Laura's Fair Isle Hat. Cascade 220 Wool and Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, all leftover partial skeins. I graphed out the big X pattern with the colors I had, then cast on for seven repeats, and made up the rest as I went. The brim is a twisted rib. It turned out a little big, so I hand-washed it, then threw it in the drier. It shrank just enough to fit my sister Laura, who has a big head. She really likes it, and has had it for a full week now without losing it. Yay!
Jeanette's Black Watch Diamond Socks. Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, in Black Watch Colorway. 1x1 cuff, leg and instep a purl-stitch diamond pattern. Cuff-down, short-row heel and toe. Sorry about the bad pic, but I finished these the night before I had to give them to her, and couldn't get a good natural light photo. Last year I made her a vest using LL Swirl in the Black Watch colorway, so these are to match. They seem somewhat poofy at the ankle in the picture, but Jeanette reports that they fit her. I guess she also inherited our grandmother's cankles!
Here's what I'm knitting now, along with a Christmas present that did not get finished:
Trekking 100's socks. Zitron Trekking XXL, in the fabulous and cheerful colorway 100. Cuff down, short-row heel and toe with a 2x2 cuff and 6x2 leg and instep. I started these with the intention of giving them to Laura for her birthday, but she has seen them in progress and called them "fall-like". I'm not sure she deserves these spectacular colors!
Over at the knittyboard, some of the spinners there have made a resolution to spin every day in January. Coincidentally, I woke up this morning and realized exactly how long it's been since I did any spinning (over a month and a half!) and vowed to start up again this very day. So I hereby resolve to spin a little each day. I am also determined to do more weaving. I picked up some extra heddles for my loom last month, as well as some cotton yarn. I will report back soon on my progress there.
One final note: I got a sewing machine for Christmas! I need an idea about what to make to reacquaint myself with sewing, as I haven't done it since 8th grade! So, who's got an idea for a fun project I can start off with? Something small to get my feet wet, so to speak?
8 comments:
I was wondering where you were... I haven't been able to stalk in ages. Whew! I think you should post your spinning that way I can spin vicariously through you. ;)
-Your friendly neighborhood knit stalker
Great FOs. Love the hat! It's amazing what you can make with odds and ends, isn't it.
As for what to sew...
A pillow can be a simple and basic as a project can get. Or it can be quite complex if you want.
Do you need curtains? A lot of long straight seams.
Buy some polar fleece and sew some hats. Those are fast and fun. You can give them to Kathy to give to her students if you make too many.
If you wear skirts, those are great starter garments. Once you get it fitted in the waist, the rest is a piece of cake.
I like to go to the fabric store and just plan on looking at the pattern catalog for a good long time, easily an hour. Or you can do that online, too. McCalls, Butterick, and Vogue are all owned by one big company and share a site. Then you'll get lots of ideas.
*giggles* Cankles!
The fair isle hat is gorgeous - the socks are gorgeous too!
Gorgeous socks! I love that hat, though. I'm beginning to suspect that Fair Isle is addictive. Once you start, you can't stop, ever!
(Insert evil laugh here)
Yes, you MUST keep those Trekking 100 socks. They are turning out better than usual even. What to sew? Make some drawstring sacks. They can be used as cases/cozies for things like niddy noddies and zithers. You could make one of those hang up circular needle holders. I see on the news that Lee Dreyfus has bought the farm. I wouldn't make a Dreyfus cozy; they'll probably going go the coffin route.
*wipes tears of laughter from her cheeks* Thanks Kathy! :D
I love the Trekking socks. They have such a way with color! The hat is lovely too - glad you were able to find a way to make it fit.
Susan - Laura obviously doesn't share your eye and love for color. These socks are gorgeous!!
Margaret
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