Take that, Harry Potter.

It's finished, it's finished! That dang Harry Potter scarf that has been giving me an ulcer is finally finished, tassels and all. I was thinking that this scarf would be a lot longer than it is. But, I've followed the pattern exactly and there is no chance that I will make it any longer.

Now on to more Christmas knittng....

Lace knitting?!?!

I've read online that people who try lace knitting for the first time are often frustrated and feel like it is learning to knit all over again. It can't be that hard, can it? These people have probably known how to knit for most of their lives and don't remember learning to knit. I'm still fresh, still learning, it won't be that hard for me.

Well, yesterday I cast on with my newly purchased knit picks yarn. No pattern in mind, I wanted to knit a few rows garter stitch and then stockinette stitch just to get the hang of it before I started in on a pattern. All my feelings of, 'it can't be that hard,' went out the window. This is hard. I have cast on and then ripping out different shawl patterns five times in hopes of finding a pattern that will work better than the previous one. Eventually I am going to have to suck it up and just pick one and come to terms with the fact that the finished product isn't going to look very nice.

To all you lace knitters out there: you are all crazy and I am envious of your skill and patience.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a great day planned. Today I am thankful that I am finally blocking the Harry Potter scarf and that winter is here in Chicago. We woke up and it was snowing.

We are going to Jim's Aunt's for dinner and will be bringing a peach pie with candied pecan topping and a loaf of multi-grain bread baked by yours truly. With some help from a very naughty cat named Tabitha.

Clean Slate by 2008

I just joined the Clean Slate by 2008 knit-a-long on Ravelry. Not sure if it is too late to be including officially in the knit-a-long but I thought it would be great motivation to finish up some UFOs. (All the links are to Ravelry)

UFO #1:

Harry Potter Scarf from atypically.knit: this is being knit for a friend to give her boyfriend for Christmas, Gryffindor of course. Current Progress: 75% done.

UFO #2:

Camo hat- a basic ribbed hat, this is an experiment with cheap camouflage yarn I found at Jo-Ann Fabrics. My family loves hunting, fishing, and other camo related things. Current progress: 40% done.

UFO #3:

Gloves for Mom-Christmas present for my Mom. She picked out the yarn so I'm not ruing a surprise here. Current progress: 50% done.

UFO #4:

Shawl collared tunic from Vogue- started this a month and a half ago, I'm afraid I am not going to like the way it is going to fit so I've put it aside. This will be my first full sweater project. Current progress: about 40% (I have to finish both sleeves and the shawl collar)

UFO #5:

Sheldon from Knitty.com-I love this pattern. All I have to finish is the legs, 4 little legs have taken me over three months! Current progress: 90%

UFO #6:

Mystery Christmas gift- Someone who may read this blog can't see what this is. The link sends you to Ravelry if any you are curious. (the recipient of course is not on Ravelry). Current progress: 85%

UFO #7:

Nautie from Knitty.com- don't really know why I haven't finished this. Just got bored I guess. This may be one that gets frogged. (I couldn't find this picture on my computer, it is on Ravelry) Current progress: 35%

UFO #8:

Elisa nest tote- Not for anyone in particular but will probably end up being a gift. Current progress: 10%

UFO #9:
Knucks for me- O-wool scratches my hands and it is annoying. I do like the finished product and need to suck it up and finish these before it gets unbearable cold outside. Current progress: 50% That is currently all of them. Only nine, that isn't too bad, right? I'm not sure what the rules are about casting on new projects. Do those have to be finished before New Year's as well? That could be what gets me into trouble. Ok, wish me luck!

hunting gloves

My dad goes deer hunting every year before Thanksgiving. This past summer he mentioned (in a way that you can only truly appreciate if you know my Dad) that he would like a pair of gloves with only the trigger finger missing. Well, happy hunting, Dad!Pattern: Cigar, from Knitty.com

Yarn: Knick Picks Swish Superwash in Lemongrass Heather, 2 skeins

Needles: US #5 Dpns.

Modifications: I made all the fingers to length except the right index finger. Also, Instead of doing two decrease rows at the end of the fingers and then pulling the yarn through the last six stitches to bind off, I did one decrease round then used kitchener stitch to bind off. I just thinks this looks nicer.

Hopefully they will fit him well. Jim put them on and they were just a little tight. My Dad has smaller hands than Jim so that seems like a good sign to me.
These were finished a few days ago but I didn't want to post this until he got the package in the mail. Hopefully my mom will take some pics of him wearing them for me.

Knucks

I had one glove syndrome with these for a couple months. Since it was starting to get cold, I just sat down and finished the other glove. Pattern: Knucks from Knitty.com

Yarn: Knit Picks, Swish Dk in Coal, 1.5 skeins

Needles: US #4 Dpns

I didn't do any modifications but somehow one of the gloves ended up a little longer than the other. Ooops! Also, I'm not crazy about this yarn, or the pattern for that matter. The yarn is too thin for these, and I like the cigar pattern from Knitty better. Jim likes his gloves really tight and the way the fingers are done on Knucks, holes are appearing at the knuckles. This is probably just my fault but the fingers on my Dad's gloves are just fine. I'm going to eventually buy more Swish Superwash and make a pair of fingerless gloves for Jim based on the Cigar pattern.

Jim's Garter Stitch Scarf

Jim's had his scarf just in time for cold weather.
Pattern: none, just garter stitch

Yarn: Malabrigo in chocolate, 2 skeins

Needles: US # 10

Although this was intended for Jim, I wear this scarf a lot now too. Of course, he gets first pick of the scarves in the morning if he wants it. It is only fair.