WIP Wednesday II

We've had a couple of cold, wet days this week. I took this picture at about 7:30 am on Monday morning. Matthew was so excited to play in the snow, but I found him outside crying after about ten minutes because his hands were so cold (he refused to wear his mittens). Poor little guy. It was, however, a good lesson about why it's important to wear warm clothing when it's cold out.

Due to the cloudy day, I wasn't able to get good lighting for today's work-in-progress photo. I am proud to say that I've been working on at least one of my Christmas goals: a mini-stocking Advent calendar. Unfortunately, I can't find two of the stockings. Hopefully they'll reappear as we continue unpacking.

Before I had kids I absolutely loved rainy, snowy, cloudy, and/or cold days. I would curl up with a blanket on the sofa, watch movies, knit or crochet, and drink tea or occasionally hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps. Post-kids, however, it's a little more difficult to do any of the above (especially the peppermint schnapps bit!) I'm fine with Matt going out in the cold, even encourage it, but he's not always willing. He'd love to sit on the sofa and watch a movie as well, but there's only so much tv I'm going to let him watch. So, after a major tantrum because I turned off the tv, he finally settled for some play dough. I gave him the "man," he found the clothes pin in the laundry room, and behold: his very own forklift. He was very proud of his creation!

Some Wee Projects

While I have a couple more involved projects going (okay, more than a couple), sometimes I like to change things up with a little instant gratification in between. It helps to keep my crafting mojo going, if you know what I mean. :) Sometimes I also like to make something "just because," such as these little gnomes. They're currently on our nature table (when Matthew isn't catapulting them across the room or trying to shove them into a vehicle of some kind), and I found the idea at Wee Folk Art. It was fun for me to do some crafting other than knitting, and each gnome took about half an hour to make. I have plans to make many more of these wee folk.

This is my first pair of Toasty mitts from the popular Toast/Toasty pattern. I used some Noro Silk Garden that was in my stash and just love the way the colors turned out. These are for a friend who is going to be spending a couple of years in Nepal. I made her a pair of fingerless mitts when she was in Mongolia for two years with the Peace Corps, and she requested a second pair since the first were "loved to death." Of course, I happily obliged. And since my life isn't nearly as exciting as hers, I'm happy that at least my knitting can accompany her on her journeys.

Finally, a hat for the wee one. This pattern is from the Fall 2008 issue of Living Crafts Magazine. I honestly couldn't understand the directions too well, so I ended up doing my own thing. I'm happy with how it turned out and love how Ben looks like a little elf in it.

I hope everyone has a lovely fall weekend!

Work-in-Progress Wednesdays

One day a while back, on some blog I found that I can't remember the name of anymore, I saw a post titled, "Work-in-Progress Wednesday." In the hopes of trying to have posts up on a more regular basis, I'm going to adopt the idea of showing what I'm working on each Wednesday. I don't usually have a completed project, but I always have something in the works (usually multiple things!).

One of my current projects is the Simple but Effective Shawl. This one is for me with hand-dyed, hand-spun yarn I picked up at the Taos Wool and Yarn Festival. It is a bulky weight and is so soft and cozy. I can't wait to cuddle up in it!

Christmas Goals

Well, I already have a whole list of Christmas crafts running through my head and thought I'd better try to organize them somehow. What better way than on my blog--where at least I can be held somewhat accountable? You all will keep me in line when I put aside my (unfinished) Christmas knitting on December 20th to cast on for a new shawl for myself, right? Right. So, here are my goals so far:

Mini-stocking Advent Calendar: I started this with the hope of finishing for Christmas 2007. Well, two years have passed, and I only have four stockings. They are really quick to knit up, and I have tons of worsted weight yarn in my stash. Matthew's now at an age where he'd really have fun with this. Four down, twenty to go!

Sweater for Matthew: When I saw this Digger Sweater (Ravelry link), I knew I had to make it for Matthew. I even bought the book just for this pattern. (I haven't made anything from it yet, but Lucinda Guy's Handknits for Kids has such adorable designs. I especially like that the number of boy vs girl knits are just about equal; so many books are much more geared towards little girls!)

Sweater for Ben: I still haven't quite decided but really like this cabled sweater (another Ravelry link) from Knitting for Baby.

Stocking for Ben: a must!

Cabled Wrap: This is a design idea I have and want to try out. The recipient shall remain nameless since I want it to be a surprise!

Simple but Effective Shawl (fingering weight) or Silk Kerchief: for another mystery recipient. This is actually for a birthday present, but I thought that I might as well include it in my goals while I'm at it.

This is enough knitting for now, but there are several other smaller projects I'm interested in: hats, toys, and fingerless knits to name a few. Wish me luck and good luck on all of your Christmas goals!

Colonnade

I finished Colonnade about a week ago, but I was waiting to post pictures until I found the *perfect* button. And I found it on Sunday at the Taos Wool and Yarn Festival in Taos, New Mexico. Coincidentally, the booth was titled, "The Perfect Button." I am very excited about this shawl (and the button)! The minute I saw it up on Knitty I knew I had to make it--and right away! The grey yarn is Swish worsted from Knit Picks, and the blue is actually a merino/silk blend that I picked up at the Taos Wool Festival last year. Both yarns are worsted-weight, so they came out at a smaller gauge than the pattern called for, but I think that they worked out well. I wore my Colonnade to our local farmer's market today, and it kept me warm in the cloudy and misty weather. Ben enjoyed putting his fingers through the lace bit of it while I was carrying him in the Ergo.

(I wish I had better pictures, but by the time my husband gets home from work it is already dark out, and I didn't want to wait until the weekend to take pics).

The perfect button:



My only yarn purchase at the festival--a hand dyed, handspun wool/alpaca/mohair blend in bulky weight. I'm planning on using this for another cozy shawl.

What has been on your needles and hooks lately?