Staying Warm

Fingerless Mitts by Ann Budd
Ravelry Project Links: Neckwarmer and Mitts

My friend and co-worker, Deb, requested some fingerless mitts to keep her hands warm at the office. She bought this lovely, soft bamboo yarn and I had enough left over to make a neck warmer as well! I loved raiding my button box for the funky buttons. She loved them so much that she showed them off at our staff meeting, which prompted the organist to request some mitts as well because the sanctuary where she practices the organ is always so cold during the week. I finished those this week and gave them to her today. I've been pretty cold at my computer the last few days so I'm probably going to make some for myself soon since I can't seem to find my old pair.

I've been working on more socks and trying to make time to work on the Fir, but life has been pretty busy. Advent is almost here! The intern's life is starting to get busy!

Knitter Weather

Today was the second day in a row that I had to scrape ice off of my car. This time I thought about it ahead of time and remembered to wear a hat, scarf and gloves! It was the first time out for my Shedir! I love this time of year!

The Fir is progressing slowly. I've been working on simpler projects recently - mostly socks. I love the mindlessness of socks some days. I'm still trying to come up with something wonderful for my fiancee's mother. I just don't know where to begin since I've never met her. *sigh*

I'm so excited about taking a quilting class on Saturday! I'll be making a queen size carpenter's star quilt. I got the fabric, washed it and pressed it two weekends ago. Its going to be beautiful! :-) I'm really looking forward to having something to do on a Saturday too. Chores get old quickly. It will be nice to get out for a change.

Irish Eyes

Plaited Cable Scarf by NJ Niemeyer
I've misplaced the ballband on this yarn. Its a wool acrylic blend of some sort.

This is an awful picture of the color, but a decent shot of the cables on the scarf I completed this afternoon.

And progress has been made on the Fir Cone Square Shawl thanks to "The Devil Wears Prada" from the e-listening library and episodes of "M*A*S*H" and "What Not to Wear."

There's a sock ready to have its heel turned when I get around to thinking about it, and another colorwork mitten on the needles, but they may be laid aside for Christmas Knitting in the near future. I really should finish the lace scarf and I need to think of something for my fiance's mother... hmm...

Boxes, ho!

My apartment is filled with cardboard at the moment. I've got lots of boxes to pack for my move north on Wednesday. Today is filled with laundry doing, dish washing, and other chores that lead to more packing. I've sadly begun packing away the stash. My poor cat doesn't know what to do with himself. He hates all of the commotion. (And I think he misses the stash too.)

I'm surprised by how fast the summer has flown by. I finished that cable braid sweater months ago and still haven't gotten pictures. Most recently I've been working on dishtowels and washcloths for my new place. The movie-going scarf is complete, as is a matching hat. I also made Knitty's "Shedir" from the leftover Silky Tweed from the cable braid sweater. I also finished one experimental sock from the self striping sock yarn my friend gave me.

The next time I post I'll be in VA! I'm looking forward to finding a new LYS and new knitters to play with. :-)

Settling In

I've settled into the sweater with the cable braid that I mentioned last post. I wish I could post a picture right now so you can see the adorable little stripes and the beautiful cable, but alas, I am still camera-less. I love the silky tweed yarn and the way the red and grey compliment each other so well. I'll be visiting my SO next weekend and I'll take it with me to get some pictures. I'll try to remember to take the Aran Pocket(less) Shawl too so you can see that. It'll be a knitting fashion show! :-)

My movie-going scarf continues to grow. I need to carry a bigger purse now so it doesn't spill all over the place when I go to the movies. Ah well. I'm also experimenting with some self-striping sock yarn that was a gift from a friend. So far I haven't fallen in love with anything yet, but its fun to try.

Seems like everyone I (or my SO) knows is getting pregnant recently. I've been searching for baby things to knit like crazy! Do any of you who are parents have suggestions for what would be most useful? The babies are due in Jan/Feb.

Knitting ADD

I've jumped around from project to project for the last few days because I've had the luxury of a few days off between things. I love long weekends! I worked on a sweater until I realized that I didn't have enough of the gray yarn to finish it. I miscalculated and the yarn is discontinued. I'm currently considering my options. I may frog the thing and try something else. I finished a pair of socks and continued a bit on the lace scarf I've had on the needles for several months. When I got sick of the lace, I started the Aran Pocket Shawl from Folk Shawls and am loving the Alpaca Silk I'm using for it. I'm going to start another pair of socks soon so that I have something more portable to carry with me. Its been a good weekend for yarn.

Washcloths

I've been knitting a ton of washcloths recently. For one thing, they're quick and easy and in the midst of final papers and such, quick and easy knitting is required. Secondly, I have a lot of cotton yarn, but not a lot of any one color. Third, I've enjoyed playing with some neat patterns!

I have gotten some more work done on my entrelac socks and I completed Widdershins (finally...), but overall its been simple washcloths.

Unfortunately, my digital camera is still out of commission. (The picture above is from my Christmas knitting.) I think I have to declare it dead and move on with my life. I'll take pictures with someone else's camera next weekend when I'm up with family for my cousin's wedding.

For now, its back to the books and the daydreaming about knitting projects for the summer.

Summer Knitting Ideas:
- Finish Bristow
- Finish Entrelac socks
- Fir Cone Shawl
- More socks!

Handy Hats

Well, its a good thing we decided to knit hats for our newly-bald football players. Gettysburg was frigid this weekend! We won our first three games, but lost the championship to Chicago. Sad day. The hats were fantastic anyway. Stephen certainly liked his:

Most of the hats were solid red, but I liked the stripes on this one the best.

I don't think I explained before, but the guys auctioned off the rights to shave their heads for donations to Heifer International. We raised over $2800! I think Stephen's hair went for a llama. I and two other knitters finished 13 hats on the drive up there. We also taught someone how to knit, so we were quite proud of ourselves. It was a productive trip.

I had, of course, planned to knit a lot during the games, but unfortunately it was freezing and I kept my hands in my pockets whenever possible! That scarf is one of the first things I ever knit (knitted?). At one point I had a long sleeve t-shirt, a wool sweater (from a store, I can't knit with the stuff but I can sure wear it over things), a regular t-shirt, a hoodie, a rain coat, a hat, the big red scarf, a pair of gloves, a pair of fingerless mitts, a pair of mittens, two pairs of socks, and big waterproof hiking boots on and was still cold. Something must be wrong with me. I've been in the south too long.

Or perhaps I shouldn't stand outside in the cold all day.

I did accomplish some knitting during our inside times. I worked on these socks but haven't taken a more recent picture. The heel is turned now.

I also worked on a steering wheel cover for the woman who cuts my hair. She's also a student so we barter knitting for haircuts.

I'm pretty sure its long enough, but I have to try it on the steering wheel to make sure it fits correctly even though I measured carefully. Cotton stretches!

I'm glad to be back from my travels, even though I came home to an entire container of cat food all over the laundry room floor. I think Munkus was a bit peeved that I left him. He had fun nibbling on my needles while I worked on a surprise project this evening.