Final Day of 2008

Today I'm sad. It's the end of 2008 and tomorrow starts 2009. I start back at work on Friday. My knitting and reading will be curtailed until April 16th. At least I can look forward to spring!

I have been knitting more now that Christmas is over. I am working on my prayer shawl. I think I may knit more of these in 2009 and donate them to a prayer shawl group that one of my knitter friends belongs to.

I have been lax in knitting socks this past month, so I picked up two socks I started in November and December. One pair is the Yarn Chef socks in Moldy Jack O Lanterns. I am currently working on the heel. For this pair, I am using double pointed needles. I really like how this is striping.

I am also working on the Malabrigo socks in Tiziano Red. This yarn is so soft. I am using two circular needles (size 1-1/2). I got past the ribbing. I really hate ribbing.

I also knit a washcloth using Unique Sheep's Pima Petite in Brillant Blue. It's a really neat cotton yarn. I used the Sheepy Washcloth pattern (designed by Sarah Wilson) that I bought from their website. I need to knit a soap sack that was included in the pattern with the balance of the yarn.

I will end the year with a few more yarn purchases. I got more Jojoland Melody Superwash from the Loopy Ewe. This is color 29. I am not sure if I want to knit socks with this or knit a scarf.

I bought a santa hat kit from Morehouse farm. This just looks too cute. Guess it will have to be for next year. They also sent me a free pattern and yarn for a mini cardi.

I love the Yarn Chef sock yarn so much, I bought two more skeins. This is her Minestrone Yarn. On top is Plum Tart and on bottom is Tussie Mussie. They are 75% superwash merino and 25% nylon.

Have a safe New Years Eve. We are going out to dinner and then coming home to spend a quiet night knitting and reading.

Merry Christmas

Whew, I made it. I got the second hat completed before Christmas. I like knitting in the round, it's different and fun to do. I like this pattern too. You can't get much easier than knit two, purl two.

Pattern came from Holiday Knits. I used a size 6 needle with Kraemer Yarns Summit Hill in pearl and green stone. I like Summit Hill. It's a nice yarn to work with.

I'm ready for Christmas. All presents are wrapped, food shopping is done. My brother and his family were here this evening and my in-laws will be here tomorrow for lunch. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.

It's almost Christmas - Yikes!

Geez, Christmas is coming so fast this year. Fortunately, I am not doing much knitting for Christmas, but I still want to get some projects finished before the end of the year. I did finish the hat for my husband. I used Kraemer's Summit Hill yarn in Black and Pearl (he is an Oakland Raiders fan) with a size 6 needle. This was a fun knit and I really enjoy knitting in the round.

I couldn't stop with one hat, so now I am making another one in Green and White for my father-in-law. I should have it complete in time.

I knit two dishcloths this month. One is Grandma's Snowman using Peaches and Creme yarn in Ecru. I used size 6 needles for this cloth. It's cute, but there were quite a few problems with the pattern.

The second cloth was the final dishcloth in for the year. The pattern is the Doily Style Dishcloth. I used Peaches and Creme cotton in the Mar Di Gras colorway with size 7 double pointed needles. I really, really liked this pattern and especially the color. It was a great project to end the year. I like the color so much that I want to get a cone of it. But, I will have to wait. Shipping on just one cone is high and I really don't need any other cotton yarn. I will wait until later in 2009 to get more of this colorway. But that won't stop me from making more in another colorway.

Speaking of dishcloths, I like to knit dishcloths because they are small projects and you learn new stitches with them. I have been knitting dishcloths since 2004 when I began knitting again. I have them all over the place and have never used them. So, I dug them out and kept the ones I really liked and my husband took a lot into work to pass them out. I am saving some too for when my family comes up for Christmas. This will give you an idea of the pile that we are passing out to anyone who wants them. I don't have too many left, so I should be able to get rid of them all.

Maybe in 2009 I will have a contest and see who can come close to the number of dishcloths in the pile and give away some yarn to reduce my stash.

Of course I had to buy more yarn. I got another skein of Malabrigo sock yarn in the Lettuce colorway. I love this yarn. I am working on one sock now, but I need to take a picture. I'm just at the ribbing though, so I'll wait until I get a little further. Sock knitting has been on the back burner this month.

From Knitpicks, I got some of their Cotlin yarn to make some dishtowels. The colorways are royal plum, glacier, and key lime.

In my knitting class at Kraemer's, we are going to have a sweater project starting in January. I am going to knit the Central Park Hoodie using Kramer's Tatamy Tweed worsted yarn in the purple colorway. I am looking forward to starting this project.

I also couldn't resist buying Fannies Fingering Weight Yarn in the Arizona colorway from Kraemer's Yarn Shop.

And, the Loopy Ewe drew me in again. I bought Toe Jamz - Happy Hands Yarn in the Mr. Bojangles colorway.

Also, I got the new Creatively Dyed Calypso Yarn in Travel and Quick Step as well as Jo Jo Land Melody superwash wool in two different colorways (005 and 001). I believe that Jo Jo Land caused quite a stir at Stitches this year. You can use it for socks or scarves. I may have to make one of each.

I think that's enough for now. I need to go knit and get ready for Christmas. I am having family for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. I am just about ready, but need to do some cleaning. Yuck, I hate to clean. I have better things to do than that (like knit and read).

It was a Good Week

I've had a good knitting week. I was able to finish the last two comfortghan squares I needed for my commitment of 24. I used the pattern Simple Garter Lace Square by Mary Dixon and did two using Red Heart Super Saver yarn in the Hunter Green colorway and size 8 needles.

I got them blocked and sent out to my Yahoo Group sister, who assembles the comfortghans.

I also did two premie hats for the Knit One Save One project. Kraemer Yarn participated several years ago and sent around 700 hats to them, so they are working on sending more again in January. I used the pattern on the Knit One Save One web site, but knit it in the round, so I didn't have to sew it together. This was my first hat and it was really easy.

Next, I plan to knit a hat I saw on the Purl Bee blog using Jade Sapphire silk cashmere yarn and Rowan Kid Silk Haze. I got two colorways (Tea Leaves in Jade Sapphire and Majestic in Kid Silk Haze and Pebble Beach in Jade Sapphire and Pearl in Kid Silk Haze). I can't wait to cast on. Maybe this weekend.

Jade Sapphire in Tea Leaves

Kid Silk Haze in Majestic

Jade Sapphire in Pebble Beach and Kid Silk Haze in Pearl

I got the first shipment from the Unique Sheep Rubber Ducky Club. It's so cute and the colorway is great. It's in Pima Petit cotton yarn in the frosty colorway. The soap is also called Frosty. Isn't the Santa Rubber Ducky cute? I also love the project bag that game with it. I think I'm going to love this yarn club.

Sundara Yarns also sent out the first shipment of Sock Yarn. The colorways are from left to right: Bronzed Forest, Wine, and Brown Sugar over Buttermilk.

I'm excited because I was able to buy more Sweet Georgia Superwash Sock Yarn. The colorways from top to bottom are: Cranapple, Suspense, and Lichen. I love her yarn. I'm so glad that she is back dying yarn again.

Well, off to knit. I want to knit on my scarf tonight and I started a sock using the Malabrigo sock yarn, plus I would like to cast on for the hat using the Jade Sapphire and Kid Silk Haze.