more or faster?

It’s December, and you know what that means – high gear gift knitting. Well, I don’t even know if it’s possible for me to knit more than I do – so I’m just going to have to knit faster!

I’m still waiting on a box from Knitpicks (it’s been 10 business days since it shipped) and those projects are somewhat smaller anyway (toys, slippers). Here’s a photo of part of a pair cabled gauntlets I’m knitting for my cuz:

I’m roughly using the pattern from here, but I’m doing them shorter (to the elbow) and a different thumb gusset. I’m just hoping they’ll fit – I’m already using needles 2 sizes smaller than suggested and it’s definitely not very tight on my arm. I think she might have smaller forearms than me, too. Hmmm. Anyway, they’re fast, and I’m working on the thumb gusset having started the first 2 inches of the project last night.

Next up, some progress on the (not-so) fiery bolero. Not very exciting, and difficult to see progress – I need to buckle down and finish those looong rows (body + sleeves) so that the fronts will go fast.

Of course, I’m not completely abandoning projects for myself. I must have something new and fancy to wear at Christmas of course! I’m working on the waistband of the Koigu skirt – I’m going to do the waistband, weave in the ends, block, and then do the waist elastic so I can adjust for post-blocking. I’m a little concerned it’s going to be too short, but I’m a firm believer in the power of blocking. And even if it’s a little short for my taste, it’s definitely not indecently short.

The Urban Aran. Lovely chunky wool, I want to wear it now! I’ve got one sleeve done and part of the back. I’m thinking the rest of the back will go quickly since the edges will just be 2×2 rib and not the cable pattern.

Whew! I could barely tear myself away from the needles to write this up! Back to it!