The Boy's Christmas mittens (2005) sped toward completion once I had some sick time to deal with them. One mitten has been done since February of last year, but the second was delayed. I finished the body of the second mitten only to discover that the first mitten is at least an inch too short. W. T. F?? Rip & re-knit complete in time for yard duty!

look at how happy he is to wear double-stranded mittens during our arctic cold snap

They're made out of Mission Falls 1824 wool. One of the problems I had in finishing them was that I didn't buy enough yarn, then the company went out of business, then the company was back in business but not all the colours came back right away, then it was summer, then my regular YS didn't have any more white, then it was Christmas (again) and I was busy with other gifts. Then I ran out of excuses and finished the damn mittens, just in time for the bitter cold. I received many compliments on them whilst knitting them, and now I'm dreaming of a version that uses Noro and a neutral.

Labels: christmas, fo

Knucks!

I finally finished a pair of gloves for the Boy, right in time for Christmas. I even clothes-pinned them to the tree (I'm such a Martha). They're Knucks, made out of Rowan Felted Tweed (the pattern yarn, no less!) and embroidered with the name of the Boy's tutoring affiliation.

the boy poses outside my school

I'm very proud of myself.

Labels: christmas, embroidery, fo, knitty

The third in a three-part series. (How many buttonhole bags can I knit & give away??) Like my mom's striped bag, this was knit during professional development out of Elann.com Peruvian bulky wool. But as I wasn't happy with the shrinking on the last one, I took this one out of the wash earlier. Result: a roomier bag. I like it very much.

merry christmas, grandma cate

Labels: christmas, felt, fo

Meema's Marsupial Bag was one of the first things I wanted to make in Stitch n' Bitch. But I let my long, long dalliance with "Zeeby's Bag" get in the way. So more than two years after I bought the yarn (Plymouth Gallway, and a tonne more than I needed), I have a pretty felted tote. It knit up in less than a week, and only asked for a few cheap snaps and a quick washing machine felt for finishing.

I gave it to Scout for Christmas, as I seem to have too many bags. I hope she gets good use out of it.

Labels: christmas, felt, fo

Another pretty Noro cabled hat from the Gaspereau Valley Fibres pattern, for the boyfriend of the one who ended up with the first. (That would be my sis Scout, if you're keeping track at home.) This time, in "manly" colors! Because I can play that game if I have to. I bought these balls at Knitomatic and I l-uh-ve them. Most of this hat was completed during (what else?) professional development.

this is the boy's "serious thinking" face. not to be confused with the face he makes when he's seriously thinking. this is just the photo version.

Labels: christmas, fo, repeats

For the church's annual Christmas Bazaar, I thought I should share some of the knitting love. And when I got Last Minute Knitted Gifts, I knew that the mini stocking & sweater pattern was going to be my chance.

These were knit over the last three weeks or so out of odds & ends. The yarn for the big stocking is Patons Classic Merino that first appeared in Henry Rollins' pants & the Anarchy hat respectively. The yarn for the little stocking is Patons Kroy that was purchased for Little Spider's zombie pulse warmer. The biggest sweater is Anarchy Hat Classic Merino yarn with Peace Fleece embellishements from the Blake's in-progress sweater. The middle sweater is green yarn (DGB Confort) from the turtle placket-neck sweater with white & black Patons Kroy for embroidery. And the littlest plain sweater is the Koigu PPPM sock yarn I love so much.

I hope they sell. I hope people like them.

Labels: christmas, fo, repeats