Thursday, December 27, 2007

Christmas Knitting

Well it's been a busy time here knitting away and sewing up gifts and goodies. For most Christmas has come and gone, but here it's on Saturday. It was postponed due to young nephew wouldn't be visiting until Saturday. In years past he's come down to my parents with his father on Christmas day. But that was after he had gifts at his Great grandmothers Christmas eve, gifts at his house Christmas morning, then to his maternal grandmothers later for lunch and gifts.. then finally my brother would drive the hour (one way) to get him and bring him to my mom's later in the day. The result a tired pooped cranky child who just wants to play with his new stuff! So it was decided to postpone the gift giving until all could be there and take our time and enjoy the day! Good idea I think.

We had snacks and card games at my mom's on Christmas day and we had our stockings, but that was all. Margaritas were made and rum and cokes were enjoyed. It was a nice quiet day. The best part, an extra 5 days of knitting/crafting time before the "BIG" day! Whoo hoo. Resulting in pics today.

We'll start with a couple of sewing projects. My nephews room was just decorated in a Camoflauge motif. I made him a throw pillow for his bed. It's a sturdy cotton canvas fabric that will stand up to some serious pillow fights and anthing else a six year old can do to it. Also is a "Purr Pad" ,I call them. I just sew a piece of fleece and a cotton backing together with a piece of batting in middle. I also sprinkle some loose home grown catnip inside. You lay them where you cat has decided to call home. I take Berkleys' when we travel somewhere and where ever I put it is where he lays, cause he knows it's his spot. I found some cute kitty fleece and had already purchased the coordinating quilters cotton in the same print which I used on the other side. It's for my moms cat, Doc. She's been asking for one. (Notice my model in the background).




In knitting news I finished the wool boot socks for my Dad! FINALLY. I wasn't sure if I was going to have enough green so I just did the toes in the blue.




Also I finally finished the Cashmere Feather and Fan scarf. I didn't knit all the skein like I intended. But its the length she wanted 48" and I was getting soo bored. Now I have a small ball left, which I think would make some pretty lace bookmarks. A good stocking stuffer idea for next year.



I also knit up some Fingerless mitts too. One in a Elann Peruvian Sierra and the blue in the Knitpicks Superwash Merino. I have to finish the other blue one still. But they go fast.

Friday, December 07, 2007

Long time no post

Wheew, I can't believe it's been so long since the last post. I blame Ravelry for that. If a post was equal to everytime I go to Ravely, there'd be volumes by now.
Well there's been plenty of knitting and some sewing going on. Trying to get ready for Christmas. But the elves can't seem to knit fast enough and the fabric is still sitting waiting to be cut, though it has been washed and pressed.
Mostly I have a couple of Christmas projects on the needles. But there's at least a couple more I'd like to cast on for yet. No pictures to share, : (.
I started a Cashmere scarf in the Feather and Fan pattern for my mom. It's on size 4needles and taking FOREVER to knit! I haven't measured the length of it but I keep weighing the skein. I didn't take an initial weight before I cast on but it was supposed to be 55grams and now it's 21grams. The pattern is soo easy and nearly mindless so you'd think it would go faster, guess I'm just slow. I was worried at first that the length was going to be kind of meager for one skein. But I think it's going to be plenty long enough at this point.
I'm working on a pair of boot socks for my dad as well. They started out being for my brother but they are 100% and I'm afraid his gf will not remember and toss them into the dryer. I'll make him another pair next year out of some superwash or something. At least if I gift them to my Dad, I know that Mom won't felt them up. She's good about hanging things to dry and asking how to wash it first.
I still want to knit my dad a winter hat with some ear flaps in some green yarn that will match the green scarf I knit him a couple Xmas's ago. I'm thinking that I will dedicate the rest of this week to the scarf and then I'll just start the hat.. I can motor on a hat in the round faster than I'm going on this scarf!
Did anyone else besides me take advantage of the Black Friday specials? I got a couple of items and they were both for ME! Whoo Hoo. I got a new set of anondized cookware that was a great price at Linen's N Things. Now I can part with my mismatched oddballs. But my best new toy yet is this pretty boy. Just in time for Holiday Cookie Making too! Its hard to see in this pic, but I got the Cobalt Blue one and it's sooo pretty. It's makes awesome Popovers! So light and fluffy can't wait to whip up some Oatmeal Orange Raisin cookies, and breads. I want to try some breads after the holidays.