Look what the wise guys brought!

Here are the completed Red Scarves set to go in the mail this week. I will definitely do this KAL again. Go to the blog and check out the stories.

Scarves from top layer to bottom layer-
1. Patons Allure in Sapphire straight garter stitch on 10.5 needles
2. Cascade 220 in red/soft orange/soft yellow using Stephanie's rib pattern on 10.5 needles
3. Red Heart Aztec in green multi using Stephanie's rib pattern on 10.5 needles
4. Koigu and burgundy fingering alpaca held together, garter-knit lengthwise on #3 needles

And because it's Epiphany and because I loved this creche set literally to pieces and da boys are the only remaining figures found intact at my mom's, I present the 3 Wise Guys and their trusty, faceless steed.

"Finish What You Started" Month

I hereby declare January "Finish What You Started" Month. No button, no rules, no KAL. Just giving you all the freedom to step up to the needles and take it on for yourself. Set your own rules and guidelines. Just leave me a comment if you finish something so I can come over and sis-boom-ba(a) and pick up your mojo-vation!

Here's what I have planned to finish for January:

1. Kidsilk Fan and Feather Scarf
2. Red Scarf #4 (from the leftover Aztec)
3. 3rd Time's Mock T-neck
4. Re-knit the neckline for the Lullaby Tank
5. Make a decision on what to do with the OCD squares.

My last 2006 FO is McGinny's socks for one of my girlie friends here in Vermit.

Project Specs: My favorite sock pattern (surprised?) done in Lana Grossa Colortweed, color 1004 (turquoise blues and greens), on #2 Brittanys.

The best-laid plans

Plan #1 - My own pair of Urban Rustics. The yarn I originally picked (some light green homespun from VT Sheep and Wool) wasn't enough. Barely. Grrr. So I changed the plan by picking up some Red Heart Aztec (78% acrylic/13% mohair/9% poly). I thought "I'll make sure I have enough" and bought 3 skeins. I used just over 1. So the rest is going to be Red Scarf #4.

Here's a closeup of the buttons. I love the buttons (A JoAnn's find).

Plan #2 - Knit myself the perfect scarf. After 5 frogs, I gave up. The pattern just didn't work. Actually the pattern worked, it was the person knitting that had the problem. I needed a no-thought project. One of the people we visited during our time in PA asked for a black scarf. So while at AC Moore (home of the Aztec), I snagged some Patons Allure in Sapphire. It seemed to be a very dark blue with black. However in the bright sunlight, the blue appeared lighter. I loved the coloring, but I had a feeling the person who requested the scarf would not. So I finished the scarf for the 2007 Red Scarf project.

Project specs: 3 skeins of Patons Allure, color 04110 Sapphire on 10.5 Brittanys. Cast on 20 stitches and knit in garter until all gone.

Plan #3 - Finish the McGinny's socks. Well I'm about ready to start the heel flap on the second sock. Maybe by New Year's Day?

And I'm done..kinda

Crazy Landlady Socks using 2 skeins of Regia Crazy Color in #5404 on #2 Brittanys. Jude's tried them on with her Crocs - they fit and look very funkadelic. We have a winner! With the purple Koigu from the stash, I have enough to make my own pair with striped cuffs. But I don't know about the Crocs part...

The knitting bag is packed for the trip home tomorrow. I've got another pair of socks on the needles (a New Year's giftie for someone), the green VT Sheep and Wool yarn for my own pair of Rustics (wait til you see the cool buttons I've got!), and some rust brown silk alpaca I've been saving until the right pattern came along.

I'll see you all next weekend. Until then, have a wonderful Christmas! I hope Santa brings you all something for the stash!

Here on the West Coast of New England

Vermont is the only New England state without ocean-front property. I'm not complaining - I see enough flatlanders just by living on Lake Champlain. But in the scheme of things, I'm an ocean girl. The CatMan is all about the mountains; he did a preternaturally good job of locating a living arrangement for us on VT's largest body of water WITH amazing views of the Green Mountains AND the Adirondacks.

By The Shore is my new 2007 calendar which will hang by my desk space here at home (replacing my 2006 Tropical Islands.) The scarf is an 'off-the-radar' project; I saw the yarn last weekend and immediately thought of blue sky, bluer water, sand, and wet rock.

Project Specs: 4 skeins of JoAnn's Sensations Confetti, a wool boucle blend in color #601 (I hereby dub thee "Beachcomber"). Using #10 1/2 needles, cast on 10 stitches and garter stitch until it's all gone (over 6' worth, thankyouverymuch).

Happy Birthday!

My sister is a Christmas Baby - born a few days before the holiday, she came home on Christmas Day 40 years ago. My mother tells us that I was more than happy to play with her until she started crying, then I calmly informed my parents that I was done playing with my baby sister and could I have the real doll I'd asked Santa for? I never got the doll, but I still have the sister. We've had our share of ups and downs (I'm finally over finding my black angora sweater, stained and stuffed between the mattress and box spring. Really I am.) Sister expressed an interest in the Urban Rustics I knit for my niece (who I am convinced is probably the sister I should have had, but that's another story) so here's her pair.

Specs: Lion Brand Landscapes (50/50 wool/acrylic) in "Summer Fields". It took a smidge over 2 skeins (the remainder of the third skein made its way into the charity knit box) on 10 1/2 Brittanys. I think I like the look of the Rustics with this yarn moreover the Foliage I used for my niece's gloves.

I still have one more pair of Rustics to make (for me!) using some homespun from the VT Sheep and Wool. But that's going to have to wait until I'm done with rest of my holiday knitting!

1 FCO - hohoho!

That would be "Finished Christmas Object" in case the hohoho didn't give it away. Here's a pair of (k)Nucklewarmers for my workplace Secret Santa exchange. I think Nita will like them. Or maybe she'll just like the Ghiradelli chocolate wrapped up in the box with them.

Project specs: less than one skein of Regia Crazy Color yarn in a peach/blue/creamy toasty colorway done on #2 Brittanys, 2 x 2 rib.

And no, you aren't seeing things - this colorway is very similiar to this one. What can I say - it's my new favorite color combo!

Grammie

Irene Nell Holcomb Cryder
April 22, 1912 - December 5, 2006

The CatMan and I are headed to PA for my Grammie's funeral this weekend. Grammie Cryder was the woman I wanted to be when I grew up (still is!) so there is sadness in the Catty world right now.

I have packed the knitting bag with small, relatively brainless projects - the second CrazyLandLady sock, wristwarmers for my work's Secret Santa giftie, my sister's Urban Rustics. Hotels booked, Xanax consumed, litter changed, catsitter prepped.


I finished Mom's Koigu scarf just in time to take home.
Project specs: 2 skeins Koigu KPPPM dye code P210 on a #3 32" Addi.

I also whipped up some little beaded stitch markers for a co-worker's girlie friend who has just taken up knitting.

Ninjas and the face of a Sock

The helmet liners for Kimberly. The CatMan and I were going to model them, but really? Do you need to see two middle-aged pasty white Vermiters doing that? I think not. I'm writing up a little note to go with each of them, defuzzing them of white Persian Cinco hair, and mailing them off on Monday. I highly recommend this project if you are interested in a charity knit. The pattern was supa'easy and fast. Regardless of your political opinions (of which I have many), it is a lovely way to nuture the people who have signed on to represent this country. As I was knitting, I also thought the pattern would make a great Dulaan project.


Details: Helmet liners knit on #6 and #8 Brittany DPNS (with the facial ribbing picked up and knit on #6 Inox circular). Yarn: Encore (wool/acrylic blend)

And Christmas knitting has started. I love these socks! I love the random surprise of the striping. I love the colors. I love the vertical ribbing with the horizontal striping. I love the fact they will be perfect for my crazy (in a very good way) landlady and will go with many of her 50-bazilliony pairs of Crocs (seriously - a least one pair IN EVERY COLOR.) And you thought I was making up the crazy part.

Hi! I'm the sock face. Notice my great kitchener smile.

The Land of Misfit UFOs

3rd Time ribbed sweater and the second helmet liner.

Mom's Koigu Scarf and one CrazyLandLady Regia sock

(now frogged back to the ankle because I wasn't crazy about the fit).

Check it off the list

Halfway through my 6-day 'vacation' and the to-do items are dropping off like cluster flies after a hard frost (at least here in my achingly old farmhouse). 3 Dulaan projects and the 2 Red Scarf projects are blocked and folded away. 1 Helmet Liner is done, the other is 1/3 finished. The second skein of Mom's Koigu scarf is wound and ready. The storage cubby has been cleaned out and organized. Christmas gifts bought throughout the year are sorted in and boxes (not wrapped). The rest of the fall clothing has been put away and winter sweaters are at the ready. The down comforter is on the bed and 8 loads of laundry have been washed, dried and folded.

Not yet done: cleaning the apartment, paying bills, cleaning off my desk, scheduling my physical and mammo appointments, replying to my inbox, finishing the Christmas list, and starting the Christmas socks and gloves.

Of naps and knitting

How we spent Thanksgiving (notice the prominence of the Serengeti wrap)

There is much rejoicing in the CattyAbode - I'm off until next Wednesday! Unfortunately, even if I start knitting RIGHT NOW I won't finish everything on the to-do list. Even more unfortunate is the fact that knitting isn't the only thing on my to-do list.

Viva la Toque

Here's Frenchy's toque done in 2 x 2 ribbing. Since I'm not a personal fan of the look of decreased ribbing, I chose to make the red and yellow area at the top just stockinette. All the yarn used for this hat was a recycled gift from a friend - the gray yarn was actually two strands together wound into a ball. I diligently unwound it and rolled it into separate balls, but had NO IDEA it was two different colors of grey until I took this picture. To explain - the contrast is much more apparent in bright lighting (the flash of the camera), and I have old eyes and new glasses. Frenchy likes the subtleness of the color transition (it is subtle. really.) and is very happy with the hat.

In other news, I am looking forward to having 6 DAYS off starting Thursday. My list is getting long, but definite projects to finish include 3 Dulaan projects in various stages of doneness, my mom's Koigu scarf and two helmet liners for Kimberly. And then I can start my holiday knitting. And maybe finishing 1 x 3!

Bright lights, big city

And the surprise trip was tooooooo.......

Montreal!

After a few misleading clues from the CatMan, he finally revealed our destination. We had a lovely weekend in Montreal's Centreville. This is the view from our room in the Courtyard Marriott on Sherbrooke. We walked to the Museum and had a wonderful dinner at Cafe Bistro le Baroque (190 Sainte-Catherine Rue Ouest - right across the street from the Museum.) The weekend was cool and rainy, but perfect for some rest and regrouping. To top it all off, we stopped by IKEA on the way home. I think we always disappoint the Border Crossing when we declare so little after an IKEA run!

No baby yet

But we have a sweater!

Project specs: This pattern
One skein Sockotta cotton/superwash wool (color 5613) on #3 needles.

This was a quick knit and I like the result. If I knit it again, I'll probably use a different yarn (I'm a matchy-matchy girl).

In weekend news, the CatMan is whisking me away for a surprise getaway. I've got no details (did I mention how I hate surprises?), but a couple of projects will be going with me to keep us company. I just wish I knew where we were going (and if there will be yarn for sale!)

Stop the presses

This just in: I went to the happy place today to pick up some needles and walked out with this.

My mom's birthday was this past weekend and I found out she got a new winter coat in periwinkle. So being the loving, yet neglectful of the present-buying daughter I am, I thought I'd knit her a scarf as a late gift. (I know - really! A scarf! What a new and novel idea. I've never done THAT for Mom before!)

This swatch picture is labeled "KPPPM P523" and my actual dye lot is "KPPPM P210": however the colors match. If anything, the yarn is a bit brighter in person than online. Problem is I'm in love with this yarn. Deep, possessive love. The kind of love that may not endure separation. Or may cause me to go back and buy the remaining sale skeins.

The world's a little wonky...

...through new eyeglasses. It seems for the past two years, my right eye has been doing all the long distance looking, and my left eye has been doing all the close work. Well now, they're back in sync. And I'm having some problems. The closest I can relate it to is the sensation of only one eye looking through a lens and the other one is trying to catch up without any help. Disconcerting? Yes. Unnerving? Yes. Annoying? Definitely!

In knitting new: the Sockotta Cardi is done, blocked, buttons on. Seems the CatMan made off with the camera, so pic coming later today. Frenchy's toque came out a little smaller than I had planned, so it's going in the Dulaan bag and I'll start a new one tomorrow. I've also started a Dulaan kids' poncho.

1 x 3's front is finished. Now I just need to motivate on the back. Then the sleeves. Then the neck . You get the idea.

I'm all for a challenge!

Especially when it's a win-win like this one!

Ya want fries with that?

Red Scarf #2.

These Cascade 220 colors make me think of warm, comforting things like tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. The CatMan took one look at it and said, "Why are you knitting a McDonalds scarf?" Norma has already cautioned me against putting my response in print on the grounds it may incriminate me later.

I'm ticking off the projects with deadlines and this is the most pressing. Baby is due in less than one month with mom feeling like she could go at any time. I thought I could make this pattern in Sockotta and it would be successful. Now I'm having some doubts:

Notice the lack of matchy front stripe-age. And the big bars of colors on the sleeves. The pattern has a remarkable lack of guidance - at no point are you given the overall length of the garment or the sleeves. This is a slight problem for me since I don't have kids or know of anyone within a needle's throw who does. So I culled what information I could from other baby patterns I had on hand. I'm thinking once I finish, block this puppy, and sew on the buttons I will be much happier than I am right now.

And in preparation for upcoming projects, I wound off some more of the "alpaca cones that will not die." Note the green/blue cone is a full 2.2 kilos; the burgundy and black have had some major knitting applied against them. I think I'll be keeping company with these kids for a good long time.

Just in time if you're my knitting, not my car

Tonight marks the first snowfall in my neck of Vermit. Woohoo except for the fact I don't have good snow tires on my car. On the Suckfest scale (of 1-10) , the drive home rated 200.

My niece's Urban Rustics. Once I got the clue, they went very quickly. Some pattern mods on my part: I just cable-cast for the additional finger stitches instead of the crochet cast on, did a 3 needle bind off instead of the grafting, and did a finishing single-crochet all around the cuff opening with a loop for the button. My project specs: 1 skein Berroco Foliage on #10 1/2 Brittanys.

And here are the Socktober 2006 socks. Since I'll be wearing them with clogs, I don't mind how funky the fraternal twins look. And really, how much do I love the fact they were $2.00 and took me just a smidge over 2 weeks to finish (that's gotta be a record for me and sock knitting!)

This weekend I'm hoping to make headway on the 1 x 3rd Time ribbed sweater.

Fall is ap-pair-ain't

As Norma has mentioned, the colors aren't as vivid this year, but I'll take 'em. The Catman observed there so many wooly bears, the road seems more like an obstacle course. That can't bode well for the winter, can it?

The pairs not yet apparent, but getting there. One Urban Rustic (which fits and looks better on than in the pic) and one Soctoberfest sock.

One Red Scarf fini - Leftover Koigu and fingering weight alpaca knit lengthwise (450 stitches, thankyouverymuch)

And this weekend, the CattyAbode celebrated the end of summer by dressing the bed in its flannel sheets and turning on the heat. Miss Isabellie says, "It's about freaking time, people!"

Enter expletive here

Urban Rustic is kicking my butt. I think tonight might be the charm. Or the night I'm found impaled on my needles with a noose of Berroco Foliage wrapped around my neck. Let the betting pools open now.

Gotta get knitting!

Progress on the two-tone sock - I kinda like the striping!

I've decided to do the heels and toes in one of the solids.

Non-progress on the 1 x 3 ribbed sweater.

However, I did pick out red yarn (Cascade Heathers) for Red Scarf #2. I'll be knitting this along with the buttery yellow and soft orange from my stash.

Pretty, hmmm?

Some gorgeous Berroco Foliage to knit Urban Rustic for my niece's birthday in 16 (!!) days.


And to confirm I'm completely off my rocker, the co-worker's baby that I thought was due in December? Is due in a month. Ack. I was going to attempt the Sockotta baby cardigan using this:

Oooo, check this out!

My friends at Soapdish in Burlington just launched a new site.

There's still a little tweaking, so keep checking back.