Category: crafting

  • moving right along

    Yesterday I went on one of my favourite types of sprees – a finishing spree! I finished up three different projects yesterday, and today I’ve given them all a bath so they’re soft and ready to go.

    allllmost

    I got about 2/3 of the way through the foot of the second cabley sock before I had to join a new ball of yarn. I do think you could do a pair of plainer socks out of just one skein – these ones take more yarn because of the ribbing and cables! A little while later…

    all done!

    The cables really keep this pattern moving, and of course, the thicker yarn helps with the speed too! I hope the recipient likes them.

    This hot water bottle cozy is knit from 2 strands of Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Cotton on 6mm needles. Just needs a couple of buttons at the bottom.

    for my mum

    These aren’t a gift, but I’m still glad to have finished them! A pair of flip-tops with the same details as my Fred+Ginger Cardigan, so if you’re not quite ready to commit to a whole sweater you can still knit some pretty ruffles. These used less than 1 skein of Sweetgeorgia Superwash Sport and just a little bit of the CashSilk Fine.

    fred+ginger flip-tops

    They’re sized to fit my tiny hands, but the pattern will be written for three different sizes. Look for it in the new year!

    I’d better get back to it, these presents aren’t going to wrap themselves. Darn.

    P.S. A few people asked about the snowflake lights – they’re just from Ikea. I think they’re probably on sale by now if you’ve got one near you!

  • knitting factory

    There are so. many. projects. on my desk right now! And just to add another one, I started a pair of worsted weight socks that I got into my head as a good Christmas present.

    last minute socks

    Just started them last night, but I think they’re going to be fast and fun! I’m using Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted in Chocolate.

    I don’t have a lot of other knit projects on the go, though. I’d really like to finish these flip-top mittens for myself.

    flip-tops

    I have really tiny hands and the mittens look almost comically tiny but they fit! Now that it’s actually snowed I might be needing them soon.

    ultimate caramel corn

    This week I’ve played a couple of handbell concerts, gone to a couple of parties and made a lot of caramel corn. I’m hoping I get to knit a lot this week, but you know how it goes – December is so very very busy. My handbell group, Pavlov’s Dogs Handbell Ensemble, is playing another show this week – the Rivoli Christmas Show on the 18th at 9pm. It’s always a super fun show. Tickets are $18, available at the door, and benefits the Daily Bread Food Bank.

    ikea window lights

  • catching up

    It’s been awhile, hasn’t it? It feels like I’ve been spinning my wheels a little bit (but unfortunately, not the yarn-producing kind) – I keep starting and stopping on different things, and I have so many various projects on the go that even though I’m knitting all the time, I’m not actually finishing anything!

    That said, I’m putting a bit more effort into trying to finish things up for the end of the year. I guess late fall is a good kick in the pants, since it gives me a reasonable amount of time before the new year to get things off the needles and my to-do pile. I even have some photographic evidence of said effort!

    This is more backward than forward, but I ripped back the body of my mitten. It just wasn’t working out the way I wanted. I’m not sure what I want to do with this now, but it feels good just to admit it wasn’t working. Maybe I’ll just do something really simple, like an all-over colourwork lattice pattern or a checked pattern. I could use some new mitts!

    rippp

    I picked up my neglected Hanne Falkenberg kit – Diva in Olive/Cyclamen – and finished a sleeve! That is a whole lot of fingering weight garter stitch right there. I’m almost done the body, but it’s too big to carry around so it’s not seeing a lot of time at the moment. I’d really love to get this done my Christmas, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. It’s more of a long term project.

    sleeve!

    And, I finished a pair of simple socks that I started a few months ago! They’re meant for a Christmas present. Just my basic sock recipe, 64 sts on 2mm in Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock. I’d really love to get another pair or two of socks done for presents, along with some woven projects. I guess I’d better get on that, hmm?

    socks

    How’s your year end knitting wrapup going?