Bough

This time of year just whizzes by with all the shopping, baking and preparing.  That's why it is important to have a way to relax and for me that has always been some knitting time.  Even when its knitting that has to be done for Christmas gifts!  I was able to use up some of my yarn stash on the two presents I was making.  My favourite hat I finished was Bough by Leila Raabe in Wool People Vol. 6. Although my yarn was probably a bit too variegated for this pattern I am still very pleased with the outcome.  The pom pom just makes it I think.  I definitely would like to make another Bough with a plainer colour.  Tanis Fiber Arts Green Label yarn really softened up once blocked.

Bough

The next pattern I completed was from the Great Oddments Knitdown called the Fairy SnowCap out of some Berroco Ultra Alpaca.  The pom pom was great fun to make.  Romi Hill is going to come out with fifteen to eighteen patterns in the next year using odds and ends of yarn.  That is a good help for me.  When I first became obsessed with knitting I was quick to single skeins of yarns that caught my eye.  Now I seem to have a collection of theses single beauties but I am not always sure what to do with them.  So I am interested to see what ideas Romi comes up with.  I am thinking more and more that in 2014 one of my goals should be to make a dent in my stash.

Fairy SnowCap

Then I finished Julie Crawford's Pemba mittens as part of the final instalment of the TFA 2013 Year in Colour Club.  This pattern was fun to do and kept my interest.  I am looking forward to what Tanis has in mind for the club in 2014.  She has such a wonderful eye for colour and unique patterns.

Pemba

I have also been knitting a scarf I for my son.  I think I will be knitting it forever...it just won't get long enough.  However, it is good for those times when a harder pattern is not doable.  So I plug away.  I am trying to get it done before he returns for Christmas from university.  I will hopefully show you the finished scarf next time.  I still have grandiose ideas of finishing a few more projects before Christmas...we shall see.  How is your Christmas knitting going?

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?