Knitty Gritty Thoughts

Cleaning out my project closet

Hi Everyone!  Merry --belated-- Christmas!  I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays???  I had a nice laid back time at home - hubby and I were snowed in so we took the opportunity to do some decluttering.

I finally cleaned out my FO project closet - basically after I finish each item and it's washed, blocked and photo'd, I'd place it in a rubbermaid bin in my closet.  I rarely actually use any of my finished items, they just sit nicely folded in my office closet.

I just figured out I'm a process knitter - does that seem weird to be knitting for so long and to not even know that about yourself? =)  I love finding the right yarn and pattern and knitting it up into the image that is in my head but I hardly ever wear or use them.  Strange huh?

At any rate - when we were snowed in I started up my decluttering and cleaning storm again.  I pulled out all my FO's that I finished but never used and listed them up on my site for trade.  I would love for them to find a happy new home where they will be enjoyed and to trade for yarn or needles or patterns or gift certificates so that I use them to create more of my little knitted visions. =)

Just had time to list 5 today but they're nice ones.  Let's see... does Rona, Mystery Stole, Tiramisu, Anemoi, Lacey Scarf and Fiddlehead Scarf sound familiar???  All the details are on my trade site, thanks so much for looking! =)  More will be added as I get to them so please check back! =)

EZ Knitting Style - Butterfly Jacket

Did you hear it's snowing today in Portland/Vancouver??  I'm sure for most of you in colder regions this isn't that big of news except for here - it's a big thing!  Everything is closed - schools, government and roads and everyone just stays home.  So strange!

Anyhow - so my point is - it's cold here right now and I haven't lived in a cold climate for ages so I have barely anything appropriate to wear.  This morning I was craving something warm and wooly.  I went digging through my closet and guess what I found -

Hello!  I don't remember you.

In my flurry of finishing this summer I wove in the ends of this FO and threw it in a drawer somewhere.  I have to admit - I wasn't impressed.  The fit and style was well, blah.  But today, in the cold weather with a little mixing and matching - it took on a new form, just as a butterfly does and I love it!  It feels infinitely wearable and best of all wooly and warm.  Just as a Zimmerman knit should be.

Here's a view from the back. (shoulda done it seamless but I was lazy)

I knit it in Berrocco Ultra Alpaca (2 skeins - eeked through, barely) and the pattern is from Wool Gathering #78 (since sold out, and the pattern is now sold as a spun out and it's called the butterfly jacket.  It's a modernized version of the classic rib warmer.  More details on ravelry as always.

And in other news, I've been sewing up a storm, working on new products.  The first I'm happy to show you are my new pencil cups.  I have a weakness for pens and pencils and little places to store them.  You can find more designs in my etsy shop.

Take Care!

Baby Blanket Mania

I've been a bit distracted this past week.  I don't believe I mentioned it here, probably only on flickr when I went through a baby burp cloth and onesie making spree that my SIL was surprise! pregnant with twins?  It was a bit of a high risk pregnancy due to age (she has 3 children already, youngest is about 7) and she actually wasn't due until February but late last week she was admitted to the hospital for some complications.  Oh the craziness - she went into early labor, stopped labor, went back in and finally, delivered tiny yet healthy twin boys!  Hurray!  Oh the pins and needles we were on!  The babies weighed in at only 3 pounds apiece, luckily they came out crying so we know they are heathy.  They will be in the NICU for about 3 weeks, and will come right around christmas.

What a lovely christmas present!

Anyhow - so I whipped up some soft, cozy blankets for the new additions.  there's a great tutorial for them here - I used some lovely flannel in my stash and matched it with a thick fleece/chenille on the other side.  I used a decorative honeycomb stitch for the top-stitch and I love the way they turned out.  These may become my standard baby gift from now on!  Warning!  If you are expecting you may be receiving one from me =)

Better run!  I have a hair appt I need to get to - I need to get them to fix my badly dyed brown hair!

Fingerless Mitts for Fall

Anyone else suffering from holiday hungover-itis?  Not the kind brought on by alcohol, but by waay too much food and desert and overindulgence topped off by busy times with family and friends?

I have had a hard time getting back up to speed and yesterday was so hard to get up.  I have a 5am Women's Fitness Bootcamp that I joined, started another session yesterday.  Kicked my butt, totally.  But in a good way - hopefully said butt will be smaller even with my holiday eat-athon.  I can't say No to pumpkin pie! =)

Anyhow - so I wanted to show you a pair of fingerless mitts I started.  Remember the knitalong I hosted, Fingerless Mitts for Fall last year??  Well - by popular demand we are back and at it again this year and I couldn't wait to cast on for a pair of my own.

Here's a pair I started for my gma.  She rarely asks me to knit for her, so I jumped at the chance to knit her a pair of mitts to keep her hands warm.

The pattern is from interweave fall 2008, called "Fresco Fair Isle Mitts"[ravelry link] and it's knit in blue sky alpaca and silk.  My gma's hands are tiny so I went down two needle sizes.  I can't decide what to do with it though, I don't love the ribbing at the top of the fingers, it's kind of loose since the alpaca doesn't have a lot of memory.

Any good suggestions?  I'm tempted to rip it out and maybe continue in the pattern and then bind off?  Miss Picperfic suggested an i-cord cast off which I thought was a cute idea too - although I've never tried one, is it easy??

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Oh! and if you're knitting fingerless mitts this season make sure to come join us at Fingerless Mitts for Fall - we're having a great time!  We'd love to have you join us too if you'd like?  Just send me an email. 

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Have a great day!