Finished: pumpkins!

After deciding not to do much holiday-gift knitting this year, my list of things to make seems to be growing steadily. Most of them I don't even have the yarn for yet. As is my usual MO in these situations, I have knit something completely unrelated. (I originally typed unproductive but really, how could making this cute little punkins be unproductive?!)




set I made first for Mom



punkins I made for me, after being sad at giving away the first set!


These are all made out of Brown Sheep Nature Spun worsted in "Orange You Glad" and "Bev's Bear". (The color difference is just due to the lighting conditions.) You can find the pattern here.

Now I'm off to by some yarn at Knitpicks, and decide if any of my knitted gift ideas absolutely have to be done.

Finished: Bluebell Boatneck sweater

I actually finished almost a month ago, but I was just able to take photos a few days ago after work.



(It was a little windy!)


Cascade 220 Tweed, color #7611. I used 5 and a little bit skeins.
The pattern is from Fitted Knits.
Started: July 3, 2007
Finished: September 26, 2007




I am very happy with the finished sweater, but it could be a size smaller. I always (always) overestimate the size I need. Since I am aware of the problem, I try to convince myself to make a smaller size when I begin, but end up talking my way into the bigger one. Oh well; it's definitely wearable, and there is enough room to wear a long sleeve t-shirt underneath when it's really cold here.




The only change I made was to sew up the corners of the neckline about an inch all around. The "boat" in the boatneck was a little too large for my tastes.

Home again.

My vacation was too short (but whose isn't?) and I am still trying to get back into my normal routine. It surprises me how quickly I feel out of the loop with news, work, traffic, etc. when I don't follow my usual patterns. Maybe that is just me being stuck in a rut!

We stayed at the Luxor in Las Vegas, and made it to a few other hotels/casinos including the Hilton to see the Star Trek exhibit and a fabulous dinner at Craftsteak in the MGM Grand. We rented a car for a day on a whim and drove out to the gorgeous Red Rock Canyon conservation area. Of course that would be the day I forget to recharge my camera battery! At least I managed to get a few good shots. We were in geology-nerd heaven and need to visit again, more prepared to hike in the desert.





And bonus - renting a car allowed us to go to a Vegas yarn store! We went to Gail Knits, and I purchased a few balls of Classic Elite Puffin yarn.




It is sort of a thin strip of fleece. I am planning on making some very soft and cozy mittens and perhaps some sort of head covering.

All I ever wanted...

My husband and I are leaving tonight for a much needed vacation (...had to get away). We will be in Las Vegas until Friday, and then have a nice weekend of downtime before heading back to work.

I am treating this vacation like a "reset button"; hopefully when I return I'll feel more focused and productive.

So look for the completed photos of my Bluebell Boatneck sweater plus increased knitting mojo next week!

(Bonus points in you recognize the song!)

Finished: Calorimetrys (Calorimetries?)

I finished both of these Calorimetrys this week:





This first one is Mom's and she is already in possession of it. (Unfortunately I did not get a model shot.) The yarn is Austermann Bambou Soft Color, in color #104.

Here is mine:





This yarn is Rowan Cashsoft Aran, in color #014 "Thunder". I am very pleased with both of them, and think they will come in very handy this winter. I typically go hatless in the cold (even though I own plenty!) simply because my curly/frizzy/short hair does not survive hat-removal well.

Oh and it took one ball of each yarn to make a calorimetry. For the Cashsoft Aran, that really means one entire ball. Don't tell anyone but I had to use some of the cast-on yarn tail to finish binding off!