Oh Boy

Here we go. I'm heading into the last few weeks of the semester, and although there is sure to be knitting (it keeps me going) it may not get blogged until December 12. The holiday knitting is DONE though (the knitting; not the making of other presents involving several other crafts, some of which I have never attempted before...)



Here are the two November birthday presents:



"Snowflakes on My Shoulders" Cowl from The Elegant Ewe
Yarn: Sublime Kid Mohair, 3 skeins white (I just used a little bit of the third skein)
Source: to remain nameless, because I had a very bad experience there
Needles: US Size 9
Modifications: None
Recipient: My grandma, who was very happy with it





Basic Everyday Purse from Felted Knits by Beverly Galeskas
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Kettle-Dyed in Charcoal, 3 skeins (or maybe 2)
Source: Knit Picks
Needles: Addi Turbo US Size 11 24" circular needles
Modifications: None
Recipient: My aunt, also very happy



In other knitting news, I have finished the Clessidra socks for the second time and they fit beautifully. I was knitting them this time last year so I could have them done by Thanksgiving, and I'm happy I've finished them in time to wear them on Thanksgiving this year. I am having issues with the Swirled Pentagon Pullover, but I think I know how to fix it. The problem is that it involves me sucking it up and ripping out the collar and yoke and reknitting the six pentagons (again). I have also started my socks, in the yarn that inspired the pattern. I have big plans for present-making and Christmas-inspired knitting, but we'll see how far that takes me as the semester wraps up. It's my last semester though, so I can see the light! I've just got to work hard these next couple of weeks, and then I can collapse on a pile of yarn.

Unbelievable

My pattern, the Sandalwood Socks, is being published in the Winter issue of Interweave Knits!


Here is the entire preview (scroll to the middle for the Sandalwood Socks), or click here for the bonus photos.

All kinds of crafty

Did you know that I cross-stitch? It's actually the first real craft I learned. I was taught to crochet when I was eight, but I just made really long chains because I could never remember how to turn it. My mom taught me to cross-stitch (both she and my aunt do beautiful stitching) and I still really enjoy it, although it's not as portable as knitting. I made this a few years ago but I just got it framed a few weeks ago. I was waiting to post it until snow seemed more like a possibility. I love it because I always say that it "smells like snow..."

This is the Mini Wrap Skirt from Crochet Me: Designs to Fuel the Crochet Revolution. Let me tell you, I love this skirt and I haven't even worn it yet. I was really surprised to see that it's only in a few queues on Ravelry, but it's fun to be one of only a few people wearing it. It was easy and very quick. I can't remember all the details (I actually finished this one awhile ago and forgot to blog it), but I used my beloved Clover Soft Touch hooks in Sizes F and I, three skeins of Red Heart Super Saver in black and one skein in claret.

Detail of the bottom edging:

A Socktoberfest wrap-up:

I managed to reach my goal for Socktoberfest, which was to knit two pairs of gift socks (which I can't show you yet, but I hope to have them up on Ravelry soon!), knit the Apple Picking Socks (see previous post) and finish up this pair. I had one done but wanted to finish the other so it wouldn't languish in the stash until forever, and Socktoberfest provided the perfect reason to finish it up.

Classic Socks from Yankee Knitting

Yarn: Plymouth Sockotta, one ball

Source: Patternworks

Needles: Crystal Palace Bamboo dpns, US Size 2

Modifications: None.

Just when you thought I'd given up berets....

Porom by Jared Flood
Yarn: Jamieson's Double Knitting, grey, one skein

Source: stash

Needles: US Size 6 and 8 16" circular needles, US Size 8 dpns

Modifcations: none

Soundtrack/Movies: Persepolis, Northern Exposure



I love love love this hat. It is perfect and warm but it still breathes, it hides bad hair, and I believe it holds the secret to world peace. The pattern is easily memorized but not boring, and it knits up very quickly (after I finished it, less than 24 hours after starting it, Boyfriend turned to me and said, "you knit really fast!").

I am so close to being done knitting my Christmas presents. Of course, there are still other presents to make, but I'll tackle those after I finish the knitting. I am also so close to being done graduate school. Only the knitting and crafting will help me get through it...