Christmas Gifts

This Christmas, I received sock yarn, yarn to make a vest/tank top, Sensational Knitted Socks, and other things. I've decided what I want to make with the sock yarn, but am not going to start them yet until I finish my purple ribbed socks. Since I haven't made socks before, I've decided to start off with something easy instead of something with an "elaborate" pattern. For Christmas, I got Lang Yarns Aktian sock yarn (color 0195) and am thinking of making the Crossover Rib (Four-Stitch Ribbing Pattern) from the Sensational Knitted Socks Book. After noticing how the sock is knitted up, I may want to choose a pattern for yarn that may work better with something that isn't so busy. I will have to knit up a swatch of the pattern to see if it will work or not. I also got Berroco Sox (color 1425) yarn and am thinking of making the Laburnum Stitch (Five-Stitch Pattern) from the Sensational Knitted Socks book. I might have the same problem with this yarn as well as the Aktian yarn. I will just have to knit up a swatch of the pattern too to see if it's too busy or not.

I ended up starting and finishing my vest/tank top within a few days after Christmas. I used three skeins of Rowan Big Wool (028 Bohemian) and followed the Tank Top pattern from Classic Knits. I am pleased with how the pattern turned out, but I was stuck up on the right side of the front part of the V for awhile, but in the end all is well.

Fairly Easy Fair Isle

I'm almost done with my Fairly Easy Fair Isle sweater, I just have to fix the arms a bit before it's completely done. This sweater pattern is from the Stitch n' Bitch Nation book and I used the recommended yarn. This project was my first Fair Isle sweater and I must say that it was quite literally fairly easy. I am quite pleased with the project never-the-less.

Sorry, I can never get these pictures to post the way that I want them to.

Cotton T

I've decided that I'm going to nix the cotton t project and rip the whole thing up, but first I must decide what project to make with the yarn.

V-neck Cotton T

I finally finished the V-neck cotton T over the weekend. I must say that I am not pleased with it at all. The pattern is from Bernat and I ended up using Garn - Goa yarn which is 50% cotton and 50% acrylic. The darn thing is just too boxy; there are no curves to it what-so-ever. Currently it hangs in my closet waiting for me to think of something to do with it. I feel like sewing darts in it or something to get rid of the fact that it's too boxy. I don't know, but it will have to wait until Christmas break where I will have the time to think about what to do with it.

Christmas Treasures

I must apologize for the shadow, but it wouldn't go away no matter how I angeled the camera. This is the only glimpse that ya'll are going to get of the Christmas Treasures that I'm making for my beloved friends until they are all finished. I still won't post them until each friend receives their gift. Isn't this just beautiful, marvelous, gorgeous, insert any beautiful adjective? I'm half done with this one and I can't wait to see the entire finished project. After this project, I only have six more to finish. Away I go.

Christmas Yarn

The yarn that I ordered to make Christmas gifts came in today. Aren't those colors beautiful? I think so. The yarn purchased is Vally Yarn - Berkshire. I am sorry, but I cannot tell you what I'm going to make out of it because some of the recipients of the gifts are readers of this post. I cannot spoil the fun. I am not done Christmas shopping yet for yarn; I have to find some yarn for a different kind of project than what this yarn is going to be used for. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Beautiful Treasures

This afternoon, I went to la bella vita, which is a yarn shop in Mineral Point to see if they still had the yarn that I had adored and to get some dpn for a pair of socks. Sure enough the beautiful yarn was still there. I purchased five hanks of Unikat textile Handwerkskunst (made in Germany) and am following a pattern called Tweedy Vest from KnitScene Magazine. Just look at this lovely yarn:

Here are some more beautiful treasures for other projects:
For my First pair of socks - Hand spun wool from Sandy's Pallette


Silk/Cotton yarn for a sleeveless top and I'm not sure what pattern that I'm going to follow yet.