Need ideas for after Christmas knitting?

Citron : We have LOTS of Malabrigo Lace in lots of fun colors. This only takes 1 skein!



Knotty but Nice : Perfect hat for any guy. Very masculine and you can jazz it up with fun colors. Suggested yarns are Cascade 220 or Mission Falls 1824.





Destroyed Cowl : This is so retro and cool! Looks like it came straight off of the NYC catwalk. It takes 2 skeins of Malabrigo Worsted and we JUST got a new shipment in. Lots of great colors.

A few blogs I love...and a few last minute patterns

Last minute crocheted beret pattern

French Press Slippers

Claire Bennet sweater out of Peruvia

Leash-otis

new baby

Mara arrived just before the blizzard, and it's a good thing she's got a knitter for a grandmother. Stay tuned for photos of the knitted baby wardrobe. Welcome to the world, Mara!

In the name of yarn...once more, in the name of yarn

We attempted to get downtown, and we failed. We hope you will all take this opportunity to finish up gift knitting (which is what I will be doing) and then hopefully tomorrow things will start opening up.

22 inches and counting...

No, not a sweater measurement, the snow outside!

Shop is closed today, we're still planning on being open tomorrow from 12-5. I'm so excited that I'm getting such good use out of my new bean boots. Thank you, Sharman and Mike!

Secret Christmas Project has begun. 1.5 skeins down, 10.5 to go. Gotta get back to it!

Baby Beasley Stocking

Ellie is making a stocking for the baby due in May. There is nothing better to focus on than a needlepointed project. Especially a stocking!

F.O.s du jour

Stocking for Mulligan the dog.



A close-up of the turkish stitch (I think? I need to consult my needlepoint dictionary)



Stocking for Gage, the canoe-ing, banjo playing, son-in-law. I love that there are presents in the canoe.



And here, the talented needlepointer. This inspires me to paint my own canvas!

There is still time to knit a stocking or two...

This took me three days. I obviously improvised a bit because Gansey is not exactly a common name. Here is my excel chart:

ganz

I just discovered scribd.com I could never figure out how to cut and paste from excel into a blog post and I guess it's actually not possible! I searched a bit and found this website. Now I can share my charts.

Stay tuned for top ten Christmas gifts for knitters...

Need ideas for Holiday Knitting?

Margot by Linden Heflin.



Peaks Island Hood

This is the most popular pattern on Ravelry right now with 191 projects. Amazing.

Ysolda's post on Peaks.



Saroyan



Fresco Basket Whip Cowl



Bella's Mittens



Post War Mittens

Lace Ribbon Scarf



Argosy



Fingerless Gloves



Simple Sock



Mittens with a really cool cuff...getting more of this yarn very soon. Amazing colors!



Louise and her mom, both in handknitted sweaters.



Newly finished wrap. Gorge.



A mysterious gnome/ewok trying on her noro cardi. I couldn't resist taking this photo.



My cousin, Emma, and the Peaks Island Hood.



Heidi and her newly finished short sleeved sweater made of Shepherd Worsted.

Hope you all have some good knitting/crochet/ needlepoing time over the holiday!

Ishbel done

I have to confess I am a wimp when it comes to lace. Give me cables all day every day, I'll be fine. Lace is kind of stressful for me. I'm glad this is done and I do love it but I don't think I'll be knitting another one. Now I'm onto the snapdragon flip tops out of the same purple yarn.

My favorite sweater...so far

This was also my first sweater for myself. By some miracle, my gauge was perfect and the sweater just fits like a glove. It's the Diamonds are Forever Gansey. Those of you who know me must have just realized that I named my darling dog after this sweater pattern. Gansey is the perfect kiddo.



So, now I find myself wondering what sweater to knit next. Here is a selection of possibilities:


http://100-rain.blogspot.com/2008/12/plain-and-simple.html


http://ysolda.com/store/sweaters/coraline/


http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/22-garter-yoke-cardigan


http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/75-fall-2009-patterns/418-audrey-in-unst-by-gudrun-johnston



Can you tell I'm in a bit of a cardigan phase? Please vote for what sweater I should make next in the poll at the top of the page:)

Knit Night Tonight!!

Tonight at the Crozet Mudhouse we will be knitting and chatting. Bring your projects and come visit.

Baby Genders

Twin presents:



Yes, I know I'm missing a hat. I finished hat #2 this morning and will get it in the mail this week.

Here is the twin mama:



I predict, officially, one boy and one girl. I have a sixth sense, people.

I have been thinking a lot about how we make clothes for babies in this country. Most of my friends who are pregnant are finding out genders. I LOVE THIS. This makes me way more able to make things for the little munchkin(s). When my friends don't find out the gender before the birth, they have closets full of gender neutral colors. For yesterday's twin shower, I used a lot of yellow and green. What happens if it is two girls and those girls really want some pink in their wardrobe?

According to Vintage Knits, girls used to wear blue and boys used to wear pink. Pink was thought to be more aggressive. Then, World War I happened and the blue of the uniforms transformed baby knitting as we know it. By mid century, knitting for boys was officially blue.

But, why can girls wear blue but boys can't wear pink?

Also, there is an issue with the actual garment to knit. One would never knit a boy a february baby sweater.

So, I've made a decision. As of today, if my dear friends and/or family are going to wait until the big day to find out their baby's gender, then I'm going to wait to knit the baby's gift until he or she is born. It's only fair to the baby! (Ok, actually this is very selfish of me, and I understand that, but people it is HARD to pick out something that would look great on both a girl and a boy.)

Any comments?

In a slump

So, after Rhinebeck, and after seeing incredible projects and yarn and roving and spinning wheels, I started to think that I have so many projects to do that I was a tad overwhelmed thinking of how it takes me two months to make a sweater and I have nine babies on the way (well, my friends do) and how can I also get christmas presents done? So, I've been slightly absent from the blog, but I do have a few finished objects that are small and made me feel a bit productive.

Here is my aunt Sharman and her new baby bamboo clapotis. I knitted it on US 6 addis and it went pretty fast. Doesn't the color look fabulous on her?



I also made an Owl.



Not this owl, but one just like it. We have this whitknits kit at the shop. It was so fun and cute and took like two hours while watching a sad redskins game.

Speaking of owls, here is the official cutest owl ever. Caroline, the Newcomb Hall Event Planning Office mascot. As she says "Hewwww Hewwwww" (that is hoo hoo in cute three year old speak).



Also speaking of Halloween, here is Eli, the cutest Lion in the world. "Elion"



Jillian made up this pattern and will be publishing it. Maybe we can sell it in the shop. She's planning on making millions with this one, people. I don't even have kids and I'll buy it!

So, folks, my knitting slump is hopefully over as I now start the marathon baby knitting that I can't show here until after the baby showers. On Sunday though I'll post about my gifts for the twins coming in December/January. The theme for the baby room is Noah's Arc. Is that the cutest thing ever? Two by two!

Rhinebeck Wrap Up

Sigh. We are home, and it was wonderful. Here is the recap.

Saturday morning, we got primo parking and entered the fair around 9:30. We encountered some adorable alpacas.



My father will be happy to know that I did not, in fact, adopt them.

Here is the mob scene that was Briar Rose. There was actually a right of way in this booth that I did not pick up on until it was too late and I was going against traffic. I escaped, thankfully, says my checking account.



We said hi to some large animals:







Browsed the award winning garments:



eyed a handspun football jersey...



Knitted on the world's biggest sock (well, we hope it's the biggest sock)







Saw an amazing sweater or two (or one hundred)



Watched a dog frisbee show...



Saw some cute babies...



Saw some cute displays...


(it's a pumpkin)



Saw some beautiful wheels...



Picked up Vilde's refurbished antique Norwegian wheel...



Saw Ysolda (and froze) at the Ravelry meet-up



Met Gudrun, Shetlander and designer extraordinaire...



Said hi to Mimi's adorable kiddos running the register at the NL booth...



Got these books signed by their authors:

Vintage Baby Knits and The New Stranded Colorwork

From TNSC



All in all, a great trip with friends. I am happy to be home with Gansey and my purchases.