A Knitted Embrace

I recently completed this for my Step Mom's birthday.  It is a free pattern from Lion Brand Yarns that can be found here.  It is sort of my version of a knitted hug as she has been going through a difficult time and I find myself far away from home and unable to offer any comfort in person.  I also thought this would be nice to wear while she is using her hands for crafting while watching television in the evenings.  After trying it myself I decided it is so comfortable I just might have to make myself one!

Half Pipe Hat

So I asked my Dad, what do you want me to knit you for your birthday?  I was hoping he would ask for some socks, perhaps a flashy fair isle headband (my husband and my brother both later informed me that this is not acceptable manly man attire), or even some cool gloves.  Instead, he looked at the store bought brimmed beanie my brother was wearing and informed me he wanted one of those.  Hmmm..

So, I found the perfect pattern in the book, Son of Stitch and Bitch.  I wanted to like this pattern, I really did.  To be honest however, I dreaded every moment of the creation of this hat.  The black yarn was less than appealing to my tastes in the middle of a bleak and icy winter, the decreases drove me crazy (seriously, they are not very attractive), and I really disliked putting the brim in.  Finally, it is finished.  As much as I hated making it, it looks okay.  Almost just like that boring store bought hat of my brothers.  I guess I will have to consider this a success.

Bella's Bloody Mittens

It pains me to admit it, but I have become a Twilight fan.  Yes, this is my secret shame.  What is really funny, is that I was never actually been able to complete even the first book until I started listening to them on mp3.  They are much more palatable to me personally in that form.  I'm not sure why.  Perhaps I like the voice of the narrator?  She seems so much less annoying than the Bella I pictured as I was trying to read the book myself.  No, I don't like the books because I think that Bella and Edward have an amazing love story.  I enjoy them because deep down I want to be a vampire myself.  I am totally down with the whole idea of being amazingly beautiful, never growing old, having super strength and speed, and yes, never experiencing an embarrassing bodily function ever again.

Unfortunately, the closest I will probably ever get is to enjoy these mittens.  They are based on the mittens that Bella wears in the new Twilight film.  The pattern was written by Subliminal Rabbit, and can be found on her blog here.  This was a great pattern!  Very well written, and a blast to knit.  I also have had many comments as I have worn these about town about how great they look.  I used Knitpicks Palisade from the stash.  It says a lot about my stash that I had yarn that isn't even sold by Knitpicks anymore.  Perhaps it is time to do some stash busting projects?

Mia's Mittens

These were a quick and easy knits.  I used the basic mitten pattern from Ann Budd's wonderful book, A Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns.  I added an i-cord to prevent the mittens from getting separated.  This was a great way to use up some of my cascade 220, and they should be warm this winter as they are 100% wool.  The best part is that she is actually willing to wear them!

A First Hat for Winter

It's finally finished!  This hat has been a labor of love, and a long process as I did everything from dyeing the yarn myself.  It is all worth it as she now has a very warm hat that she will actually wear.  It is also a bit big, so hopefully it will last for at least one more winter season.  Now we will be able to build snowmen outside when the winter comes!

Fast Favorite Vest

Amazingly enough, I was able to finish this for my hubby's birthday.  This is the "fast favorite vest," from Men in Knits.  This was a fast and easy knit, and I found the pattern to be well written and straight forward.  I used Wool of the Andes in Chocolate by Knit Picks.  The yarn is very soft, and also very warm, so hopefully it will help to keep Mike warm during the winter months.

Amelia's Yoked Sweater

I finally finished Amelia's sweater last night.  I've had a few setbacks with this one, but more from my own carelessness than any true failings of the pattern.  This is the seamless yoked sweater from Ann Budd's, The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns.  On my first go at the sleeves, I did them one at a time on double points and was very dissatisfied to find ladders up and and the length of the arms.  So, I ripped them out and decided to do them simultaneously using the magic loop.  I was pleased that this seemed to solve the ladder issue.

If I could start over, I would also not bind off under the arms for the sleeves, but would have put those stitches on a holder so I could have grafted them in.  It would have made for a much more invisible and less bulky seam.  

Lastly, I finished the neck as per the pattern directions, only to find that the opening was too small for Amelia's head.  I'm not sure how this happened since I got gauge the whole way through.  I threaded some waste yarn at the top of the yoke, and cut off the ill-fitting neck and knit it again, decreasing only about half of the recommended stitches.  Success!  I am very pleased with the colors, and I think this will make a wonderfully warm and cozy sweater this winter when it gets chilly.  I'm thinking of those days when it hits 30 below with the wind chill!