I Love to Read

Well, it’s my final list of books that I have read for 2011.  I love to read or listen to books.

Crown Jewel – Fern Michaels

Maine – J. Courney Sullivan

Distant Shores – Kristin Hannah

Viola – In Reel Life – Adriana Trigiani

Queen Takes King – Gigi Levangie Grazier

Boardwalk Empire – Nelson Johnson

There’s Something About Christmas – Debbie Macomber

Here Come Trouble – Debbie Macomber

Christmas Treasures – Debbie Macomber

The Next Always – Nora Roberts

Patterns in the Sand – Sally Goldbaum

Explosive Eighteen – Janet Evanovitch

The Christmas Pearl – Dorothea Benton Frank

A Turn in the Road – Debbie Macomber

That makes 72 books read for the year.  Well above my goal and the same amount I read last year.  On to 2012!

Finishing and Casting On

2011 is almost over and I am finishing up some projects and I started two new projects.  I also keep adding projects to my to do list.  That is bad.

I finished the December Mid Month KAL from my Dishcloth group.  The pattern is Shades of Christmas by Janet Nogle.  I used a size 7 needle with Peaches in Crème in Mistletoe and Red.  I believe we did this pattern earlier in the year under another name.  I liked it before, but really wasn’t too happy with the colors this time.  It’s too red.  But, it isn’t too bad.

I also finished the North Wind Hat  I used a size 8 needle with Madelinetosh Vintage in tart.  This pattern was really easy and I loved the yarn.  I am just a Madelinetosh fan.  I like this kind of hat because I can put all my hair into the hat and the band covers my ears.  It feels as if it will be really warm.  The only problem I had was that I ran out of yarn when I had 6 rows to go.  Lucky for me, my LYS had one skein left and it matched.  Since, I have most of the skein left, I plan on using the rest to kit up a pair of mittens.  I will probably casting on for the mittens shortly (Another project on the needles – just what I need).

I had planned to make some Christmas socks, but because of the Christmas knitting I had to finish, I didn’t cast on these sock until a few days before Christmas.  So, I won’t have them for this Christmas, but will have them for next Christmas. I am using String Theory Colorworks in Kinetic energy with a size one needle.  I love this yarn because of the striping.  I plan on doing an afterthought heel for these socks.

Lastly, I cast on for the Shaelyn shawl.  The Knitting Pipeline group had this pattern as a KAL.  It’s an easy pattern and I have been wanting to cast this on.  I am using a size 8 needle with Madelinetosh Pashmina in the color grasshopper.

I had a really nice week this week.  Getting ready for Christmas was so hectic and this week I really took the time to just relax and do what I wanted to do.  I really needed it too.  Next week, I start working.  It will only be until mid February and it will only be two days a week.  That isn’t too bad.  So, I am going to enjoy the rest of my time off to knit and read.

Ready for Christmas?

I’m about as ready as I can get.  I have a few things to do, but I have all the presents I need and only have to wrap one more box.  I finished my Christmas knitting today.  Carter’s sweater is finished.  I used the Button’s cardigan pattern with a size 5 needle and Dreambaby dk yarn in the color 0310.  It feels so good to have finished this.  The pattern was easy and it was great to knit this top down with no seaming.

My family will be here for Christmas Eve and I am looking forward to it.  Tomorrow, I am going to my LYS to knit for me!

Yikes! Christmas is a week away

I am into power knitting at this point.  I did complete the Snowman rolled brimmed at for my great nephew Carter.  Because the hat was small, I didn’t put in a mouth.  I used a size 11 needle with Holiday Lights and Dreamland Fancy yarn in a white color.  I think it got cute.  I hope it fits him.

I also completed a hat for my husband.  It’s called the Manly Man hat and I used a size 9 needle with Pur yarn in 1968ombre color way.  This knit up fast.

Now, I just have to finish up Carter’s sweater.  I did the sleeves and I’m finishing the body.  I have 41 more rows to knit.  I think I can make it until the end of the week.  I figure that I need to knit 10 rows every day and I will have no problem finishing it.

I did get my last shipment from the CookieA sock club for 2011.  The yarn is Bugga in the color Heuschrecke.  I really enjoyed this club and did sign up for 2012.  We also got a project bag with it.

Christmas is coming too fast

Why is that?  We run around like chickens with our heads cut off getting ready and it’s over in an instant.  It also doesn’t help when you start last minute projects to try and finish in time.

At least I finished the dog puppet for Carter that I was working on.  It came out really cute and I think he will love it.  It came in a kit with Cotonade yarn in nutmeg and small pieces of black and red yarn (for the tongue).  The pattern and yarn came in a kit. I used size 7 needles for this. 

I started a Snowman Rolled Brim Hat for Carter as well.  I finished the hat and did the eye (but have to attach them) and just need to knit the carrot nose.  The hat also has a mouth, but since this is a toddler hat, there isn’t any room to put on the mouth, so I’m eliminating it.  The yarn is Plymouth Dreamland Fancy in white and a half skein of Holiday Lights.  Plus you need some black and orange yarn for the eyes (mouth) and nose.  This was also in a kit. I used a size 11 needle for this hat.

I did finish the December Monthly Dishcloth KAL.  The pattern is Tree of Christmas by Janet Nogle.  I used Peaches and Crème in emerald green with a size 6 needle.  The pattern called for a size 7, but I used a size 6.

I also started the North Wind Hat using Madelinetosh Vintage in the tart color.  I love Madelinetosh.  I am using a size 8 needle.  This hat is for me and I’m not in a hurry to finish it by Christmas.

I do want to knit my husband a hat for Christmas, but he may have to wait until after Christmas to get it.  The yarn I want to use is Pur by Schoppel Wolle.  The color is 1968 ombre.  The pattern I will use is called the Manly Man hat.

I still have to finish a baby sweater for Carter.  I have one sleeve finished and will be starting on the second sleeve.  After that is complete, it shouldn’t take long to finish.

I also bought another skein of Lorna’s Laces solemate in the pine colorway.  Love this green and I love the yarn.  I finally wore the first pair that I knit from the Cookie A sock club and I love them.

I couldn’t resist more Lorna’s Laces.  I bought a skein of  Shepard Sock and Worsted in the color Christmas Holly.  This was a special color dyed for Serendipity Needle Works in Alabama.  I won’t get anything knit with this for Christmas.  But there is always next year.