More Post Christmas FOs

Two more gifts done. Mom's socks. They are more purplish than the blueish as they look in this picture.

I also finished a neck gaiter for mom out of my handspun i picked up at the 9th annual maritimes spinning retreat. I hope I have enough yarn left for a pair of fingerless mitts but we'll see. It's a 60% bamboo, %40 Merino wool blend.

Mom gave me a skein of alpaca that I knit into these fingerless mitts. (I only had one pair and I wear them over my gloves on cold days. Plus these match one of my neck gaiters and my llama hat). I have enough left to do a headband which I'm working on now. Granny Tan gave me some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino for Christmas in the same colour family so I'm going to make that into a scarf and I'll have a whole set!

My goal is to finish all outstanding Christmas gifts by the end of Jan.... I just might make it!

More Christmas Gifts

Quick Christmas gift update. I finished a beautiful 2 ball, 1X1 rib scarf for my step-brother. It's made from Paton's SWS but the light blue ball was short so overall the scarf is short. Luckily it's so beautiful that he'll still wear it. I hope. We haven't been able to find SWS from the usual places lately and I'm suspecting the Paton's was having supplier issues. Many balls were split and rejoined at various points in the ball and I'm guessing that the short yardage in the light blue ball I had was not the first ball that was short. I hope they get it all sorted out. It's a nice yarn and the colourways are lovely.

I made these Maine Morning Mitts (pattern on Ravelry) for my step sister. This is a lovely pattern and it takes less than 100 yards. They were a little tight so I might add an extra rib when i make this pattern again. Luckily my step sister has tiny hands!

This is one of mom's socks. I still have one more sock to do for her, one more for her husband, to finish her hat, neck gaiter, fingerless mitts combo... then Christmas will be done!

Christmas Crafts!!

I've been a busy little elf! Here's a family of hats.
Man's Cable Hat from Ravelry

Slouchy hat, also from Ravelry

And a slouchy beret (perfect for going over big hair!)

All of those were knit with Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick.

Next up is a shawl based on the first part of an icelandic shawl pattern. Knit out of knitpicks palette

I started painting some balls yesterday. My bells are a little off but it definatly looks homemade! (I've just started some more balls, stay tuned for the final batch, they are turning out really nice!)

Mom painted some penquins. Aren't they stinkin' cute?! I'm going to glaze them and sparkle them up for her.

I did up some bookmarks and wine charms. Overall I'm pleased with the results.

And I'm still knitting, painting and I haven't even yet started to sew. Yikes!

Lots on the go!

First I finished a matching hat before the 9th Annual Maritime Spinning Retreat but it was too warm to wear it.

I had a great time at this year's retreat in Fredericton, New Brunswick. When I came home I slept 12 hours Sunday night! I bought some alpaca from Last Resort Farms. Her name is Maya. She is the brown spun here. The white is kid mohair that we got in our gift bags. I'm going to make this into a falling leaves scarf after Christmas for me. I'm really hoping I have enough for a scarf and hat.

While I was at the retreat I started a pair of Maine Morning Mitts in Patons SWS. They knit up super quick and I like how the thumb gets incorporated. These will be a Christmas gift.

I was going to make a shawl out of the fingering yarn I won at last years retreat but after a couple of attempts I've decided these will be socks. Colourful yarn, eh? It's from French Hill Farm in Maine. It's wool, mohair and nylon.

I'm going to do an Icelandic Shawl for my grandmother out of some Knitpicks palette for Christmas.Mom and I went to the Christmas at the Forum Craft show last weekend and she picked up a ball of alpaca that matched an alpaca scarf Granny Tan gave her. So I knit her a hat to match her scarf.

I also have a red beret on the needles for mom that I'm hoping to finish by the weekend so she can take it to Cape Breton for a music festival. I have to stop giving her stuff now and start saving them for Christmas.

I'm also working on a pair of cabled booties for my great aunt that need to be done soon in case my mom goes to Newfoundland in early december.

I also bought 2 bags of %60 bamboo/40% merino, each 1/2 lb, one grey and one pink. I'm working on the grey now. I hope to have enough on to do a shawl from each. My Christmas list seems reasonable until I realized today that it is just 43 days until Christmas. Oh crap.

All for me!

I know Christmas is just over 2 months away but I've been on a kick of doing things for myself and I must say, it's been kinda nice! I finished the alpaca cowl I started. The pic is turned on its side for some reason. You can't see the colours well but it's brown and white and goes perfectly with my camel hair coat! The pattern is Lion Brand Lace Luxe Cowl

I have started a scarf out of bamboo and a novelty yarn. You can't see the colours well. The bamboo is grey and the novelty yarn is blue/grey/beige. I'll try to get a better pic when it's done.

So I finished the cowl for Nocturne at Night. I was warm and toasty! Oh, that may have been the wine...


I also finished the baby sweater I was working on. I just need buttons and it will be on it's way! It's Elizabeth Zimmer's baby sweater on two needles (but done like the adult version) with Debbie Bliss' Rialto Aran.

And now I'm working on a lacy cowl for me out of 100% Alpaca. 12 sleeps to the spinning retreat! Can't wait to see the Moncton crew!!

Wrist Warmers

This weekend I'm heading out to Nocturne at Night, which is an art exhibition spread all over the city of Halifax. Last year I missed the event so I'm really looking forward to hanging with some friends, seeing some art and maybe having a drink or two. Since the event is all over the city there will be a lot of outdoor time. It's getting pretty chilly here with the forecast for Sat. night Clear and +4 (that's about 40 degrees F). So I needed knitwear! Something with a little pizazz for a night out. I was planning on doing some wrist warmers for my step-sister in law to match a cowl I did for her last Christmas. I got one done and was going to do a set for myself but it didn't go as well with my coat.

Nice though, eh? Moonlight Mohair. Cast on 31 stitches, knit for 8 inches and sewed up with a 1 inch opening for the thumb

So I used some different yarn to do another pair for myself. I used moonlight mohair and paton's bling, bling (discontinued). It goes with my coat and I'm working on a cowl/neck gaiter to match. I'll get a pic with my coat when I'm done.