Long overdue Christmas update

Greetings, all y'all.  So, I've been knitting away but have refused to post anything new here until I post the Christmas stuff because I'm stubborn like that, but have also been too lazy to post the Christmas stuff, but I realize now it's Valentine's Day, so maybe I should get on that, eh?  

Here's all the Christmas knitting in all of its glory:

For my brand new nephew who was born January 31, a delightful little sweater!  I bought the penguin buttons a while ago, and finally found a suitable project for them.  And, of course, after the freehanded llama worked out so well on the last baby sweater, I had to add a penguin to this one.  

Pattern: Paxton, by StitchyMama

Yarn: Debbie Bliss EcoBaby Fair Trade

Needles: US 6/4mm

Ravelry link 

Next we have a super pretty and soft and amazing Haruni shawl for my mom.  (Let me just say now that I really want everything I gave away for Christmas - yes, even the penguin sweater.)

Pattern: Haruni, by Emily Ross
Yarn: Malabrigo sock yarn
Needles: US 4/3.5mm
Ravelry Link

 

Moving right along, we have a pair of Ysolda hats made for my aunts.  The yarn was an acrylic blend, and say what you will about acrylics, I thought it knit up very nicely and is soft and delicious to boot.  May not block as well as wool, but it works for me!

Pattern: Rose Red, by Ysolda Teague

Yarn: Plymoth Yarn Encore DK

Needles: US 6/4mm

Ravelry link 

Pattern: Snapdragon Tam, by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore DK
Needles: US 6/4mm
Ravelry link

Finally we have these amazingly incredible convertible mittens I made for my BFF.  I LOVE THIS PATTERN!!!  Modified them from the original mittens using panuru's (Ravelry) mods.  Anyway, they are awesome.

Pattern: Chimera, by Julia Mueller
Yarn: some sort of blend - I think it's Wool Ease, but it was found in my stash, so who knows
Needles: US 6/4mm
Ravelry link

Since Christmas, I made an impromptu hat, started a fair isle fingerless mitt project, made an ill fitting sweater (which will need to be frogged to make a proper size - but more on that later), finished a pair of socks, and am about 80% done with another sweater.  So, yeah.  I've been busy.  :) 

I don't want to spoil you with too many posts tonight, so I'll have more tomorrow.

We're living in the wild wild west...

Oh why hello there.

As you can see, I've finished the Wild West shawl.  It's made with real honest to goodness laceweight yarn!  And there are bison!  And it's actually a neutral color so it's more versatile than the loud and colorful shawls I'm drawn to!  


Here are the specs:
Pattern: Wild West Lace Shawl, by Evelyn A. Clark
Yarn: Knit Picks Gloss Lace Yarn, sterling (less than a skein, for realz)
Needles: US 4/3.5 mm 
Ravelry link 


And here are the pics!

I think it's pretty great, even if that close-up photo of the bison uploaded sideways...

 

What's going on?

And now, what's currently going on on my needles.

A shawl... with BISON!!!!

 Wild Wild West Shawl, by Evelyn A. Clark

Socks!  With Noro Kuryeon!  And a Cookie A. pattern!  (Kai Mei from Sock Innovation)

The most accurate picture of the colorway

This one was my Niagara Falls traveling knitting companion, and the second one is on the needles as a commuting knit for my travel days at work (when I sit in the truck for a couple hours a day traveling the countryside in search of dogs and cats to surgicate).

Also in the works off and on is a really obnoxious red confetti cropped sweater.  It's either going to be really cute or really really ugly.  Or both.  Like a pug.

As soon as I find the pictures of the ADORABLE hat and socks I made for my yet-to-be-born nephew, I'll post those.  :)

Now, back to the shawl...

Super Soft Shawlette

Finished up the Ishbel shawlette earlier this week.  I used the super duper soft green yarn that my BFF brought back from Scotland, and when that was about to run out, switched to some also soft but not quite as soft sock yarn, then did the bind off in the original green.

I must say I'm happy with how it turned out.  I had my doubts at times after I'd switched to the variegated yarn, but it all worked out.  One of these days I'll actually complete a lace shawl that is a solid color only...

Pattern: Ishbel, Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Orkney Angora St. Mangus DK (color = bottle green); Knit Picks Imagination Handpainted sock yarn (color = mermaid lagoon)
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony interchangeable circulars, size US 6/4.0 mm
Ravelry link 


Pre-blocking:












Blocking: 

I'd like to give a shout-out to blocking wires.  You make my life so much easier, and let me block a billion points with approximately 8 pins.


And, of course, here are some glamor shots in the snow.

The Nerdy Old Lady

"...When is my yarn going to be in at the yarn store?" I wondered out loud.
"You ordered yarn at the yarn store?" the Husband asked.
"Um, yeah..."
(hysterical laughter) "NERD!  You're a nerd!  And an old lady!  A nerdy old lady"

Well, it's in!  All 7 skeins of it.  Cascade 220 Heathers, color Turtle. 
(It's going to be the Vivian sweater, by Ysolda Teague.)

That extra skein is to finish Mom's Fetching I started to try Magic Loop, then ran out of yarn in a classic yarn project/yarn : cereal/milk situation.

So, good news Mom!  Your mitts are done!

 

(pictures taken in haste as the batteries to both cameras died at the same time)

Pattern: Fetching (Cheryl Niamath), Knitty Summer 2006

Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers, Autumn

Needles: addi Natura size US 8/5.0 mm 40# circular

Don't worry, the Ishbel is coming along nicely.  Since this picture, the fab green yarn has run out and I've switched to a crazy variegated yarn to finish things out.  I think I'm making it work.

Carry on.

I Heart You, Shawl Patterns

"Cast on 3 stitches."  I'm in love.

Just cast on the Ishbel shawl by Ysolda Teague.  (Ravelry Link)

 
This is the rest of the Scottish Yarn, an angora/lambswool blend and it is even more bright green than pictured and soooooo super soft.