The Holiday Season

If you are a knitter, at this time of year, the possibilities are endless.  The number of new patterns cropping up on Ravelry are so tempting to try as well as the lure of KALs to join. Then there is the decision about whether you should knit some Christmas presents.  Who would appreciate a knitted gift, what can be made in the crazy, busy weeks before Christmas and how many are possible?  I feel a bit overwhelmed but in a good way.

I used to be the kind of knitter who could only have one project on the go at a time.  Those days are long gone!  So far I have started two Christmas projects.  The first one is the ever popular French Cancan shawl in Madelinetosh DK Tart for my mother-in-law.  I have finished the main garter section and am about to start the border.  However, I am hesitating as I am wondering if the shawl will be too small.  I only have two skeins of Tart and the directions say to do the body with one skein and the border with another.  The other option I have is to make the shawl bigger, using the second skein, and then use some Tart Madelinetosh Lace that I have for the border.  I wonder what the lace would look like doubled up?

French Cancan

The next project I have on the go is from the new Wool People's 6th e-book called Bough.  I am participating in the Tanis Fiber Arts Holiday KAL and am making the hat in Olive using TFA's Green Label.  This will be a gift for my sister.  Have you had a chance to look at the patterns in this book....they are absolutely gorgeous.  The photography is also amazing.

My son has been begging me for a scarf too.  I tried making the Noro Striped Scarf pattern with Plymouth Yarn Kudo, a cotton, rayon and silk blend but the yarn was terrible...it kept breaking as I knit so I gave up.  As my son wanted something very plain I used Julie Hoover's free pattern, Forever Ribbed, which is a ribbed pattern using Paqu Pura yarn (100% alpaca) by Mirasol.  I also added in a skein of Madelinetosh Prairie in charcoal.  The scarf feels soft and I hope he doesn't find it itchy.

Forever Ribbed

As a member of the Tanis Fiber Arts Year in Colour Club I received my final instalment of this year's yarn and pattern.  The yarn is the Yellow Label in Saffron.  Yellow is not a colour I usually buy but then I received the pattern Pemba Mitts by Julie Crawford...who could resist such a sunshiny pattern that would brighten even the darkest days of winter?  New memberships are available for 2014...you should check it out.  So now I have another pattern I would like to get done before Christmas.

December TFA Club yarn

I also recently bought an e-book by Romi Hill called the Great Oddments Knitdown. This subscription lasts a year. As all avid knitters know there is a always a variety of leftover yarn in your stash.  Romi's goal is to use a box of yarn she has to create various small items creating a total of 15-18 items.  If you are interested buy it quickly as the price will go up in the next fews days from $10 to $15.  It will be interesting to see what she comes up with.  Also I couldn't get over how friendly the group boards are for Romi's Studio site on Ravelry.

I hope you enjoy the upcoming season.  I look forward to seeing everyone's projects.  What are you working on?