Don't You Just Love Receiving HandKnit Gifts?

Thank you Vanessa for all the wonderful gifts. This year I received mittens with cables down the center to go with the Bronte scarf I received from her last year. Bronte is a Sharon Miller design and appears in Rowan Yarns A Yorkshire Fable.
I also received Schoharie Country Milk Soap with 2 little sheepies on it along with this great Knit Yourself a Merry Little Christmas mug and "Lazy Cable Socks" pattern with Stideaway Shetland in colorway Bracken 100% Merino Wool by Autumn House Farm's . I feel so spoiled.
While I'm at it I wanted to show off my glovittens Vanessa knit for me a few years ago. I like to keep these in the car. They are great for driving.

It's My Anniversary...

Today is my anniversary and my husband brought home beauuuuuuutiful roses.
DH is taking me out to an early dinner then it's off to pick up our GS who will be spending the weekend with us.Happy Holidays ...

Knit From Your Stash 2007

I added a button and this link to Knit From Your Stash 2007. I don't think I can do it but I don't want to discourage others. Wendy Johnson came up with the idea to knit exclusively from your stash in 2007. Click on the above link for details.

I finished the next accessory for my loom. In my previous post I mentioned I wanted to make the equivalent of the Schacht "Wolf Trap". Well here it is ... It's going to be so helpful. I now have a place to put my shuttles and bobbins and other tools needed while weaving right at my fingertips.

Now should I make the equivalent of the Schacht "High Castle Tray"?

Like My New Wheels...

My loom is very portable albeit on the heavy side. I saw a Baby Wolf that had wheels (Schacht calls it the Stroller) and decided I wanted to make them for my loom. They work beautifully. When you close the loom the cross bars collapse and the wheels engage. The wood piece with the wheel attached is notched out a bit to custom fit the loom frame. That makes the wheel attachment extra sturdy. One of my other hobbies is woodworking and it comes in handy in the most unexpected ways. It just saved me $85.

While visiting the Schacht website I saw other accessories. One Schacht calls the "High Castle Tray" for handy storage and the other is "Wolf Trap" for holding shuttles and bobbins while weaving. I bought the supplies to make the Wolf Trap today.

If I keep going I'll have my loom all pimped out before you know it.

Had a busy weekend. Only managed to knit one Squirrel and Oak mitten and ended up frogging it back because it was a little short for my long fingers. This is a fun and quick knit.

The other day I picked up yarn for my Squirrel and Oak Mittens as part of the Stranded: The Colorwork Challenge. The pattern called for Dale of Norway Hauk but my LYS didn't have it so I am using Heilo.I finished knitting another Piece-of-Cake hat for my 1-year old granddaughter. I have one more to knit. The hat can easily be knit in a day. (See free pattern below.)

Stranded: The Colorwork Challenge

When am I going to learn to stop reading blogs and signing up for KAL's. The answer is NEVER! I read about the Stranded: The Colorwork Challenge on Rebecca's blog and had to sign up. It started Dec. 1, 2006.

I liked the rules:
1. Knit something in stranded colorwork
2. Knit them starting December 1st.
3. Or later.
4. Just knit them.
5. You must finish them.
6. Or not. Your call.
7. Share your progress (or frustration. Or hints. Or tips) with us.

Now, to answer a few standed questions:

What are your projects for this knitalong?

I've decided to knit Adrian's pattern called Squirrel and Oak Mittens . I wanted to make them after I saw Vanessa's.
At the same time I hope to get back to knitting Marina.

Is this your first colorwork Project? No

If it isn't, what was your first, and has it survived the test of time?

My first fair isle was a vest from Sweaters From Camp called Northwest Sunset Vest. I haven't worn it yet. It can be viewed here.

Piece of Cake Hat

A friend gave me 3 balls of Dale of Norway's "Free Style" and I didn't know what to do with it so I decided to knit her a hat. I found a "free" pattern on Kids Knits that uses the same yarn. It takes 2 balls to make an infant/toddler's hat and 3 balls for an adolescent, teen, or adult hat. I changed the original pattern so I could knit it in the round. I changed the tie from a crocheted to an I-cord and instead of hemming the headband I knitted it.

Here are my instructions:

Terri’s Modified Piece-of-Cake Hat Using Dale of Norway “Freestyle” yarn

So cute, yet so simple! Great in solids, but you can add stripes; embroidery, fair isle or intarsia motifs...the possibilities are endless! Instructions are for sizes: infant, (toddler, adolescent, teen and adult).

Yarn: 2(2, 3, 3, 3) 50g balls of Dale of Norway’s washable worsted weight wool “Freestyle” or similar wool.

Needles: US size 6 or 7 (4 or 4.5 mm) circular knitting needles and a darning needle. Use size necessary to obtain gauge.

Cast on: 76(80, 84, 88, 92) sts. Join ends and work in st st for 18 rows or until work measures 3”. *K2tog, yo; rep from * across row until only 2 sts remain, k2tog. Work in st st and increase 1 st at edge on the next row. (holes are 2 rows high). You’re back to 76(80, 84, 88, 92) sts. Work in st st for 18 rows. With another circular needle of a smaller size put the stitches you cast on back on the needle. Start with a stitch that’s parallel to the stitch you’ve just ended with on Row 38 (18 rows + 2 rows + 18 rows). Fold the knitting in half, purl side to purl side. Lay the needles together and k2tog (1 st from each needle, i.e. one from each edge). Try to knit loosely so the hat won’t be too tight. The holes when folded in half will form a zigzag pattern. Continue knitting. Work in st st until piece measures 7 (7½ , 8, 8½, 9)” long. *K2tog, yo; rep from * across row until only 2 sts remain, k2tog. Work in st st until piece measures 9 (9½ , 10, 10½, 11)” long. Bind off all sts.

I-cord

Using single strand and a dpn, cast on 4 stitches. Knit these stitches and slide them to the opposite end of the dpn, without turning the needle. Your yarn will be on the left side of your work. Bring the yarn behind the 4 stitches (from left to right) and begin knitting at the right hand side of the needles. Knit all 4 stitches and without turning the needle, slide them to the opposite end. Continue working in I-cord until your cord is 16-inches long. Weave in the ends. Feed I-cord over and under through the eyelet row. Pull tight, tie in a knot and make a bow.

Finish

Just weave in any loose ends and you are done!

Here is my hat for my friend.