New Project: Watch Cap #1

Saturday evening I cast on for this Watch Cap for my Dad for Christmas. Being a former Coast Guard guy the traditional Watch Cap is something he should like.

I am using Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Superwash in Heathered Gray and it is knitting up quickly and nicely.

Hope to finish in the next day or two.

Finished Project: Ballband Dishcloths

I finished these last night in an effort to get some WIPs out of the way. I like the way they came out.

I am going to find a nice reusable kitchen container to put them in as a gift for Mom.

Finished Project: Charly Stocking

Those of you that know me know I have done no less than 8 versions of this stocking over the past 3 months. I have finally produced a cobbled together pattern that I am happy with and have completed Charly's stocking.

So I started with a roll-top pattern from A Cuff Above, switched the cuff to 2X2 rib, charted the name band myself and used the tree motif from the book, did the leg in stockinette and substituted a real heel flap and turn for the short row heel in the pattern, did the foot and toe as written. It is a hodgepodge, but I like it!

Plan is to cast on for Madison's immediately so as not to lose momentum.

Finished Project: Brattleboro #1

Here is my first attempt at the Brattleboro hat. I had this grand plan that I was going to make one for myself first to experiment with the pattern. I bought 2 skeins of yarn, one for my hat and a lovely skein of Malabrigo for a gift version.

In my ecstasy over the Malabrigo I cast on for that version first, having forgotten all about my plan. Luckily this first version came out gift worthy I think and it is scheduled to be gifted to someone for Christmas.

I like the hat as it is fancy enough to be a nice gift, but not crazy or too difficult. I am already working on a second gift version, which means I should get to my own around Easter.

I had another lovely button-buying experience at Windsor Button. This time I went through dozens of boxes of buttons with the very patient fellow who works there before settling on these.


It was tough to get a good photo, but they are silver with little hearts etched on them. Again, nice enough for a gift, but not too silly or fancy.

New Project: Lucy Ankle Socks

This is the 2nd pair of socks in contention for Mom's Christmas gift. From the same book, A Cuff Above, as the Emma Lace Socks and the Ivy Socks I have already completed. This book has more than paid for itself, so glad I bought it.

The yarn for the Lucy socks is Deborah Norville's sock yarn available at AC Moore. I cannot remember how much I paid for it, but it was affordable. It is nice to work with (a little splitty but not bad) and the colorway is gorgeous.

It is self-striping and the non-pink stripes are variegated in gray, green and blue. It is a very subtle, very pretty multi-colored yarn. I am loving how it knits up.

Since these are ankle socks the leg portion is much shorter than normal, although there was a tricky maneuver to invert the sock after the zigzag cuff was done. This pattern has 3 different detailed cuffs you can work for variety. Have I mentioned I love this sock book?

Anyway, I did the cuff and the short leg in 3 nights, hope to construct the heel this weekend!

New Project: Ballband Dishcloths

A couple of years ago a friend made one of these dishcloths for me and it is one of the handiest household items I use. It fits over my Swiffer and can be used wet or dry to clean floors and does a bunch of other useful things. I have not been able to train it to clean on its own, but I am working on it.

It has textured rectangles of purl stitches set off by slipped stitches to give it a great scrubby ability.

I am making a set for my mom for her Christmas stocking. I got some fun stripey Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn and a couple different background colors and am having fun with this project.

Finished Project: Emma Lace Socks

Here is the first pair of socks in contention for Mom's Christmas gift. I have cast on for a 2nd pair, when finished I will decide which is more gift worthy, the other pair will be mine.

I like these socks a lot, I think the pattern is pretty and the color nice. The yarn is kind of so so. I am holding out hope that it will be a little softer after blocking.