Oh, yum

I just knit my gauge swatch for Tempting in the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino, and it is so soft and luxurious! I''m also loving the color, Wine (those of you who know me will probably not be surprised that I am enamored of a color with that name). I can't wait to see how it all turns out...

Mellow secret pal

Although my superb Holiday Secret Pal is still unrevealed (sniff), I am now a proud, card-carrying member of the "mellow" SP round on the knitty boards. I am very excited to have an SP who, like me, is new to the concept but embraces it with gusto! I've recived an two ecards, and two lovely snailmail cards from my SP, along with a package that fit me to a tee and made me feel totally spoiled! Adorable socks that feel like a hug on my feet, which I wore all weekend long (gross, I know); delicious mocha java coffee from a local shop in Grand Forks, North Dakota (mwahaha, a clue) that went very well with brunch yesterday - plus a mug to drink it in; Night, by Elie Wiesel, the most recent selection in Oprah's Book Club; and a book I tore into right away, and that contains SO MANY good ideas, 1,000 Best Wedding Bargains. All so thoughtful, useful and perfect for me...thanks SP!

Requisite cute cat photo

It seems that every knitting blog requires some cute photos of cats posing with knitted objects. Alas, though I once had a cat, and even cat-sat for Ms. Figandplum's superb felines for a few months a couple of summers ago, I am currently sans cat. So, to fill the void, Laura has graciously provide these shots of Earl Grey - hard at play and then resting - with the Feline Dim Sum I knit her (Earl is a her) for Chanukah (if indeed Earl is Jewish). I couldn't ask for cuter requisite cat photos!

p.s. Valerie is aware that said Dim Sum bears only passing, if any, resemblance to the wonton it is intended to be. But, it's filled with catnip, so Earl Grey likes it anyway.

Go Steelers

Holiday knitting pics

First off, I knit some Puppers for my friend (and secret santee) Laura. These were so fun to make, and I did learn quite a bit about sewing, embroidering faces on toys and creating bits and pieces like ears, trunks, puffy tails and the like. They DEFINITELY look home-made, but that's half the fun! Not pictured is a little catnip "wonton" I knit for her kitty, Earl...perhaps Laura can be convinved to supply a pic of Earl at play with said wonton. If it isn't already torn to shreds.

Next we have my first originally designed pattern ever...beer coozy sweater's for Chris' bros in the colors of their favorite football teams (Dolphins, Vikings, Colts). Nothing earth shattering here...just knitting in the round on DPNs...but I did learn about gauge and measuring out a pattern, and I'm pretty proud of the evenness of the stripes. Plus, the bros each got a cheap Pittsburg Steelers-commemorative can of Rolling Rock, courtesy of their dad, inside the coozy. Cheers!

And the holiday knitting project that will never go away...a Gryffindor Scarf in the works for my sis. I was hoping to have it done for her 30th b-day on February 5, but as I have only 3,870 of the 50,310 knit stitches it takes to complete this scarf (YAWN!), it may be longer. Plus, I have to learn how to crochet the fringe at the end. I'm also having a bit of trouble where I'm joining the scarf during color changes...some unevenness and small-middling holes going on. I shall discuss with my kniting gurus (yes, I have gurus) when I see them next Tuesday.

Sadly, no pics of the cute Noro hat I knit for mom exist yet...but I'll try to get some when I'm down in NY for sis' bday in a coupla weeks.

First sweater

In some exciting news, I have decided to knit my first sweater, Tempting! I received a very generous gift certificate to yarnmarket.com from my fiance's folks, and bought some lovely Debbie Bliss Cahmerino Aran in Wine (color 617). I've read some good stuff about the yarn on other people's blogs, and I'm pretty excited to get it on the needles and start this super-cute (and seemingly simple) sweater pattern. Hurrah for progress!

p.s. I forgot to mention in my "holiday redux" post that my secret santee at work also got some Feline Dim Sum for her super cute kitty, Earl. Vote for Earl!

p.p.s. I should be getting some pictures up and running soon. Hurrah!

Secret pal still secret

My holiday secret pal from knitty.com has still not revealed her super-secret identity, but I've been reassured that it's only because there is something on the needles for me. She's been awesome, so I'll just bounce in my chair a bit and await the final gifty and big reveal!

Holiday redux

So...I am still having some problems with internet access at home, and thus the lovely photos I've taken of various holiday knitting will have to wait. But I did knit some Finger Puppers for my secret santee at work, a lovely Noro one-skein hat for my mama, and my first original pattern: three beer coozy sweaters in various football team colors (Vikings, Colts, Dolphins) for my boyfriend's brothers. More on all of these when photos get up.

Speaking of the boyfriend...we are now engaged. Hurrah!

And speaking of holiday knitting...I'm still working on one last gift. A PoA Gryffindor Scarf for my darling sis. Will it be done in time for her 30th birthday on February 5. By all the knitting gods above, I hope so!