Christmas Knitting is (mostly) Done!

Its true! I've just got one bit of a sweater to finish and I'm not seeing that person until New Year's so it will be okay if I finish that on my travels. I'll have lots of knitting time between now and then. Everything else is done and wrapped and ready to go into the car later tonight.

Pattern: Mug Coozies, Interweave Knits Holiday '07
Yarn: Peaches 'n' Cream cotton
This green one is for my dad. I also made a red one for my grandpa.

Munkus was very helpful when I was trying to work on my BSJ last night. He's rather opinionated about my traveling.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all! I'll be MIA for a few weeks as I travel around to my friends and family. See you in 2008!

Kitty Wonton

Pattern: Feline Dim Sum: Wonton (knitty.com)
Yarn: Sugar & Cream cotton

Munkus was only too happy to model this bit of holiday knitting. Its stuffed with polyfil and catnip. I had to sneak it away from him so that he wouldn't tear it up too bad before I give it to its intended owner! I'm going to have to make him one as a treat for behaving himself at the vet today.

In other news, I'm planning a big trip to visit family and friends over the holidays. I'll be on the road for about 3 weeks and I've got to figure out what knitting to bring! If you have any suggestions, let me know! Once I finish the gift sweaters, I'll need some entertaining knitting. Got any favorite patterns?

Tis the Season... I think...

Today it is 80 degrees outside. What a strange state South Carolina is! I miss cold weather and snow, though I am thankful that I don't have to drive in that mess.

Finals are over and knitting time has come back with a vengeance! I've been working on some little projects for friends and for people with whom I am staying on my travels over Christmas break. I mapped the trip this morning and I'll be driving around 1,880 miles (round trip) over a period of about three weeks. I'm very excited to see so many friends and family!

First up, I'm making some washcloths to pair with nice soaps as gifts:



Then there's the beginning of a kitty wonton for a friend who will really appreciate it given that she had a cat that used to take real wontons right from the soup if she wasn't careful!All of the above are made with Sugar & Cream cotton in various colors.

And lastly, my very first BSJ!

Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket, by Elizabeth Zimmerman
"The Opinionated Knitter"
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino

I hope you can enjoy the lovely South Carolina sun in the pictures as much as Munkus and I have been enjoying it today!

Travel Knitting

I'm not much of a sports watcher, but this weekend is the big Luther Bowl tournament in Gettysburg and I'm going to support my school. A whole bunch of seminarians get together to play football (aka: run around in the mud). The gentlemen of the team have decided it would be fun to shave their heads. A whole bunch of (mostly) southerners who are headed much further north think its a good plan to shave their heads before they go spend the whole day outside. My seminary knitters think they need hats, so we're going to spend the 8-9 hour drive knitting for them.

Of course, once we get there and the hats are done, I'll need something else to do while I spend all day watching the tournament. I've got a ton of projects on the needles, but most of them aren't going to be good for sitting outside in who-knows-what kind of weather. Then there's the 8-9 hour drive back which will require some knitting as well. Throw on the fact that I'll be in a somewhat crowded 15 passenger van and you've got the gist of the problem.

What's a knitter to do?!

Here are my thoughts:
On the Way Up: Hats. Lots of hats. This is not really negotiable.
At the Tournament: Things that are simple. Things that are washable. Things that are small enough to cart around in my hoodie pocket.
- perhaps the cotton steering wheel cover I'm making
- one of my socks (if I turn the heel beforehand)
- crazy fun fur scarves
On the Way Back: Something a bit more complex, though still washable and rather small.
- Green Tea Raglan?
- entrelac socks?

Here's a picture of the socks from a few weeks ago. I have since turned the heel! I feel so incredibly smart when I work on this. Yarn is a wonderful confidence booster. If I can handle five tiny metal sticks and not impale anyone, I can do anything!

Of course... not impaling anyone might be more difficult in a crowded van. Maybe I should stick to circs.