New project by request...

...finished the hat for my Dad. This was knit to match the scarf he'd picked up earlier in the winter. I posted a picture on Facebook for him to see and he's quite pleased with it. As are quite a few other people. I've had a lot of compliments. A nice pat on the back. Always nice to have your work appreciated. :)

 
  Now, I've started the next requested item. Our daughter and son-in-law are expecting their first in mid-April. She has asked that I knit a cocoon for baby Adelyn. She's planning on pictures of new baby in this. What's a grandma to do? Of course, I'll knit it. I'm using a chunky yarn ~ it's an acrylic/superwash wool blend. I've had to fudge the pattern a bit as it was written for a bulky yarn at 2.5 sts/inch and this yarn knits a nice fabric at 3.5 sts/inch. It's an Eileen Casey design and knits up fast. Should have it for the new momma-to-be in the next couple of days.

Off to knit and watch the Brier for a bit before bed!

Going, going, gone....

...and the hat walked out the door. On the head of Raven as she left for school. She loves it! And it matches her coat. What could I say. :)

Finished the pair of mittens for our nephew. Christmas knitting 2012 is officially over! Lol! These were knit of Cascades 220 wool in black and black/blue twist. I used the Striped Mittens pattern from Robin Hansen's "Favorite Mittens". Size ML. They knit up quickly and the pattern seemed to make more sense this time. Some of the wording in these patterns can leave you scratching your head. But if you persevere and "think for yourself" as Elizabeth Zimmermann would say, success can be yours. I love these patterns! Warm stranded mittens of worsted weight wool and a very traditional look to them if done in traditional colours. Or one can choose wild colours and go funky!

The close-up shows them much more blue than they are. I used black in the dominant hand and the black/blue twist peeks out from the rows of black stripes.
   Today I'll start a hat for my Dad. He bought a scarf earlier this winter and asked if I could knit a hat to match. I matched as best as possible the colours with Palette yarn from KnitPicks. I'm using the basic hat pattern from Ann Budd's book of Knitting Patterns and will plug in the colour patterns from the scarf. Should be fun!

It's sunny and mild here today. 3C and the snow is melting. It's wet & muddy outside and I wish we could get to spring without the mess. Ah well. Soon enough it will be dry & warm and we'll be outside more enjoying the freedom from snowsuits & boots.

Enjoy the day & keep knitting!

Early morning...

...pictures of the blanket of snow in that blue light of early morning. Enjoy!

Still snowing....

.....24 hrs later. Big fluffy flakes that are a result of a storm that originated in Texas. Snowman snow! And of course the kids will be hoping for another snow day.
   It's mild outside ~ right at 0. I went for a bit of a walk, just enjoying the stillness. I stopped under the corner light and admired the beauty of snow laden trees. The neighbours cars with their "whipped cream topping"  :) And the quiet. We're far enough from the main road that at this time of the morning (5:30am), we hear few cars. I could hear the sound of the snowflakes falling and in the not too far distance, the sound of the water rushing over the dam. Love these sounds. Love taking time to enjoy the snowfall before the munchkins awake, bringing the regular sounds of daytime with them. :)

Enjoy!

On the needles today....

Working on a children's hat & am using up the hand-dyed worsted weight leftovers from the baby sets. It's superwash merino and very soft; so perfect for children. Hoping to post it on Etsy; as long as I can keep it out of the clutches of one of my girls. :)
It's knitting up fast - I cast on the stitches last evening and am working on it while enjoying the curling. Bronze medal game is getting ready to start.

Keep knitting!

Recently completed...

....are these bed socks. I had a request to knit a pair of socks for someone who has chronically cold feet. As well, they have sensitive skin, so these socks have to be soft.
I used two yarns - both hand-dyed fingering weight. One is a merino-silk blend and the other is a baby alpaca/silk/cashmere blend. I knit them at 6 sts/inch. The resulting fabric was firm but not stiff and was still very soft to touch. Short legs in rib on larger needles means that they won't constrict. I'm pleased with how they turned out and I think I'd like a pair for myself for next winter.

Today is curling day in our house.  We're cheering for Rachel Homan and her team from Ontario!

Lots of knitting time :-)

Keep knitting!

A Knitting Day...

...ended up with no littles today. Between holidays, days off & not feeling well, all my littles were absent. Which meant after I had put the schoolkids on the bus, I had the day to myself. :) Always a nice treat. I puttered a bit & had to go out for about an hour to run some errands. And then I spent the rest of the day knitting!
   Right now I'm working on some infant barn socks. After a couple of experimental starts, I think I have it. These are going to be so cute!

   Fran picked up the two sweaters that I had knit for her. She was thrilled with them, which is always my biggest worry. And on top of leaving me the leftover yarn ( more than enough to do a sweater for myself), she gifted me with a beautiful sheepskin. An icelandic cross ~ and so, so wooly & warm. :) She tanned it herself and did a fantastic job. It's living on my rocking chair and I used it under my feet today. Ah, heaven. Thank you Fran!

   I finished up the wool socks for my nephew. I've washed them up and put them on the register to dry. :) Just two small balls of yarn left. These socks weigh nearly 200g! Hoping he enjoys them and gets lots of use out of them. Knit with Briggs & Little Tuffy in "granite" at 6 sts/inch.

   Whew! I think I'll do a couple of other projects before I start the pair for Papa Bear. :) My daughter wants a cocoon for the new baby and I'd like to knit a sweater for the baby as well.
    A busy weekend coming up ~ tomorrow we have tickets to the first draw at the  Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Papa Bear & I are big curling fans and watch it on TV whenever we can. It will be interesting to see it in real life. These tickets were a Christmas gift from our son & his girlfriend and granddaughter Reese.
   Sunday ~ a baby shower for our daughter. I love seeing all the wee clothes & neat things that people choose to gift a new mom.
   Monday~ here in Canada, it's Family day! And we're hoping to travel to Ottawa to go skating on the canal. Let's hope the weather co-operates.
  
   Enjoy the weekend & keep knitting. :)