FO and Ho Ho Ho

Let's get right down to business, shall we?

Details: Pattern was Julia's Aran Pullover by Kristin Nicholas which appears in the Premier issue of Knit It! Magazine by Better Homes and Gardens. I believe the magazine was put out in 2001. I used a bit over one skein of Cascade 220 Superwash in off white, and got gauge with US9 needles.

I really love this baby sweater. I actually used this pattern to make my first ever sweater, and it was also the pattern I used to learn cables. It was nice to revisit it and see how much I've improved! I also really liked the yarn I used. It was so soft while I was knitting, and then got even softer after a wash in some Eucalan. The mom-to-be loved the sweater, too.

Yesterday I started my first Christmas gift. A pair of black ribbed socks for my boyfriend using Mission Falls 1824 Wool. Oh, why oh why didn't I use this yarn sooner? It's so soft, squooshy, and pleasant to knit! And superwash! Why is it that I always discover a yarn only after it's discontinued?



Not much to look at so far, and, honestly, they probably won't be much to look at when they're finished, but he'll love them and that's all that matters. Socks are kind of a traditional gift at this point. Two years ago I gave him a pair of thick wool socks made with Yarn for Sox. The fact that the yarn is "made for socks" may mislead some people into thinking the wool is superwash. Maybe even people like myself. Turns out the socks are not superwash, and felted right in the boy's work boots. He still wears them and loves them, but as a knitter, I feel he needs a replacement pair.

I feel like casting on for another project, perhaps my grandmother's shawl. Stay tuned! For now, I'll end this post with a picture of the most adorable girls in the world:



I started calling the white one "Squirrel" because she's always hiding everything, and it seems to have stuck!

(PS: Isn't it bizarre that Blogger's spellchecker doesn't recognize the word "knitter?" Isn't that a standard English word?)

Missed Deadlines

So I missed the deadline of the baby shower. I wasn't really surprised, since I started the sweater about three days before the shower and had to rip back. It was worth starting over though, because it's coming along nicely.

The pattern is from the premier issue BHG Knit It! magazine, and I've made it once before. It was actually the first sweater I ever made, and I used Lamb's Pride Worsted and US8 bamboo needles. For this one, I'm using Cascade 220 superwash and aluminum needles. I tried to use those same bamboo needles but I just couldn't. I have a need for speed. I rarely use wooden or bamboo needles, though I have several pairs. I also had to go up a needle size this go 'round, which is strange because generally I always have to go down a size to get gauge. In any event, this is the back, mere inches from being completed. The front is identical, the sleeves and collar are ribbed. I love this little pattern, I just think it's so cute!

I also have a photo of the mittens & hats I made over vacation.



I gave my youngest nephew his mittens yesterday (I have to weave in ends on the hat and make a cord for my older nephew's mittens), and he didn't want anything to do with them! Of course, he doesn't want anything to do with any mittens, but my older nephew was so in love with his that I just assumed the younger would be the same. Silly Auntie.

I joined a knitalong! Put on by Alison of the Blue Blog, it's for Christmas gifts! It even has its own blog! Since the people I'm knitting for don't really check out my blog, I'll probably update on both. I have a small gift list this year, but since I haven't started yet, I could use the support!

Finally, I was putting away some yarn today when I realized, to my horror, that I have really run out of storage space in my china cabinet. So I'm seriously making a resolution to knit out of my stash until I have room for more. I actually don't even have all my yarn in that cupboard yet, and I just don't want to be finding yarn squirreled away all over my apartment. Wish me luck! It's so hard for me to pass by a sale!

Wow

It's been a long time since I last updated. My excuse? I was on vacation! Yes, I spent a lot of time at home. And yes, I did buy yarn. And I actually did some knitting, too. But I just never got around to writing about it. The most exciting news about vacation was the addition of two little girls to the apartment.

Meet Eunice and (for now) White Rat. They are the cutest little dumplings in the world and I love them. And they love yarn. It's a match made in heaven.


I didn't touch Rogue or the Astrakhan cardigan once all through vacation, though I went to Patternworks and saw that they had a swatch of Astrakhan done with US6 needles, which makes me think that my hypothesis that I'll have to use US5 needles for the cardigan has been substantiated. I don't have pictures, but most of my vacation knitting became hats and mittens for my nephews. When I get home I'll take pictures. Great stash-busters. I was able to kill a leftover skein of Lamb's Pride Bulky on mittens and stripes in a hat for my youngest nephew, and most of a skein of black bulky on hat for the older nephew and stripes on the smaller hat. I used Lamb's Pride Worsted for the older boy's mittens. I love how they came out, and may use LP for all future little boy mittens. I say that now, but I have some Cestari to use, too.

I finished the wee sweater in short order. I actually think I had it finished before I started vacation... shortly after my last entry. I'm a bad blogger!


I've not yet delivered the sweater. I'm thinking of waiting until I finish the one I plan to make for the big brother. I bought the cutest little tags that say "Made with Love by Your Favorite Aunt."


I casted on last night for a baby sweater for shower this Saturday. I guess I won't make it! I knit a few inches last night, but upon looking at it this morning, I noticed that the cables were a little wonky in a couple of spots and the gauge was way off. So I ripped it out and did one repeat this morning. I remember when I was a new knitter, I finished the same pattern in a week or so. Hopefully now I can be a little faster and maybe get the sweater to the expectant mom early next week.

I do solemnly swear to take pictures either tonight or tomorrow!