I Love This Yarn!

It is Plymouth Yarn Galway Paint Color 809. There is no adorably clever name for the colorway, but it is gorgeous and I love working with it. Here it is close up:


This is a simple 3 X 3 rib and I will block it to open up the pattern a little so the colors can be properly enjoyed.

I have enough yarn and have cast on for a matching hat too!

I bought this yarn in October on a whim and am so glad I did, it is a delight to work with and I think I will love the colorful set to go with my dreadfully boring black winter coat!

Christmas!

So Christmas was a lovely peaceful time for all, despite a frantic start to the week that did not bode well.

We had a family dinner early in the week with my brother and his family to exchange gifts before the hustle of a houseful of guests on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day was just my parents and I and it was the loveliest day I can remember in a long time.

Ryan loved his socks! And, after receiving them on Monday, wore them on Christmas Eve:


They fit perfectly and he really loves them. They were such a delight to make I will certainly make him another pair next year :)

Mom loved her purple socks and the gorgeously-soft scarf I made for her:

This was my first attempt at fringe and, as you can see, it was very uneven. In an attempt to even it out it wound up shorter than I would have liked, but it still looked pretty.

I am excited to cast on for 2 new projects for myself this week (a scarf and a pair of socks using the gorgeous Madelinetosh yarn I got for my birthday in July), after finishing up one more gift to be gifted on NYE.

Hope everyone had a magical Christmas!

Knowing My Limits

The holidays should be fun and when I embarked on a sweater for my niece I really thought it would be. Despite all the documented math issues, I did enjoy knitting all the cute little pieces.

It is the pieces that are the problem. I should have done a top-down raglan, what was I thinking! There is no way I can seam this sucker together in time for Christmas without going totally insane.

It is also unfair to ask other knitters for help with 2 weeks to go before Christmas.

So I decided this weekend that the sweater is going to be a Valentine's Day gift (it is very red and light weight enough to wear into March) and I will spend January learning how to assemble it. Problem solved.

Mom's scarf is blocking, photos soon!

Another Gift Done!

So I finished my mother's socks, yay!



Here they are blocking on my awesome sock forms. It seems like a million years ago I started these, but it was the beginning of November. Since I am working multiple projects that doesn't seem too terrible.

I made them out of this gorgeous purple variegated Malabrigo sock yarn that was a delight to work with and is much prettier than the picture does justice.

I am almost done with Mom's scarf too, which I just love and will have to tear away from myself to give her. It is made out of a gorgeous red soft alpaca yarn that is glorious.

Also, all the pieces of Madison's sweater are knit, now I have to tackle seaming... stay tuned!

I Can't Knit and Blog...

... Obviously. It has been nearly a month since I blogged because in every spare moment of time (and there are nary few this time of year) I am knitting.

I still only have 1 item completed for Christmas, but I am close to finishing my mom's socks (pictures soon). Last night I did the gusset decrease on sock #2 and now it is just the foot and toe (it is simple stockinette) so I should be able to finish them this week.

I have enough of Mom's scarf done to see the light at the end of the tunnel there as well.

And last night I cast on for another scarf, very simple 5X5 rib for my friend Karin.

With so many festive plans coming up though the holiday knitting season is dwindling. I did decide that in future years, socks are birthday gifts that can be focused on during non-holiday times, that should make it less stressful come Christmas.

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!