Getting My Knit On

So, we finally had some sun today so I decided to take some photos of projects in the works, things I've finished (yay!) and some gifties I got in the mail that I haven't posted about yet. When I got the pictures loaded in the computer I realized that I took 69 of them. Ok, yes, some of them are multiples of the same thing. I'm not a great photographer. What I lack in skill and knowledge, I make up for in luck and taking a whole lot of photos of the same thing hoping I'll get decent results. Generally this works for me. But even after weeding out the "oh yuck, who the heck took that one" photos, I still had way too many for one post. So, I have photos for the next three days worth of posts.

Today's offering? Well -- hopefully the title kind of explains it. I've mentioned that I've been kind of taken with knitting again lately. Well, the current obsession fascination has paid off in some finished objects to share. First up is the scarf I showed here. Done. Ends woven in (am I the only one who puts this step off until the very last possible minute? I actually had this one off the needles about a week and 1/2 ago -- but, I had to weave in the ends and block it. So, what did I do? Cast on and finish two more projects that also needed ends woven in. I think this is like my aversion to sewing down binding) and blocked. Of course, to do that I needed to go out to the lovely LYS and get some blocking pins and a new yarn needle -- but, we do what we must do. Finished in time for our weather to get back to normal January freeze your tush off cold. (single digits expected for the weekend -- and please remember I'm using the F scale here) And since this is for me, I'm wearing it as an early birthday gift to myself.

Also done (remember I said I had finished two projects while avoiding weaving in ends?) is a pair of warm and soft, soft, soft mitts/wristwarmers for me. They're made out of some Noro cashmere/silk/wool/nylon blend yarn and may I say they are nummy. The pattern is from (of course) Last Minute Knitted Gifts -- and while I couldn't find the really short circulars they called for in the pattern, it works up just fine on double points.

And because after I was done (more ends to weave in remember) I wanted to make another "quick" project. The pair for my aunt out of the same yarn. Though, I do love this color -- too bad my aunt has seen photos of the yarn I bought for her -- otherwise I might think about trading colors...no, that would be wrong (and my aunt would kill me as well).



And just to prove that I only have second sock issues (and no, the second pair of those is NOT done yet), not second mitt issues -- a photo of both PAIRS of mitts.

Oh, and I may be addicted to making these. I mentioned having to go to the LYS to pick up some notions? Well, I finally took my mil out to the shop as well. She goes to quilt shops with her mother and I every year -- but, well, she doesn't quilt or sew much. She does, however, knit. While there she saw the yarn I made these out of and I offered to make her a pair. She decided on this lovely variegated version (looks much more like "Noro" colors hunh?) for her pair.

And speaking of doing the same pattern again -- um, I think I'm going to be making another one of those chevron scarves. Wayyyyy too much fun with that one. So, I may have (just may have mind you -- despite the photographic evidence I'm about to show) purchased some yarn already. This one is going to be for a friend for Christmas (next year!!! How's that for an early start?). I did call and ask her if she wanted something calm or not -- she said go for the hot pink and green so, hope you like it B! Personally, I can't wait to see how these go together in that pattern. The yarn is Shibui sock yarn in orchid and wasabi.

Christmas gifts -- I'm already working on another one for next year! (woo hooo -- another New Year's Goal I'm actually working on. Now, if I keep it up will be another thing) This will be -- um, well, it will be something. I'll show it when it's finished and tell you my plan. Until then -- it's easy peasy knitting in the round (yes on dpns -- but, still, all knit stitches, no purls, no decreases, no pattern, you know -- boring). I'm about 1/3 of the way done with it -- but, it really goes quickly.

And I have more yarn for the next one of, whatever it is, when this one is done. This should be fun (and I hope it works) since it is recycled cotton yarn. It is made from the leftovers/ends that are part of fabric manufacturing. I really like the idea of hand made gifts using something that is recycled (not by me mind you, I bought it -- but, still, by someone).

And one last knitty thing to show. I did mention I was going to have a hard time leaving alone the yarn for my daughter's sweater right? Well, despite having a few other things going -- I did get the gauge swatch for it done. Just need to block it to know for sure, but it looks like I've got gauge!!! Wooo Hooo! (though I'm thinking about trying out a new pair of needles -- I love my addi's but, I may try the addi lace turbos to get a better point for parts of the pattern. We'll see.)

So, wow. I guess I did get a few things done. Though, those ends were woven in on Sunday night and the scarf was blocked before I went to bed. AFTER little one was feeling better. Tomorrow's post (I hope) will be all about fabric and gifts. In the meantime, my living room looks like a daycare center exploded all over it. I had to shove aside move a whole lot of junk stuff in order to be able to take the photos while we had some sun. I think it's time for even my non-domestic goddess self to get some cleaning done!