So when I was at Mom and Dad’s over the holidays, as I was from time to time it being family and such, I took a gander through Mom’s knitting patterns. She’s not using them anymore, so more for me!   What, she said I could help myself.

And in that collection, I saw the BEST Christmas present idea ever.  It is filling me with completely devilish glee, and causing much maniacal laughter.  Actual laughter, and also my repeating the words “Maniacal laugh” like Tex Richman in the new Muppet movie.  Regardless!  Check out this baby:

How's this for a blast from the past?

Or maybe this was more your cup of tea

FRAK YEAH 80s NORDIC SWEATERS.

With matching toques, OF COURSE.

Now, I know that’s a lot of work.  Trust me.  I’m not a newbie anymore.  But I also know they’re knit on 6mm needles in chunky/bulky weight yarn, and that will knit up pretty fast, comparatively.  Compared to, for instance, the many projects I do in fingering weight which is basically knitting with thread.

I think I will give the new Knit Picks Brava line a try for this.  It’s acrylic, but reviewers have commented on its softness.  I want something durable and easy care for their mom’s benefit and fairly inexpensive for my own benefit.  I mean, they’re kids.  I’m not going to make them in bulky weight cashmere, know what I’m sayin?  Plus, I really like the colours they have available.  I’ve already got my niece’s all planned out, I just have to figure out what colours for my nephew.

I mean, he’s two.  He doesn’t really HAVE a favourite colour yet, right?

He’s super blond though, and has amazing light blue eyes… Maybe play those up with a light blue and chocolate brown pairing?  I dunno.

Regardless, I can’t wait to see his parents face when they see these blasts from the past.

Retro, baby.  It’s where it’s at.

This time round it’s Matt and Sarah.  I’ve known Matt, well, since forever.  OK, since grade 12.  But that’s over half a lifetime ago now.  His dad was my chemistry teacher.  Matt’s the smartest guy I know, hands down.  I can sit with a glass of wine and talk history and philosophy for hours with him.  And have done!  Sarah, his lovely wife, is a delight too.  I was so happy when they got together.

And now they’re expecting their first.

So I made a little something.  Of course I did.  Actually, I’ve something else to add, but it’s not done yet so I’ll blog it when I’ve finished.  But in the meantime…

So wee!

Pattern: Classic Cardigan by Debbie Bliss, in Debbie Bliss’ Essential Baby book.  The hat’s from my own head.  I KNOW, I’m impressed too.
Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly, in “cookie”.  Takes about 2.5 skeins for the sweater, plus the hat and pompom.
Needle: 3.25 mm
Buttons: cute wooden ones I found at Fabricville.  I almost used yellow, but since they don’t know the sex of the baby, this is more neutral.

This is still my go-to pattern for a baby.  It’s so cute, it knits up quickly, and it’s practical with the raglan yoke.  Now, I’m usually not a fan of acrylic, I’ve made this in the called-for baby cashmerino a couple times, once in sock yarn, and once in Knit Picks merino dk, but the Snuggly is actually ok.  It doesn’t feel quite so plastic-y, you know?  The colourway is sweet, and neutral.  It’s like a peachy off-white, with tweedy printed dots of mustard yellow, cherry red and a dark teal. I really like the name “cookie”, too.  It’s got a lot of interest when knit up, but it’s damn near impossible to find a co-ordinating button, I must say.  Bright yellow might have also worked.

And the picture?  That lovely rustic stool?  Yeah, that’s my backyard.  Remember how I bought a house?  It came with a backyard.  The backyard has a garden (that I let run wild last year after I moved in.  what do I know about gardening?  NOTHING, that’s what) with an interesting rock wall and this cute step-stool to get up to hang the washing.  What you don’t see is the clothesline, which is basically at garrotting height.  I, uh, need to fix that.  Anyway, yay rustic stool.

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.

But I’m feeling the urge again.

I blame it on Brooklyn Tweed.

I got an email today with this lovely cabled scarf called “Dryad”.  It’s a bit longer than projects I usually undertake, but the cabling should keep it interesting.  I am looking ahead a bit with this project, thinking of taking it on is a vote of cautious optimism for an upcoming project in my life.  I’m also looking at doing a co-ordinating hat, “Habitat”.  Should be lovely and warm… And doing them in a tweedy yarn should give them a delightful texture.

Basically, for the first time in months, I’m really excited to knit.  Yay!  Winter projects!

Baby gift complete!

That Tanis yarn is SWEET.  Seriously sweet.  I do love the slight variations in the yarn colour, and I like the weight of it.  It’s a heavy fingering weight, it knits up beautifully in projects and is quite durable.  Plus, merino ftw!  And I used up my leftovers from my daybreak shawlette.  None left!

I’m also working on another baby hat and sweater set – well, that is to say I’ve finished the hat and have yet to complete the sweater but it’s on the sticks.  When I feel better I’ll get to it, but right now I’m a perambulating sinus.

Dalton likes the hat too.

As you can see by the hat on the reindeer, the yarn is a bit busy.  I think the best way to describe it would be wildly variegated.  Because of the colours, I think it’s definitely necessary to make a sweater to match.  It’s got some wool too, which makes it a bit scratchy to work with for me but will wash up nice and soft for baby.  I’m looking forward to being done…

… because then I get to do projects JUST FOR ME.  I’m going to make a lovely cabled hat for me, and then some wonderful coffee cup mittens.  All in yummy yummy merino wool!

I’m making the pattern up out of my head as I go.

Now, I know it’s just a wee hat, it’s not like I’m freestyling an adult-sized sweater… But it’s still kind of liberating to just pick up and knit. I’m having a great time with it and I hope the hat turns out as cute as I think it will.

I’m just glad to have free time again, just in time for Christmas. Time to knit up some gifts!

I also put out my wee village. I love my village. Just needs a TARDIS. Little plaster houses and shops on my mantel! So cheery. And it’s Nov 11th so I can officially start thinking of Christmasy stuff!!!! Glee!!!!

Here’s her first finished sock though, and I’m about 1/3 done the second.  Most of the way down the leg.

Neapolitan ice cream sock!

It’s Knit Picks Felici yarn, and I’m enjoying the result.  I find the yarn rather splitty though; and for a “sportweight” it really doesn’t feel much off a heavier fingering like the Tanis Fiber Arts that I so like.  I also wish the stripes were rather more compact.  But I will say that it is very definitely recognizable as neapolitan ice cream.  And my Mom loves ice cream.

I had also been hemming and hawing about what to do for Aloma’s baby on the way.  Well, the baby is here, baby girl Harper (named for Harper Lee, how clever is that!), and I still haven’t made anything.  So I decided to eschew twee colourwork in favour of speed.  I’m doing a simple hat with a rolled brim in fingering weight, I left eyelets to run a ribbon around and make a bow.  I will be making a simple top-down garter yoke sweater to co-ordinate so there will be a little outfit.  I’m using my three irish girls sock yarn, I hope it’s not too scratchy for baby.  It’s lightweight, but packs a lot of warmth into that light layer (as wool does) and when I wash it for blocking I know it will be much softer than it is while knitting.  I’ll get photos of that when I’m done before I send the package off.  I want to do that sooner rather than later.

Like Dr Frankenstein, I am cobbling together a Monster from various parts.

I got invited by Ania on Ravelry to join a knitalong this October.  Frankensocks.  Reading Mary Shelley’s gothic classic Frankenstein (which I don’t believe I’ve actually read since undergrad… oh, The 19th Century Novel, I did love you so) and knitting socks cobbled together from remnants of sock yarn left over from other projects.  Some folks are really getting into using their leftovers for these colourful creations of all manner of stripes.  I don’t actually have that much leftover of the proper weight… at least not enough to feel like I could take on such a project.  But I do have leftovers from various baby outfits… a fair bit of leftovers as it happens.  So in spirit I’m following the rules if in practice I’m actually doing a pretty basic striped sock.  The colours are gloriously monstrous though.  So ugly they’re cute.  I even don’t mind the pooling because it’s broken up by the lighter blue stripe.  Now if I could only figure out how to make the stripes jogless…

Meanwhile, I’d also started these socks out of Simpsons yarn.  OK technically it’s called “Cartoons” but the colours are so The Simpsons.  I’m waiting on red yarn to finish up the gusset heels and toes, it’s on it’s way from Knit Picks along with the sportweight Felici I’m going to be using for Mom and Fran’s socks.  I went down a couple sizes on the needle.  This may have made the sock too small to get on.  If so, I’ll be giving them away at Christmas on the St Pius tree.  But I’m having a great time making them, the colours are so cute!  I hope I can wear them.

THE SIMPSONS... doo doodoo doo doo doodoo doo doodoodoo doo

I love the narrow stripes of the handpainted stroll.  I really hope I get to keep these.  Just not enough to re-knit them when they’re done.

And of course I still have the lime green lace two-at-a-time-toe up socks I started this summer on the battlefields.  Those can wait though.  And I might have to frog my jaywalkers, because I can’t remember what I did with the heel… reknit them from the cuff down maybe.  I don’t know.  We’ll see.  Lots of socks this fall.  They’re nice and portable.  I’m happy to be working on them.