What Got Done

About a month or so ago I decided that I was not going to have one of those stressful holiday knitting episodes of the past. In fact I wasn't planning on knitting anything for anyone. Yes it seemed a bit 'Grinchy' at the time, but I just had no desire to knit for everyone. Of course I changed my mind and only knitted a few small items for much fewer people than I would normally feel compelled to gift a hand knit.

My list of items: keychain sock blocker socks (5), Cassidy cap, super cupcake cowl, Capitals cap, felted handbag, Christmas Tree Lot face cloth & rib's & ruffles scarf were all so quick to complete it hardly counted as true Christmas knitting. Some could be called 'cheating' since it happened to be a test knitted item, but I had decided when I cast it on that I knew who I'd gift it to...otherwise I would not have decided to add that particular item to my test knitting obligation.

My favorite items were the sock blocker socks...so neat & fast that ideas ran through my head as I knit these up for a friend. I used 5 different sock yarn leftovers. Perfect solution to that problem and the extra perk of remembering those yarns. Each sock used really very little yarn of the following: Brown Sheep's Wildfoot, Wisdom Yarns Chicago, Pagewood Sock, Fleece Artist Merino Sock, & Mountain Colors Bearfoot. Next year I'm planning to have an entire garland out of these little cuties using up left over sock yarn and attaching them to i-cord for our tree.

The Cassidy Cap was a dream to knit if for no reason other than the yarn, Malabrigo Twist felt so wonderful in my hands. The cables popped and the softness of this yarn was unlike anything I've knit with lately...100% baby merino wool. The color was called green gray, but I would say it's more in line with teal in shades of lights & darks.

I've decided that I must make one for myself out of my left overs from my Cassidy cardigan.

I mentioned the test knitting for the Super Cupcake Cowl...or you could call this one a "tube top" which was the recipient's first thought upon opening it. My youngest asked me to provide her "directions" on it's use...and I thought I was the one slightly behind at being modern & chic. She'll get a chance in a few days to check out it's warmth when we head off skiing. No, I don't think it'll be seeing use as a tube top, but then again you never know.

I knitted up another rib's & ruffles scarf out of some Ironstone yarn that I happened across at a winter sale for my Aunt. She always enjoys something warm around her neck...for a 50/50 blend the yarn felt pretty soft & nice against the skin so I'm hoping she'll enjoy this one.

Last winter I ended up knitting 3 of these bags...my mom tried to knit herself one, but had a good deal of trouble keeping her floats loose across the bag. When she felted the finished bag it pulled in so much that she tossed it in the closet. I decided to knit her one out of some Patons Classic wool in colors to match her sweater. I did have a bit of tightness in the back corner, but overall the bag turned out well & she was both surprised & pleased with the gift. It's a take off of Little Slip of a Thing...once again a heavily modified version. Along with making it much wider and not as tall I added the flap closure and used one of my bone buttons I bought last winter from Camas Creek Yarn Shop. A perfect choice for the bag.


The last two items that I finished for the Holiday were a nice face cloth out of some cotton/acrylic yarn (Lion Brand Cotton Ease in lime) and a hat for my nephew out of colors to match the Washington Capitals. I have a ton of it left so I'm thinking I'll make him another in a more solid pattern. According to my dear husband I need to make it larger...seems guys wear their hats over the eyes? Mmmm...

All the details...needles, yarn & such are listed on my Ravelry Project Page.