Sunday, November 26, 2017

Year of Projects 7 - Week 22


Over the last several weeks there's been knitting, but not much blogging has happened. So this is going to be a picture heavy catch up post.

Somewhere Socks were done in time for that early November birthday. They fit her perfectly and she loves them!



Tuxie Love Socks are also done. I cut the cuff off the first sock, picked up the stitches and then increased from 64st to 70-72 sts for the three colourwork sections. And then knit sock two to match. These were a week late for the birthday, but in time for my first opportunity to catch up with the birthday girl in person, so all good. And she loves them too!



I joined a local knitting group - Warm Up Haldimand - and have so far knit a pair of mitts for donation to local charities. I decided to knit use sock yarn (from stash), and knit a folded-over cuff from a single strand of sock yarn, and then the body of the mitt and thumb from double-stranded. Makes for nice warm mitts, and puts some uncooperative pooling sock yarn to good use. There's another group meeting coming up, so I'd better cast on another pair soon!



Friends of ours are expecting their first child in the spring, and we're having dinner with them in early December so I knit a little sweater to welcome their baby girl. The pattern is In Threes which I have knit before. It knit up really large last time so I went down a needle size and knit the smallest size. As well I cast on more stitches than written to widen the neck opening. And I used up the leftover yarn making a hat, mitts and a little crocheted crown, which are not shown in the photo. It's all wrapped and ready to go. The yarn is Bergere de France Merino, and it is absolutely lovely to work with!



A couple of years ago I knit bunches and bunches of fingerless mitts to make use of yarn that I had been given by a friend whose injuries had forced her to give up knitting. About a week ago I got a facebook message from someone to whom I'd given a pair. Was I still knitting? she asked. If so, her sister was always admiring her fingerless mitts - could I knit a pair for her. As it happened I had a couple hundred yards of approximately DK handspun merino that might suit exactly that. So I knit another pair of Susie Roger's Reading Mitts. They were on and off the needles in a matter of days and are already in the mail to her.




I found myself in New Brunswick at the end of October without any knitting, so I popped into the Fredericton location of Cricket Cove to buy a skein of sock yarn locally dyed by Sweet Skein O'Mine in a colourway called Happy Hippy. It's a very light, high twist fingering weight yarn, and quite a busy colourway, so I opted for a vanilla sock on smaller than usual needles. I upped my primary stitch count to compensate. The first sock is done, and the second will be started in the next few days.



And last but not least, Gavin needs a scarf. So I collected up my blue and grey sock yarn scraps and started a linen stitch scarf. It's cold and windy these days, so I need to get a move on with this! I expect to knit this fairly monogamously for the next week or two.



Poor Gschnitztal Socks! Set aside again, although they are now well underway. Switching to shiny metal needles has made a world of difference in seeing the stitches in dark yarn. And a floor lamp behind me has helped with poor evening light. I'm not really sure when I'll get back to these.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends! I hope you're enjoying time with family and friends. We get Black Friday sales here in Canada now, and we almost bought a TV we don't need yesterday. Imagine $550 no tax for 55" 4K Smart TV! That's just crazy!

6 comments:

Caffeine Girl said...

As always, your knitting is beautiful. I knit Suzy's mitts years ago, and enjoyed them.

Wanderingcatstudio said...

Your needles have been busy! All great knits, but I love the reading mitts, and of course - the Tuxie Loves!

Breathing Life said...

Good for you modifying the tuxie socks - so brave cutting off the cuff. I love that little in threes sweater - it has been in my queue for ages.
Love your pictorial post. Well done.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful projects.

That baby sweater is adorable.

Becki said...

I love all your pictures - so many beautiful items you've finished. I think my favorites are those Tuxie socks and that sweet little baby sweater. Baby sweaters, more than anything, make me wish I had more knitting stamina. :)

Stefanie said...

Wowza! So many cool FO's. The first two socks are really fun. I like how the black and white colorway worked out with the stitch pattern. The colorwork one will make that animal lover very happy. I love the In Threes pattern. My niece made great use of her cardigan.