Just a little knitting

My mini-Christmas vacay was nice, and always too short. I made lots of tamales, and did a good amount of baking. I also squeezed in some knitting, primarily for Christmas. There were still a few things I couldn't get done or even start, but there's never enough hours in the day for us knitters, is there?

I wish I could just spend my days knitting all the beautiful patterns out there and then enjoy wafting though the many FOs...heaven 8) But reality always hits and I find myself always squeezing in some knitting, even if only a few rows, or even a few stitches.

I'm at the tail end of a few projects, and have a few news ones I need to get started, alas my New Year's knitting.

First on the needles will be a pair of socks, for the Through the Loops Mystery Kal 2012!

and then at least 3-4 more projects I'll be rotating.

I'll leave you some Christmas knitting...

The Mixt Cowl, on the top, wrapped twice, on the bottom, wrapped four times.

Knit with Cascade Ultra Pima, 1 skein.

1 pair of Knucks = 1 skein of Cascade Ultra Pima.

Mixt Cowl knit with 1 skein of Cotton Supreme.

Arista!

One thing I love, just love is those quick knits, the ones that truly are fun to make, beautiful, colorful, simple, yet fabolous all-in-one.

I bought the Arista Gauntlets kit at Stitches West 2011 from PADyeworks, pattern & yarn together.  I was instantly attracted to the colors, two shades that are always my favorite.  The next was the simple look of the pattern, and the fact that they are like fingerless gloves in a way. 

I started these and finished these back in early March, just never took pictures but I've wore them many times since then.

One thing I found out wearing these, is that they are perfect for when your wrists are sore, whether from knitting or the cold or just need some soothing.  These work great at applying a nice grip around the wrist.  They absolutely don't get in the way with typing or anything else, I just love them.

The PADyeworks yarn is great, soft enough against your skin and very little pilling, in fact the ones I've made have yet to pill.  I can also see this pattern as a great stash buster, imagine the color combo, even fiber combo that can be made with this!

Pattern: Arista Gauntlets by Stevanie Pico
Yarn: PADyeworks yarn kit sold at Stitches West 2011
Needles: US 3 (Knit Picks Harmony)
Started: March 11, 2011
Finished: March 13, 2011

Mods: I wanted a more snug fit, so instead of casting on 70 stitches, I went with 50.

It's always good to start the week off with a FO share. 8)

And knits move on

My knitting over the past few months has been rather erratic, I'm all over the board with mini-knits to large full on sweater knits.  Not that I'm complaining, I do love the variety in the knits, and crochets lately but sometimes I sit back and really want to focus on more fulfulling knitting. 

At this point in my knitting reportoire I've grown to really enjoy the satisfaction of edgy, elegant, intricate, creative patterns.  So what gets in the way of me knitting all that my heart desires? 

My Harry Potter escapades!  Yes, I'm a HP fan, along with being a Twilight fan.  There's a fantastic group on Rav that is HP themed and there's actually classes per month turning in knitting and crocheting items.  It's rather fun actually, but it can actually be pretty busy as well.  So here are a few gallery pictures of FO's from January and February.

In other areas I did finish the lovely Rosamund Cardi for Pico Accuardi Dyeworks at Stitches West 2011

This is the last picture I took of Rosamund (this is knit in Guiseppe "thick/thin" yarn from PAD), I should be getting a complete picture soon, but it turned out gorgeous!

I also started a new Acorns sweater, using lovely  PAD yarn in Negro con Rojo, it's absolutely lovely!

Now onto Solstice Slip socks, I was actually done with these babies but frogged because I felt they were too long.  So now I'll pick this up again to make the right length.  The heel was literally about 1.5 or 2 inches of extra length of the foot, vastly threw off my length!

I'll also be starting these cute Arista Gauntlets, another great one from PAD

And finally I've started a new Cotton Candy Hearts Blankie, using Cotton Candy yarn.  It's all eco and all soft cotton.  Feels so silky and soft knit up.  I believe this will be a present for one of my nieces, definitely not for me!

Phew! Ok see you Wednesday!  Time to get back on track with all my duties, I do believe time has been off lately. 

Happy Monday!

Pairings

Pairs, yes I do love this pair:

Love a good red wine and gourmet cheese.. or this pair:

Now this pair is more in tune with the holidays, a delicous roast turkey and stuffing! 

Yes, there are many pairings, and a couple I knitted for Kirsten from Through the Loops a couple of weeks ago, another great pair.  I originally wanted to choose a reclaimed Cashmere yarn we sell at the LYS I work at, but came across the Frog Tree Meriboo yarn and knew I had a match.  It has a very pretty sheen look to it and to make it even more desireable, it's Superwash!!!

I give you Sofie's Slouch:

Excuse me!  If only my camera was of good quality, however I will be utterly happy once I finally get a good damn camera!  ::tears::  Sorry for venting...I've asked Santa for a new camera, it's at the top of my wishlist.

And the pairing for Sofie's Slouch is Sofie's Fingerless Mitts:

I've worn the pair more than a few times now, but are extremely warm, soft, and durable.   The yarn doesn't split or pile easily.  There are a few other colors for this yarn, a gorgeous purple and green, I may look to make something with those colors soon. 

I got more to share and will post over the next few days, 'til then get ready for Turkey Day!

Alot to share...*spoiler alert!*

I've been knitting and busy dealin' with life's unexpected events, but I won't trouble you with that! I have much to share and I'll have to break it down over a few posts. First, this post has spoilers, so if any of my "spoilee's" are reading, be prepared to be spoiled before you get your swappy package!

First, I'll start with a project I started Saturday (yesterday), it is the "Bulky Shrug" from Knitting Pure and Simple. I've had this pattern for awhile, I was just waiting for the right "super bulky" yarn to come along. Working at my LYS, I ran into just the perfect yarn, "Spud and Chloe". I never knew of this yarn until I was arranging the yarn on the shelves and realized how lovely it was. I love the easy labeling Spud & Chloe has, they clearly label their yarns "super bulky" with "outer" and "sweater", easy peasy! I picked up 4 skeins in Gray enough for my Bulky Shrug. Look at this sqooshy-lovely yarn:



It's "Outer" Super Bulky, Superwash 65% wool, 35% Organic Cotton, did I mention my LYS is "Green Planet Yarn"? The owner is truly great, and the store is stocked with great organic yarns.

For the few hours I spent working this new Bulky Shrug, this is what I ended up with, it's turning out great!







I'll be sporting this baby at work next weekend!

Onto my other endeavors, spoilee endeavors, I purchased 2 skeins of Canopy yarn (sorry no pics), in Acai colorway, a lush red made of 50% baby alpaca, 30% merino, 20% bamboo. I choose to make the "Bella's Fingerless Gloves" pattern for my spoilee, Svendel, to wear when she goes to see New Moon later this month! I love this, easy knit and fast too!







Another item I made, which is a new love of mine's, is knitting jewelry. In my 1st Love Bites swap at the beginning of this year, I was given a beautiful knitted bracelet and I fell in love with it. I scoured ravelry for a pattern but nothing. So I improvised my own pattern and voila!









I love these bracelet's, I have so many ideas for other designs, but this one was easy and fast. Inexpensive and versatile to make, the choices are limitless. This is the bracelet I sent to my spoilee but I have another I made, however I felt that the beads were too large, so I made this one, and I was very happy with the turn out. I'll post a list of supplies needed to make these as well as the pattern to make later this week.

For now that's all I'm parting with, there is more but that will come in more posts to come. It's November, and yes, gift knitting shall start, as well as all other holiday fun! Happy Sunday!