knitting update

wow! it's been a month since my last post, so i thought i would break this up into a knitting post and an 'other' post.

recently finished projects include a lacy scarf for baby sister. I used the Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Brushed Alpaca in Rose that i received in a KH swap. Lovely, charming, warm, soft, divine stuff! i would live to knit a whole sweater in this stuff! Seriously!

I cast on 220, knit 4 rows. then knit2, *[yo, k1, k2tog]* to end or so. knit 4 rows, then repeat. I also added fringe with stone beads for added glamor. sis loves it and it knit up super quick! I have learned the need for blocking wires though, so when i finally finish a stole, i'll be making a trip to Home Depot to get some steel wires to use. it's got to be easier than using quilting pins.



I've also knitted my BIL a balaclava (no real pattern) using 2 balls of cascade 220 superwash wool. one in black and one in grey. He loves it and really needed it for work. he works at a paper mill and occasionally gets burns from the large, HOT drums that presses the paper (now he can keep his face pretty lol)


also, i have cast on and have in progress "bee stripe" (lorna's laces shepherd sock) socks for mom and some donegal tweed bare (from knitpicks.com) that i dyed in "I like Lello" for my niece. No progress pictures today. I'll try to add some tomorrow. Both are simple stockinette because i wanted the yarns to shine, and not be too fussy. I love how they both are turning out.

I have taught myself to crochet! Yay me! I am crocheting a giant granny square out of some lovely Plymouth Bella Colour (i think it's been discontinued...) yarn as a present or my DH's coworker (they had a baby boy). I wanted to learn primarily to crochet wool soakers for our dd, since it'll be thicker and more absorbent with out having to knit then felt one to get a similar results. I used the tutorial from crochet cabana.
She has great pictures and teaches you to learn how to understand a pattern as well.
here is the blanket after one ball of yarn (i am starting on #3 currently)


I knit dad a pair of fiber trends clogs as part of his Christmas gift (it also included a robe, pajama pants and dark chocolate!) They are a hit, and now mom wants a pair... I used Patons classic wool merino for them.





I too had a great knitting related Christmas! Dad got me a nifty swift (the table top one) it's so much nicer than the one i made this summer, and much easier to use. DH got me a set of Denise interchangeable. I really wanted the KnitPicks Options set, but i do like the Denise set 200% better than the Boye Needlemaster i bought off of ebay.I might get the Options as a birthday present, along with some of the new longer length traditional circs for magic loop sock knitting.