Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Little Things

I try not to set too many knitting goals for December.  The season is already stress-filled (even if you opt out of most of the consumerism like I try to do) and I find no joy in knitting against a deadline.  I know my limits for knitting Christmas gifts during November and December so most of my gift knitting has been fun little things.  Since it’s already been mailed/ received and modeled, I can show you the hat I knit for my Granddaughter.  I call it the Li’l Penny.  It’s a scaled down version of my Santa Bang-y hat (pattern now in PDF assuming the linky works).  (To your right =>).  Here’s what it looks like next to the original:
 













and here is my sweet Sylvia modeling it.
A hat from Nana!
 she's already experimenting with her sense of style

Pattern: Santa Bang-y
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino 100 White / 700 Red
Size 4 needles

And I knit her a Teddy Bear complete with removable skirt:
This is a pattern that I have used for years, I used to knit these for fun years and years ago and the pattern has evolved as my knitting skills have improved. I only use the written pattern as a guide these days. It's great for using up leftover odds and ends.

Then, I used some of the leftover white and some blue (Marine) Trendsetter Merino VI to whip up these for my nephews.

 Pattern: Improvised
 Size 3 dpn
I also whipped up a hat and fingerless mitts for my Niece

Pattern: Zig Zag Beanie by Dawn Leeseman / Mitts improvised
Yarn: Rowan Kid Classic / Lavender
Size 8 needles


I also knit a couple of fun ornaments that doubled as gift tags: 
Yarn: Assorted scraps of fingering
Needles:  Size 2.5 mm (I think)

Then I finished another pair of socks:
Fall Stripeys
Pattern: Basic Sock pattern; Eye of partridge heel / 2 row alternating color stripes
Yarn: Mini Mochi in Neptune and Mocha
Needles: 2.25 mm dpn

I showed you the cowl in a previous post and since I fell in love with the yarn I used for my cowl, I decided I HAD to have a pair of matching mittens …

Pattern: Improvised (I’m writing it up, but my notes are partially illegible so it will be a bit)
Yarn: Misti Alpaca Chunky Hand Paint in CP21/Winter Queen
Size 9 dpn

For the easily impressed, I want to note that most of the projects above (excluding socks) are one or two evening projects and easily accomplished while watching TV.  And I knit fast.

 I also started another pair of socks… the last of my 2010 Personal / Self-imposed Sock Club:
Scarborough Fair Socks

I’ll provide the full details when these are finished. These are a bit fiddly so they are slower going, but I hope to finish them in December.  (HOPE)

And to round out the year, I started one more shawl.  I cast on for Annis with some of this, (color 158) but I’m only 9 rows in so there’s not much to show yet. 

So that's what I've been up to lately since the last two projects I posted.  I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and as I do, look forward to what 2011 brings. 
Happy Knitting

blessings, 
Nana

1 comment:

SciFiTVFanGirl said...

She loves the hat! She leaves it on longer than anything else we put on her head, which still isn't very long, granted, but we take what we can get from this one. :o) Also, she loves her teddy bear, thank you so so so much! Hopefully one of these days the pattern for those bears will make their way to Texas...(nudge, nudge, wink, wink)