Gift Knitting

Every year at Christmas, I have a long list of Christmas gift knitting to do.  This year has been no exception.  Thanksgiving will be here soon, and this is what I have completed, so far:

Three pair of Lumberjack Socks, by: tincanknits.  I found this pattern last year, and knit two pair for my husband's birthday.  He has loved them, so gift socks were knit for this season.  Each pair is planned for different friend.  They are all knit of Berroco Vintage DK.

A Maris Stella Lace Shawl, by Anna Victoria, to be gifted to another dear friend, and presented with a Treble Clef Shawl Pin.  This was a fun knit on a long circular needle.  It was my first experience with gradient yarn.  Knit of KnitPicks Stroll in the color - Sea You Later.  It was really fun to watch the colors slowly change, as you knit along.

I've started a new cardigan too.  Currently, my favorite sweater designer is Anne Hanson.  Of my collection of hand-knit sweaters, Leaving, is the sweater that I wear the most.  So I've decided to knit another of Anne's designs, Herringweave.

I thought this was the most beautiful design, and I've chosen to knit it out of Wollemeise DK, in the color Grunfink.  There is a man's pullover style included, and if I'm happy with mine, I plan to knit one for my husband too.  The Herringbone stitch pattern in unlike anything I've ever knit, and I just love the way it looks and feels.  Here is what I have knit of the back, so far:

It is always so fun to try something new.  There is no chance of growing bored with this one.  Anne is truly a knitting wizard.

Pictures of my newly updated kitchen are still to come.  We are having wood floors installed in the breakfast area and living room in the next few weeks, so everything is a complete mess right now.  This is the final step, and I just can't wait to decorate for Christmas.  We will be travelling to our daughter's house for Thanksgiving, which is a good thing, because I couldn't cook a thing at my house right now.

Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels to all of my readers.

SURPRISE!

It is the end of a very busy Summer, and as things are settling into a slower, colder, season, I'm feeling the neglect of this little Blog.  Although I've been away for over a year, I haven't even once slowed down on my knitting (the passion of my lifetime).

Here is what I have been doing . . .

Just before Thanksgiving last year, I went on a week-long vacation with my sisters and Mom to Park City.  If you are a skier, you've probably been there before, and you know that it is a little, old mining town turned high-end ski resort.  We stayed at the Marriott resort and spent the week shopping in their little boutiques, cooking together, crafting, and laughing.  It was a great time for us to spend together.  In one of those boutique shops, I ran into the most beautiful, fashion knits.  The one thing that really caught my eye, was a hand-knit ski hat with a real fur pom-pom.  The hat was $250.00 (a little rich for my tastes).

When we returned home, I couldn't stop thinking about those cute ski hats, so I went on a search on the Internet for real fur pom poms.  I found the most beautiful, raccoon pom poms, I ordered them and I was "off to the races". Here they are, one for each of my daughters and grand-daughter.

They were really fun to knit, and at the end of the season I was even able to make one for me.  However, there were no raccoon pom-poms left, so mine is gray with a gray rabbit pom-pom.

For Christmas gifts for my grand-children I made each of them a pillowcase with their name appliqued on.  This with a new pillow was the perfect gift.  I made 11 of them.  9 for our grandchildren and a set for my husband to use when he is hunting.

I also tried out a little "wool applique", making this pumpkin pillow from a kit, for my kitchen bench.  Although that bench looks completely different now, since we have changed-up our kitchen during the Summer (pictures of finished product to come).  I worked on this pillow while we were on a hunting trip to Texas, where I also knit Lumberjack Socks  for my husband's birthday.

Then I launched into the knitting of a Derica Kane Sweater, and an  Effervescence Cardigan.  Both knit in conjunction with a Custom Fit Pattern.

Well, that should certainly be enough over-load for now . . . but, I'll be back soon, with pictures of my newly styled kitchen, my Summer knitting projects, and what I'm working on now.