And I’m back.

Well, it’s been awhile!  What, I’ve been busy.

I bought a house!

I went back to school and started a doctorate!

But finally I’m starting to get back to the sticks, and to be inspired again by knitting.  Good thing too, because I have a number of projects to do this year…

But how’s about a recap of stuff I’ve already done in the past while.

I finished socks for Mom.  No, really, I totally did.

Mom's socks the first

Yarn: Claudia Handpainted fingering weight, 2 skeins.  I forget what the colourway was called, because I started these in 2009.  Something to do with the seaside.
Pattern: Retro rib socks, from Interweave’s 25 favorite socks book.
Needles: 2.75 mm
Notes: the pattern is actually quite nice, and it took me forever for no actual reason.  Just enough interest to keep you bored from knitting.

Mom's socks the second

Yarn: Knit Picks felici sport, neapolitan colourway
Pattern: Patons basic sock pattern, kind of halfway between the fine and worsted weight patterns – I split the difference.
Needle: 3.25 mm
Notes: Well, these only took me since 2010, so that’s an improvement, right?  I can’t help but think of Mom when I think of neapolitan ice cream, so it was a blindingly obvious choice for her.

And instead of starting a third pair, I figured I’d finish both of these for Christmas 2011.  Aren’t I sweet?

Dad's ginormous hat

Pattern: Turn a Square by Jared Flood, available free at Brooklyn Tweed or via Ravelry
Yarn: Noro Kureyon and Brooklyn Tweed SHELTER in woodsmoke
Yarn: US8 (5 mm)
Notes: So this hat turned out GIGANTIC, like, ELEPHANTINE.  It’s my own fault.  I tried to shrink it by felting it in the washer, but it made it even larger.  It’s comical, actually.  I can make him another, but this one is pretty funny. It became the joke of Christmas 2011.

Kelli's Baby Hats

Pattern: Sock Yarn Baby Hat available free online
Yarn: fingering weight yarns I had on hand – Knit Picks Tonal, in Springtime; Woolen St Mills yarn in Jayne Hat
Needle: 3.25 mm
Notes: OH YA these turned out SO CUTE.  They actually were the catalyst to get me interested in knitting again.  :)

And then there was the replacement... My beautiful Rose Red hat in green Karabella Boise cashmere/merino, I stupidly left it on the plane when I flew to Montreal for Sean’s wedding last weekend.  Dumbass.  It was cold and snowy all weekend (and bitterly cold on the Saturday) and I had no hat or mittens.  Dumb dumb dumb. But hey, at least I can make a replacement, right?  I mean, it won’t be cashmere, because I’m brokey mcbrokerson mayoress of broketown at the moment.  But hey, I’ve got years of building up a fun stash to work through.  MWAHAHAHA. Including two skeins of malabrigo worsted that had heretofore gone projectless…

And thus, the replacement:

My new snuggly Malabrigo hat

Detail on the garter and lace pattern

Pattern: Long Leaves Beanie from the excellent Weekend Hats book.  This book is full of fun small projects, and I’m eager to knit a few of the hats in the collection: this one, the Everdeen Beanie, and the Topiary Beanie are high on my list.
Yarn: Malabrigo worsted (mmmm soft and toasty) in Apple Green, about 1/2 skein.  Maybe just over 1/2.
Needle: 3.75 mm (ribbing) and 4.5mm (lace)
Notes: This pattern knit up super fast, and is wonderfully cozy.  Exactly what was called for, and I love the bright and cheery colour.  Especially against the black of my pea coat.

Oh, and I made a cake in the shape of a tank:

The (in)famous PanzerBundt

As one does.

So that’s about it for now… there’s another baby kit I have yet to blog, so I’ll do that next time… and I’m about to embark on another cardigan.  FOR ME!!!!!  And I have socks to do too.  AND Jayne hats, because I promised 10 to Sheelagh for CSTS.

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