Knitty Gritty Thoughts

Christmas Comes Early

First order of business, the random number generator picked Phyllis as the winner of the Cork.  Congrats Phyllis, it's on the way to you shortly!

Remember the christmas stocking?  I was a little afraid of the short-row heel and put it away for awhile.  Earlier this week I pulled it back out, turned the darn heel kept on going down the leg and did it all again at the toe and finished the thing!  It was a pretty major victory, this is the first time I really "got" what was going on with this type of heel and didn't have to move the post-it every row as I followed along.  I also now "get" the wraps/no-wraps question that Erica asked me.  I feel so "in the know" to know that the style of the stocking is no-wraps, which I actually prefer.  I hate those pesky wraps! ;)  I also feel pretty proud that I didn't have to sew up any holes which was pretty monumental.

Anyhow, the name was duplicate stitched on AKA swiss darning.  This was my first time doing it and I found it pretty easy, the trick is not to pull the yarn too hard, otherwise you'll get the background color showing out...I used this tutorial.  Now I just need to make a trip to the fabric store to find a lining, put it in and it's done!  (Well now I need to start on mine!)

Annie's Woolens Christmas Moose Stocking
In Plymouth galway (#16, #17, #8)
US 8 16" Addi Needle/US 8 DPNS

Stockings

I joined another knitalong, surprise surprise!  I have always wanted to make handknitted christmas stockings.  I have these visions of knitting one for each member of the family and hanging them from my (now inexistant =)) mantle, filling them with candy, fruit and little treats.  I'd like them to last forever and have them bring special meaning to the holidays, each and every year.  Last year I purchased some stocking patterns from here, holly for me and moose for the hubby.  They've languished all year in my stash just waiting for me to gain the color knitting skills to give it a shot.  I'm happy to say that time has finally come, after many practice items I was ready to give it a try and cast-on.  It was very exciting after waiting for so long! 

The yarn is plymouth galway in very christmassy colors, #16, #17, #8.  I had debated using other yarn, the pattern calls for Bartletts.  However after looking around at all the choices, I'm happy with it.  It was like russian roulette, ordering off the internet in color cards, so I was desperately hoping the yarn looked as good in person as it did on the screen. 

So far I'm happy the way they're turning out, I hope a few wonky spots will block out a bit nicer when I'm done.  The scary part I'm dreading is the heel, they give you two options, short-row or afterthought.  My short-rows are always holey and I've never given afterthought a try but I think for this I'll have to pick the lesser of two evils and go with short-row.  They do have great instructions written up, so maybe it's time to give it another go.  *Sigh* I can do it!!