No Excuse

I'm sorry for the blogging absence.  There really is no excuse other than the usual holiday mayhem.  I've been reading blogs, but haven't taken the time to update my own.  Well, today you'll get an eyefull!  There has been much knitting and finishing lately.  Packages are mailed off, so the knitting must be mostly done.  I'm ashamed to say, that I just realized that I forgot to take a photo of the gift quilt that I mailed yesterday!  What a blogging disaster.  Well, I hope these make up for it.

I just love these felted stockings!  I featured my two favorite, but the others are wonderful too.  I love how the Kureyon felted and the colors are amazing.  The Lamb's Pride version is really nice too.  I will be writing up the pattern and will maybe try to sell it at my LYS.  I showed them the finished pieces and they are interested.  Perhaps I'll even teach a few two hour classes for this next Christmas.  They incorporate a couple of my favorite techniques- short row heels and toes, and I-cord bind off.  I think the toe- up short row toe is awesome and I will definitely use it in the future on regular socks.  The short row heel looks great for stockings because it is so evenly divided, but probably wouldn't be so sturdy on a regular sock.  I did something else to the socks in order to send them out as gifts.  I got myself a needle felting kit and added first initials to three of them.  These will go to three of my favorite little girls- Hana, Dasha and Katya.

I also finished two pairs of fingerless mitts.  I've posted the green ones before, but this is post blocking.  These will go to my hubby.  They are made of Blue Sky alpaca sport weight.  The blue ones are from Manos and the pattern is from Alterknits.  These are for my sister.  She and her husband are moving to the mountains near Big Bear, CA and she'll be needing them!  I love this pattern.  I might make some for myself with a bit of adjustment to the pattern.

Finally, here are the candy cane strip mittems.  I just love these!  They are also from Blue Sky alpaca and are so thick and warm because they are double stranded and have the alternating colors.  These are for my mother-in-law.  This pattern is from the Blue Sky pattern book called Knitters I Know.  It has some really nice patterns.  So far I've made the little felted bag, the diagonal scarf and these mittens.

Other finished knitted gifts include these two scarves from Last Minute Knitted Gifts and the Ear Cozy hat from Fiber Trends.  The scarves are for my brother-in-law and father-in-law, respectively and the hat is for Hana. 

All are winging their way to the recipients, which leaves me with a few last minute knitting projects here.  Last night I finished a beautiful red One Skein Wonder made with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran.  It needs ends woven in and blocking before the fashion shoot.  I also attempted to finish a felted cat bed in time for mailing yesterday.  It became abundantly clear that it wasn't going to happen so I've put it off in favor of finishing Scrabble's Christmas Stocking.  Photos to come later.  I'll try to get the cat bed done in the next week or two.

Next Post:  Holiday happenings here and in Portland.  Stay tuned!

Comments

[Paula]

Love the felted stockings. Good ideas for leftover Kureyon. Maybe the holes in my short row heels would close in felting. :)

[nona]

What great knitting you've been up to! The felted stockings are absolutely wonderful and look like a lot of fun to make. Your fingerless gloves turned out really well and will make nice gifts.

[Ragan]

Wow, those little stockings are really cute. I really like your fingerless mitts also! The ribbons in the blue ones are a nice touch!

[Carola]

I like the little felted stockings, specially in the Noro colourway. I hope you get the assignment in your LYS for next Christmas (thinking about pre-Christmas stress in January already!) The blue fingerless mittens turned out so elegant, great job!