Wow. Just wow. Am I ever behind on project posting. Sheesh! I apologize! It's been such a busy fall, gearing up for our big move took up a lot of time. But I did do a TON of knitting and spinning and have been dying to share all my projects with everyone. Many of them were secret though, because I took on a huge thing this year - a handmade holiday.
The goal was to make as many of my Christmas/Hanukkah gifts as possible and only use purchased items as extras. That didn't so much happen because I always, always cave and spend a lot of money on people - but the exercise was a good one. For my in-laws, for instance, my handmade gifts were the centerpiece, and the bought items were smaller. Same for my mother and my sister. I sort of failed on Dad, brother and husband - but they're harder to knit for, I think. Next year will be even better, I just know it - making gifts for people gave me more ideas for the future.
So, without further ado, here's what I have been gifting.
PROJECT: Handspun Toast
PATTERN: Toast (Ravel it!)
YARN: Handspun bulky-weight merino
NEEDLES: US 7
This cozy pair of fingerless gloves was knit with yarn I spun myself - only my second spin on my wheel. I am really proud of it, even though it's certainly not perfect - lots of thick and thin spots. But it knit up into a beautiful pair of gloves for my dear friend Jen.
PROJECT: Seamless Raglan Sweater
PATTERN: Elizabeth Zimmerman's Seamless Raglan Sweater (Ravel it!)
YARN: Cascade Wool 220 in Irelande - 7 skeins
NEEDLES: US 6
Last year, I made Elizabeth Zimmerman's Seamless Hybrid for Jay. Basically, her patterns are recipes you follow, and they're really simple and rewarding knits. I liked Jay's so much, I decided to make another one for his father for Hanukkah this year. Jed's has a traditional crew neck, which is more his style. Cascade is a good non-expensive wool - it comes in great colors and is widely available. It's not too scratchy and I was really pleased with the hand and the finished project.
PROJECT: Squooshy Cotty
PATTERN: Cotty by Irishgirlieknits (Ravel it!)
YARN: Squoosh Merino Cashmere Sport in Hibiscus
NEEDLES: US 3
A while back, I tried and failed to make a pair of socks for my mother-in-law. They're her measurements but they somehow turned out far too tight. Susan is notoriously cold, so I really wanted to try again. I thought this Squoosh colorway was perfect for her, and the yarn is nice and stretchy. I have fallen completely in love with sport-weight socks. They're fast and fulfilling! I adore this project, I almost hated to send them away but that's how you know you've got a good gift!
PROJECT: Hip to be Square
PATTERN: Turn a Square by Jared Flood (Ravel it!)
YARN: 1/2 skein Cascade 220 Heathers in Walnut Heather; 1/2 skein Noro Silk Garden in #245
NEEDLES: US 6, US 7
My brother is hard to knit for. He's in college, and rightfully picky. But I adore this hat pattern. It's so simple, but I love the finished effect. It features a cool jogless striping pattern that was a great trick to learn so your stripes all line up just so. Love it. And I think he loved it too, because he barely took it off after he opened it.
PROJECT: Dad's Sleeping Socks
PATTERN: improvised
YARN: Cascade 220 Heathers in Walnut Heather
NEEDLES: US 6
This was the only requested hand-knit this year, and it was also the easiest. Living in Maine, my dad likes sleeping in warm woolly socks. Done! I cast on 44 stitches, knit a 2x2 rib cuff for 8 rows, then knit down the tube. The heel flap is knit over 22 stitches in stockinette for 22 rows, slipping the first stitch of each row. Short row turned heel. Picked up 13 stitches on each side for the gusset and decreased every other row till I was back to 44 stitches. Knit down the foot, decreased 4 stitches per round every other row for the toe shaping till 16 stitches remained. Kitchener bind-off. Voila! Warm socks! Dad said he was sweating in his sleep - which I suppose is what he wanted?

PROJECT: Farmer's Market Cardigan
PATTERN: Farmer's Market Cardigan by Connie Chang Chinchio (Ravel it!)
YARN: Beaverslide Dry Goods Worsted Weight in Mountain Morning, 7 skeins
NEEDLES: US 7, 8
This sweater was the big kahuna of the year. I started it in August, and it took me till just a few days before Christmas to finish. This was obviously influenced by all the other things I was working on, but still. This pattern was a challenge for me. I'd never seamed a sweater before (i.e. knit it in pieces and sewn it together) and it had a lot of pieces. Plus, it has a lot of positive ease and I knit it as more of a jacket, so it was a big piece. Suffice to say that, although I love it, I'm glad it's done. I have to say that this yarn is DIVINE. I am so in love with it, I just ordered more for a sweater for me. I love the rustic tweediness!
So...that's what I've been up to! I made a couple of other little things in the meantime - a cowl, another pair of fingerless gloves - but this has been eating up most of my time. And now I'm knitting for ME! Which is incredible! And so relaxing!
Stay tuned for another upcoming post with all my spinning so far...