Last Post of 2014

Well, this is the last post of 2014. No post next week as
Joe and I will be on Christmas Vacation.

I tried really hard.  I did. Epic FAIL.
Did not get the Bosc scarf done this week.
 

It's rather complex, and I even have to count on the purl back rows.
I worked on it all week, and if you look at last week's progress
I did a lot.  Just not enough.
I only did two repeats.  It probably would have looked better with
three or four. But
1.  I don't like really wide scarves
2.  I only had two skeins of yarm, about 420 yards total

Once it's blocked I think it will look really nice.  I need a good 8" more.
The recipient will understand, I'm sure.   I am so sick of it though.
I mean really really sick of it.  sigh....

Ruth is making great progress on her sweater.
The sweater pattern is Room to Grow by Veera Valimaki.
Free on Ravelry. Green yarn is Colinette Jitterbug. The blue yarn is
some leftover sock yarn that she thinks is Miss Babs.

She shortened the length a little as the pattern as written seemed to
long to her.

Martha finished up her britches!
This pattern is Go-Veralls from Ravelry.   She added a gusset
in the crotch. These were made with Ella Rae classic
superwash. It knitted up a very loose 4sts/1". She would knit this again at 4.5sts/1".

 She started a cute little bunting

in Martha's own words: 
I'm not putting sleeves in since baby arms are just on their
mouths and I expect this baby will be largely strolled
 since they live in the city. I will put in legs however.
 I'm making this out of Bazinga by Plymouth.
 It's 53% wool 47% acrylic. With all that acrylic
shouldn't it be washable? But the directions say no?
 It's very bulky so it's going quickly. 

In other news: 
A manager at work gave me 2 doz tulips this week.
It was a cold, dark, dreary week here so they were
definitely appreciated.

Merry  Christmas !  Have a safe wonderful, serene holiday.
Safe travels to my friend going overseas.

It's a Wrap!

The 2014 Christmas knitting season is coming to an end, and I'm
ready to wrap.  Note there are 6 pairs of socks, 3 hats,
3 fingerless mitts, one cowl, one finished scarf, and one work-in
progress scarf. 

The Funicular hats need pompoms yet.

I you tubed how to make a pompom for a hat and did not know it was
going to be such a pain the a**.  OMG.  It will be worth it though.

The purple scarf is a little less than half way done. Bosc pattern.
I really have to pay attention. It's for a coworker and I'm really hoping
to get it done. If I really concentrate on it this week, I think I can do it.

The color in the picture above is more accurate. A grape purple.
The yarn is Aslan  King Baby Llama & Mulberry Silk. Very nice and soft.
I've had it in my stash for a long time so glad to find a nice project
for it.   The pattern  calls for i-cord edging which I am really loving!

Ruth finished up her Snug by Hinke sweater.  I love it!
Such a nice wearable garment for a baby. She opted for a collar
rather than a hood.  So chic!

She started another one  knit with some Colinette Jitterbug yarn
and some leftover blue sock yarn from her stash. Pattern is Room to 
Grow by Veera Valimaki.

This is for the same baby.

Martha is working on some cute leggings -- for the same baby!

Go-vet alls, found on Ravalry. Made with Ella Rae superwash.

She has put the blanket on hold for now.  Here is the progress thus-far.

 All of these baby things need to be done and in Martha's suitcase
by Christmas Eve when she is flying off to Germany to deliver in
person.  She and Ruth are really working hard to make this baby
dressed in style and warmth.

We had our annual Christmas party last night.  My favorite
night of the whole season.  I hardly took any pictures!
The house was beautiful with lights and candles, that you can't
see in the pictures I took later in the evening.

Mark and Joey thought it was a Halloween costume party
and came dressed as Rednecks.  Oh well, they had fun...

Mickey was so out of sorts with the Company...poor thing.

Surgeries

If you remember from last post, I was in the middle of a cowl,
so I would not waste yarn.  I really like the way it turned out,
after surgery.  I remembered that I had done one a while ago
just plain stockinette.  I looked at it (which obviously I should
have done before I started, and it had k2 rows, p1 row, and
I honestly think that helped the curl.  so,  picked up stitches
all the way around the cast on edge, and purled a row.
I'm glad I purled, it made the wonkiness of pick up look normal,
knit 2 rows then bound off.  I think it matches the other end nicely.

Still a little curl, but that's normal.

Tiff modeled for me.  kinda cute, huh?  She also wore it with the fingerless
mitts, and decided they needed buttons.

I'll work on that this week.

Decided to make hats for my cousins kids.  They are 14 and so cute.
I think the Funicular pattern is perfect for them.  One will be gray
purple and one will be fushia purple.  I followed the directions and it
looked like it was going to be small. I added an inch of purple, as one
raveler suggested. Got it done and decided it was not big enough. There
was not "slouch".  UGH...it needed surgery.

I put a needle through a row below where I started the decreases.
Of course, I did not follow a straight line and ended up taking all
needles out and picking up the dangling stitches anyway.

It turned out pretty good I think.  I want to see it on Tiffany.
(this is unblocked). 

Blocking will make those wonky stitches even out.  Yarn is
my favorite Plymouth Select Worsted...
Those little stitch markers are telling me how many rows I knit
between short row finish and decrease start so I can do the same for
the 2nd hat.  Just starting ribbing on hat #2.

Here is Ruth's finished baby tunic and hat. ADORABLE.  

 new projects are Anne Hanson's Jazz Strings socks. The yarn is from Rhinebeck

The third project is a baby sweater called Snug by Hinke. she found it for free on Ravelry. Interesting construction. Yarn is Patons Classic wool worsted.

 Martha finished up her baby sweater. Aren't the buttons great?
the whole thing is wonderful.

In other news...Mickey is in Christmas position. Whenever I can't find
him, this is where he is:

This is the Christmas present I give myself every year...the sleigh filled with
greens. So pretty.

The fake tree is up and decorated

The real tree is waiting...it might have to wait another day.

I made orange cookies today. Probably the only baking I will do this season.

They will be much better tomorrow.
Have a great week dear knitters.

and Martha: have fun at your new job tomorrow!  Can't wait to
hear about it.