When did I have time?

So its been almost a month since I've written in my blog.  I have been so busy since I started work I have had little time to sit down and write.  Of course, I am still knitting and doing my church things (which always multiply at the holidays).  I have actually finished almost all of my christmas knitting.  I am still finishing up a few scarves and I am still hoping to get my sons sweater done but that is not looking too promising.

I am not sure where I left off.  Let's see...there's the "Glamour Girl" set for my step-granddaughter:

Then there's the "First Year" Gryffindor scarf for our daughter:

The plan is to finish the "Georgia" scarf next for my brother-in-law and then a Hufflepuff "First year" scarf for our youngest son.  I also have a sweater in work for him.  Last and if I have time, a Gryffindor "Third year" for our next oldest son. You can tell we like Harry Potter at our house.

I spent a large portion of today wrapping all the things that I've knit so far this year.  I am happy to say that I have so many things knitted up that only my poor husband doesn't have a knitted something for christmas.  Maybe I'll have to plan a little something for him. Oh well, I'll have to think of something after I finish 3 more scarves...Yipes, time is ticking. 

Back to Work

Tomorrow morning I start my new job.  I have to get up especially early and leave the house by 6 AM in order to get through the Dallas "Mix-Master" by 7 AM.  Seems crazy to have to drive so far to and through so much traffic after this past year of working from home. I am a little nervous. 

Also, the woodworking shop out back is now being furiously renovated by a cornucopia of plumbers, concrete guys, AC/Heating guys, etc.  We also have the guy who sprays (green) chemicals around to kill the 5 million or so crickets that we get every year.  The cat kills 400-500  crickets but the this guy gets the rest.  The shop will become my mother's new residence once finished.  So they are building the bath, kitchen, and a closet for the hot water heater and washer/dryer.  Its amazing how we went from zero to massive change in just a day.  Everything is upside-down.

So this past week has been a little crazy.  Not too crazy to knit though.  I've added many new things to the Christmas pile.  Lets see....

 OK this one is mine.  Its actually a long scarf but I wrapped around the neck twice to get this nice woolly, fuzzy, cowl-like thing.  I call it the Sherpa Scarf and its really cozy! Also, its crocheted.  I chained 67 and then SC into 6th Ch from the end, Chain 6, SC into next st, repeat down the initial chain.  Turn and then going down the other side of the initial chain, repeat the Chain 6, SC into next stitch. With this yarn I could only do the two sides of the chain.  The original pattern required going up and down the initial chain 3 times.  I guess with thinner yarn that's the idea.  I used a "Q" hook.

 These mitts match the hat I made my sister and therefore, these are for her. I still haven't worked out the scarf to go with the hat and mitts.  The yarn is very slick even though it looks pretty fuzzy.  Very bamboo-like.  So hmmmmm.

 This hat is really special.  The picture doesn't do it any justice (probably because my photographer skills are non-existent).  I also found this really cool antique button to put on the side. Looks like old-time costume jewelry. I made this for my step-mom.  She is the nicest person.  I miss her more than my dad.  I need to come up with a matching scarf for this as well. I've interviewed 6 patterns but haven't come up with anything.  Time is running short...

Again, these are mine.  I've made 6 pairs of fingerless mitts and I have really been wanting a pair for myself.  So these match the Sherpa scarf above and I'm working on a matching hat now.  Its the Sherpa yarn and the Patons classic wool together.  I think it will be pretty cute too.

First Mitten

So this is my first mitten.  I am not sure why I waited so long to try this.  Its been a breeze really.  I wasn't going to write about the mitten until I'd actually completed it but I think this is substantially complete.  Just 5 or 6 more rows and the bind off/weave in ends. I bet the hardest part is making the second one.

While knitting this I practiced not looking at the knitting.  I figured its like typing.  So sometimes I did pretty good and sometimes I just had to look.  I am surprised at how easily I picked it up.  Not that I'm great at it but with some practice....

This mitten (and hopefully its identical twin) will match the beret I made last month.

I also realize that I haven't written about the ice pack pouches yet.  I had frogged a sweater that was aweful but saved the pieces because they were fairly rectangular.  Earlier in the summer I had made a friend some wash clothes and she commented that they were perfect for wrapping an ice pack in (when here daughter had the wisdom teeth taken out) and so super soft, except they needed to be enclosed on the ends.  So if any of that makes sense, this is what I did for her:  Made two ice pack pouches out the sleeves of the frogged sweater. Yipes, I don't know that I understand it either.

Another Item that I finished is the "Kisses" hat.  I initially made this for my step-grand-daughter but I am rethinking this.  I may give it to my little cousin who is 7.  I'll have to work that part out.

So that's it for now.  I really need to focus on my outstanding projects.  Some of them I am no longer interested in.  I think as soon as put an item on a list meant for completion it becomes a "not gonna do it" project.  /sigh.

My Sister's Hat

I have made my sister a hat for christmas.  I think its pretty good.  Last Christmas I made her a shrug and she didn't seem pleased with it at all.  I am hoping this one goes over better.  It feels great (its mostly wool and nylon) and sooooo soft!

The Red Hat:

 

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I've been trying to come up with a scarf that goes well with this.  I've started and frogged the scarf 5 times. So far all I have is this and it doesn't lay flat so I am thinking its not going to fly either.  Hmmmmm...



I would also like to add a memorial to a young man who passed yesterday.  He will be sorely missed.  British IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon died from injuries after his car went sailing through the air during a 15-car wreck at the Las Vegas Indy 300 on Sunday.

 

Be at peace, Dan (1978-2011)