Snowy Days, Warm Fires and Cozy Knitting

Just thought I'd write a quick little update... Everything is so beautiful and white outside, and the trees are laden with snow. It's very, very quiet as the snow is like a blanket, softening all noise. The dogs are loving the snow, and I am loving the knitting time. I have my iPod and a nice fire and am knitting Fetchings and Dashings and Socks. Wearing my Cashmerino Aran red sweater almost daily and the Noro Fletcher to go outside, so it's great. I have warm FairIsle socks and a nice cabled hat. My husband says I may as well knit some pants for myself and some big winter boots and I'll be "head to toe" in homemade knitting!! I am a little obsessed, but it's very addictive as all the knitters know...

Here is a photo of the Dashings I just made - didn't take long at all and I embroidered a little flower on each one with some leftover Koigu - just for fun - these will be a gift for my friend, and are so warm and beautiful. I hope she likes them.

Have also finished a pair of "Jaywalkers" socks by Grumperina and it was a lovely, easy pattern. Made for DH for Christmas out of Lornas Laces sport yarn from "The Loopy Ewe"http://theloopyewe.com - Sheri is great and has a wonderful selection of yarns. Check it out. I'm actually a Loopy Groupie now!! Have to address that... have ordered WAY too much beautiful yarn from her... heehee. These are the finished Jaywalkers in the "Baltic Sea" colourway. Really pretty - man colours - and a nice easy pattern. Will definitely make more of these.

And also finished some Fetchings in red Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran for my friend Cath - lovely and warm and great for her long drives to work this winter. Nice Christmas present for her and she says she loves them.

Now I'll have to make a pair for myself. Made them with the leftover yarn from the red Christmas cardigan. Which I love. Have been wearing that almost daily, it's so warm and cozy. Here are the Fetchings.

Am off to go knit some more ... Am working on a pair of socks with the Noro sock yarn. It's a bit tough as its rougher than most sock yarns I've used, but the colours are wonderful and fun. It apparently softens up quite a bit after a washing so we'll see. Am just happy to see the colour changes right now. Just doing Stephanie Yarn Harlot's simple sock pattern to see what happens.

The lovely red Fetchings...

Happy Knitting everyone!

TONS of Knitting Projects!

Happy New Year everyone!

So sorry it's been this long but have been knitting like mad... finished the Noro Fletcher jacket (which is cozy and warm although not really that attractive - but the Noro Iro is so warm and I wear it out walking the dogs with the hood) - my daughter laughs at me but really, it's comfy and I MADE IT MYSELF so I'm pleased with it. So I have a nice warm jacket and I didn't make Christmas knitted gifts this year. My sisters decided I should make myself a sweater when we all got together for Thanksgiving. What a concept! Make something for "ME"? hmmm... sounded good. So I bought some Gorgeous Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran yarn in bright red - and finished it before Christmas! It is from the Cabin Fever book, so it is a top down cardigan. I used the rounded collar and found some brass coloured buttons, and instead of the ribbing at the bottom, I used a lacy pattern repeat. So it is really feminine and pretty, and looks like Christmas and I wore it to the family gathering for Christmas! You can imagine how I was running around all night letting everyone know "I made this sweater!" and they were eventually teasing me, saying to each other - "Oh, did you hear Claire MADE her sweater?" and of course, they had heard. heehee.

Am working on some Jaywalker socks and am really pleased... for my hubby - he has tried them on while they're in progress and so far so good! They FIT! Almost done. It's a really good pattern. Easy to memorize, not too hard. Doing top down but I think I will try a toe up next sock.

This is Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn - from MY FAVOURITE YARN SHOP called "The Loopy Ewe" at http://www.theloopyewe.com ! If you go there, be prepared to spend some money on fabulous yarn - Sheri will take good care of you. She is really really doing a good business there and there is a huge selection of yarn, (mostly sock yarn but lots of others too) with some great ideas on the website - blog is good, patterns are good, yarn selection, discount for frequent buyers, sock club, etc. It's really a well run, well organized lovely site and she is the nicest lady! Just be prepared... it's nicer than you think and hard to resist those yarns.

I've been listening to knitting podcasts while I knit. There are a lot of them out there now. Go to http://www.itunes.com and check out the iTunes Search button, putting "knit" or "knitting" into the button space. There will be quite a few podcasts to download. My faves are "Limenviolet", "Stash&Burn" and "It's a Purl Man". They are all really well done and very entertaining and informative. Makes you feel like you're in a room full of other knitters as you sit quietly at home. I just love them.

So I wish you all a very Happy New Year and I will keep up with the blogging as best I can but of course, it takes some effort to do this and knitting is keeping me busy.