magpie. The picture is too blue and too light: it's really more of a periwinkle. I LOVE this yarn. It's 80% alpaca and 20% bamboo, and super super soft.



This is also my first experience with bobbles. I think I sort of like them, at least in this project.

Other things in the works... a classmate commissioned a pair of Anemoi mittens, which I hope to have done before I go back to school at the end of January. I also have a request for a second Sheldon. I need to add some length to Snowflake's second sweater in the back... I may use short rows. I want to finish up the mittens, Snowflake's socks, and the Jabberwocky socks pretty soon. I also just got a ball of Cotsoy, which I hope to use to learn how to do Tunisian crochet. And 7 balls of Elsebeth Lavold Bambool, which I want to use to make a long-sleeved Yogini Bolero. Whew!

About the Oomingmacks: I love these slippers and I really want some. Sadly, they don't really look like a fun project to me. First of all, I'm not excited about felting because I don't have a washing machine. Second, the whole assembly part doesn't seem like fun to me, especially the part with sewing on the fur. BUT, my friend Li-Mei has agreed to make a pair of Oomingmacks for me!! So awesome!!!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Want. Musk. Ox.

Dear amazing knitters,

If one of you makes me a pair of Oomingmacks, I will make you a sweater. I'm not kidding.

Anisa