OK, I'm gonna cheat. I found out about the alphabetalong too late, so I'm just gonna do it on my ownsome. Anything to inspire a blogpost or 2 or 26.
Alpaca.
yarn: plymouth baby alpaca chunky in gray, navy, wedgewood (my color names, not theirs)
needles: Denise 10.5 w/19" cable
pattern: none. 180 garter stitches lengthwise, random rows as the mood struck
dates: 12.16.05-12.18.05. knittin' to the clock.
Closeup of the 'front.'
This was my first Christmas knit. I had a friend visiting that often brings nice gifts, so I thought I'd whip up some yarny goodness for him. Yes, perhaps this was also an excuse to use the yarn I had some serious lust for. No, no...it was all about the gift. [nods vigorously.] He seemed to love it and declined the addition of fringe (the perfect way to avoid having to weave in ends on a last-minute gift scarf, eh!) If you haven't enjoyed this yarn yet, go for it. It's worth it. (Bob...it's sitting in your stash. You wound the balls up. Now, use it!)
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Perhaps I'll be one of those organized knitters and start working on my holiday gifts for '06...like...now. Perhaps Not. I really would love to give handknits out, though, and starting the last 2 weeks of December doesn't seem to work out so well. This Christmas past, I found a pattern that I thought clever, funny, and practical, so I cranked out 4 of them for family members.
Ice Scraper Cuffs
Ingredients:
1. an icescraper. Not one to skimp, I got nice ones with the extra squishy handles.
2. 3 strands of acrylic worsted yarn. I wanted something that would survive snow but be pretty/soft/warm. I did 1 in Caron simply soft (red/black/gray,) 1 in TLC lustre (dark red,) 1 in TLC Essentials (variegated denim blue,) and 1 in Hobby Lobby Airy (deep red with black Elf eyelash on cuff.) The last one...not so much on the durable, more so on the snuggly.
3. size 10 3/4 DPN's. 10 3/4??? Yeah, that was the best option the LYS had in Brittany's. Worked out swell.
It's an easy pattern and a great way to get comfortable using DPN's. Particularly after my boss showed me the right way to knit on them. Apparently I was working backwards, inside-out, somethin'. All better now.
I figured the parents were usually in the car together, so Dad got the scraper (even though I'm sure Mom sweetly takes care of this chore often,) and I made a muff for Mom's ever-chilly fingers. Take some white Hobby Lobby Airy (2 stranded,) CO ~33 stitches, knit a few inches, switch to TLC Essentials (3 stranded) to match Dad's scraper, knit several more inches, repeat the fluffy stuff, BO. And there ya have it, Hand-Warming-Muffy-Goodness.
(I only got pic's of the blue scraper. multiply by 4 in different colors and you get the idea.)
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Yesterday, I finished my sweater finally. Started in 09.05. It will never be a fashion statement, but it's off the UFO list. Pics sometime later...maybe.
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The Knitpicks Northern Lights mitten will be frogged. Yes, NEKnitters, I'm admitting defeat. While a dislocated thumb and restricted blood flow don't sound soooo awful, I think I'll start over using larger needles and the correct color (brown instead of fawn, hopefully?) For those out there that haven't tried this pattern yet, gauge seems to matter. harumph. And the pattern colors don't match the pic. You've been warned.
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To end a post that's already too long, a tale of 2 cats.
What to my wondering eyes should appear but my cats actually TOUCHING each other and NOT fighting!
she awakes.
your leg is between mine, dude. move it.
Normalcy returns.
phwew.
1 comment:
You'll be happier with the 2nd go-round on the mitten. And you know your hand will be happier. ;)
Thanks for posting ice scraper directions. It's got possibilities for next year.
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