knitting,... but not for me

At our last guild meeting, two lovely ladies shared the results of last donation project. members have been knitting wee tiny hats for the NICU at our regional medical  center. the hats were well received, and some industrious knitter had added a wee tiny set of mittens. well, i guess the nurse manger jumped on them and inquired if we could make more. it seems the little folks tug on tubes, scratch themselves and can just need those hands covered! i never got my hat finished, so i was determined to make mitts! i was off to the local michaels to find super soft acrylic yarn. while there was lots, the colors were so bland. really, really bland. i knew that there was just no way  it would be challenging for me to slog through any project with those colors. so i kept snooping around, touching, considering and finally found what i needed. i even polled random folks in the store (i chose the ones that i was related too :) to determine if the yarn had a high 'fun' quotient. so with yarn success i now needed a pattern. i did not take any that were brought to the meeting, so i searched online and finally made up my own......

how small are they really???

pretty darn small. they are just so cute that i've easily made two sets. i'm changing needle sizes to make them smaller ... but aren't they dear? i can just picture them on a tiny hand. needless to say i've got lots of yarn left, so i'll keep going. right now i've been working on that cowl for amy. it is super easy, very meditative, and there is just reason it isn't done.

i'm close. just need to complete the picot border and i can put it in her hands. then i can decide what i'll be putting next on my needles.... i'm contemplating a mobieus scarf.

cowls

ever since i lost my mind, became obsessed started knitting the inpira cowl, i just can't stop. i finished the first version and it is lovely. perfect for taking the dogs out in this sub-zero weather.

i was afraid that it would be scratchy, but not an itch was felt! i was carrying on about it so much, that a request was made for one in more manly shades, narrower in width and not so long. ( you've got to love a dude that knows what he wants :)

wish granted. i'm still having a good time watching the colors shift and blend. the only hitch is that i started this for amythefibergoddess....

the swirl cowl in 'grapevine', a lovely dk weight yarn that she will be selling at the knitting circle's artisan market. it has a picot edge that is really slowing me down.

it may not be the edge but the -3 degree weather. i just can't get warm and stay warm. today's sunshine helped, but i'm snuggled up on the couch, tooooo chilled to even pick up the needles. tomorrow with a nice cup of tea, that will get me going!

so, i didn't take a picture

all my stealth knitting for christmas was successful..... i just did a really bad job at documenting it with pictures. we had a fabulous time with everyone here......

kids played games (it was a bloodthirsty game of spoons :) food was plentiful and yummy....

and i got an amazing craft! my sister had specifically requested my name (i'm the keeper of the craft draw) so i knew that she had a plan. it was amazing.... knowing my love of yarn she made this...

a wreath in vibrant, holiday colors to adorn my door. need to see it up close?

i didn't ask where she found the idea, but i love it!
so my gift. i asked amythefibergoddess if i could have the yarn to create the brush creek cowlette. i have been a fan of this designer since kntting zuzu's petals. i purchased the pattern knowing that i'd have an opportunity ( and special someone) to make this for. amy wound me the yarn (sw merino in finger weight) and i dyed it in three complementing colorways. i chose shades of purple, not so much influenced by the pattern pic, but suggestions of family members that know linda. i had just enough of the first color, enough of the second and plenty of the third.

here's my leftovers. sadly no picure of the cowl or linda. i did learn that she received a black coat for christmas, so it should match perfectly. sigh. guess i was just a little toooooo stealth.
one gift i did get a pic of....

the antler hat! will is out in the fall, ready for hunting season so i thought this was a perfect fit. i was in the mood for cables and a fun knit, this didn't disappoint. he's commented ( okay, joked really) about my car magnets, so he has an offical FLFF euro for his truck! and i will be checking to make sure it gets put on :)
still slogging away on the inpira cowl, wishing it was a blanket now that the cold weather has set in.

oh the new year....

we're still not finished with holiday celebrations, my family christmas is this weekend at our home. i've just finished the pans of lasagne, one more sweet is in the oven and i'm sitting here with my knitting and a cup of tea.

my christmas craft is wrapped and under the tree. i'll reveal all the details as soon as the recipient has opened it! i went out on a limb with my choice this year..... and i'm totally okay with it not working out and needing to be exchanged (i really love what i did :)

got together with my fiber peeps last week... we had lunch and spinning. i realized that i hadn't had a had a chance to catch up in forever!

we were gifted with fabulous hand-crafted mugs. yes, it really does say that.

i'm completely in love with my holiday fiber! i recieved 8 ounces of knit-picks roving. the emerald is just stunning and a dream to spin. i got two colorways, the emerald and a merlot. i already had an emerald so it will give me a nice amount of yarn to play with.
so speaking of yarn. my sister sent me an email with an item that she found on pintrist. i don't do the pintrist knowing what a deep, black hole that would be for me to fall in. and sure enough, down i went. before i knew what happened, i've found the item on ravelry, downloaded the pattern, found the yarn, drove to the store

yep, i got started. i'm not so quick to succomb to a new project when i have one in the que and several on the needles. i have but one going.... and it's lace (need i say more)

i didn't read the fine print (or really pay attention) that it's stranded. so i'm reacquanting myself with two-handed knitting.

how pretty it that? inpira cowl knit with lion brand (i know) amazing. it has a lovely halo and for a commercial blend ... very nice. of course i went off the bend and purchased enough to make three of these. considering the wow factor, i may just find myself knitting on!