Pattern: Lillehammer by Jacquelynn Vance-Kuss    Raveled Here
Yarn: Cleckheaton Country 8 Ply 2 skeins – Blue & Grey plus scraps of Lorna’s Laces Worsted from this project.
Needles: US 5 (3.75mm) Susan Bates Circular

Mods: I added about a half inch to the red strip to lengthen the hat to specification.

Facts to Remember: To trust your measurements
Things I love: My husband’s buddy when he slipped his hat on after Christmas and it fit perfectly.  Just in time for the snowy weather.  I think he might just live in that hat.

Pattern: Mingus sock by Cookie A Raveled Here
Yarn: Malabrigo sock yarn 1 skein – test color most similar to Indiecita
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm) Knitpicks Harmony Fixed Circular

Mods: None

Facts to Remember:  That I should be over ambitious when moderating a group to also be able to finish on time.  These were my ravelympics project and they were cast off 6 days late, because I was so busy with moderator duties and handing out awards.
Things I love:  The marriage of color and pattern.  They are my watery death.

Lexi’s Halloween Costume. The belt is ultra reflective.

While in Hawaii, I knew I would not see my parents again until after Christmas so I presented them with their Christmas gifts plus sent Care Bears Birthday gift off as a boarded the plane.

Pattern: A Hat fit for a Boyfriend by Stephanie Nicole Raveled Here
Gifted to: My Dad (I forgot to photograph him in it – it was a bit hot in Hawaii for him to model)
Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted Solid in special colorway Texas A&M – 1/2 skein
Needles: US 8 (5.0mm) Knitpicks Harmony Interchangeable Needles – magic looped

Mods:  None because this pattern rocks!!
Facts to Remember: That sometimes its fun to just jump in without a gauge swatch and that reds bleed like no other color.  Don’t worry Dad, I made sure it would no longer bleed before I gave it to you.
Things I Love:  My Dad’s Christmas Present in his school colors. I have never knit him anything before so I hoped he would like it, which he did. When I was in TX in April and saw his schools colors, I knew I had to get it for him since I am tired of buying him books about finance, health or star trek.

Pattern: Custom toe-up with gusset US 10 women’s shoes Raveled Here
Gifted to: Care Bear my BFF for her birthday/Halloween
Yarn: Spunky Eclectic Super DK in Candy Corn – 1 entire skein
Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) & US 2 (3.0 mm) Knitpicks Harmony Fixed Circular

Mods: The whole thing is a mod, but I like a squishy thick sole but it was pooling like nothing else so I switched up the needles when I got to the heel to encourage some barber pole action.
Facts to Remember: To write down, your total foot stitch count so that the second sock looks the same.
Things I Love:  That Care Bear loved her socks and has already worn them twice.  She has now dubbed me her sock knitter for life, which is fine because she will sew me project bags if asked nicely.

Pattern: Custom toe-up short row heel US 6 1/2 Narrow Women’s Shoe Raveled Here
Gifted to: My mom who is modeling them above
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden Sock in Colorway 258
Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) Knitpicks Harmony Fixed Circular

Mods:  I started these for me but ended up giving them to my mom since my original present would not leave the needles.
Facts to Remember: That spit felting works wonders and that noro has knots.  This skein had 2.  That’s why one sock looks like its knit from cuff to toe and the other toe to cuff based on the color directions.
Things I Love:  I actually like the pink and purple in amongst the other colors even though they aren’t my fav colors.  I also adore how the fabric knit up and the color progression.  I originally was going to cut out the pink and purples but the color transitions were so nice plus my mom’s not against these colors.

Pattern: Urchin by Ysolda Teague M size Raveled Here
Yarn: Noro Transitions (discontinued) 3/4th of a skein in color 2
Needles: US 11 Brittany DPNs

Mods: None.

Facts to Remember: Just because you get gauge and it will fit on your head does not mean that it will look good. I should have followed the size I made for the cast on and used the wedge instructions for the next larger hat so that I would have a floppier more me hat. Oh well Bub just might get another hat.

Things I love: That this hat resembles the Puget Sound on a foggy morning. See if you can imagine it in the picture below. This also crossed something off my summer list, which makes 6 items done out of 14.

Pattern: A Better Bucket (PDF) by Amy Swenson Raveled here
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted 92 grams (199 yards) Burgundy
Needles: US 8 (5.0mm) Harmony Interchangeable
Mods: Used solaris’ mod for a larger brim and hat so that I could fit all my hair under it. I also knit the crown an inch shorter because it looked a bit too long.
Facts to remember: This is a super simple hat. I tried the provisional cast on to another needle instead of waste yarn, but the cable kept getting in the way. Also I waited a whole week to sew on the ribbon and button. I should realize that avoiding finishing can take longer than the finishing.
Things I Love: Everything. The yarn is cozy, the flair is just right, the button allows me to put any flower in it or leave it empty, the color looks great on me.

Close-up of the button with flower

Ohhh look another plain black hat for Matt

Pattern: A Hat Fit for a Boyfriend by Stephanie Nicole Raveled here
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted 53 grams (115 yards) Black
Needles: US 7 (4.5mm) Harmony Interchangeable
Mods: I knit this exactly like the previous hat except to the full outer length since the first hat was a little bit short.
Facts to remember: That a guys head is longer than you think
Things I Love: The yarn of course.
Reaction of the recipient: Well hopefully just as good as the first hat went over.

Argh me matey

Looking all Airy

Pattern: Koolhaas by Jared Flood Raveled here
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted 64 grams (139 yards) Tortuga
Needles: US 8 (5.0mm) Harmony Interchangeable
Mods: I knit the man’s size on US 8s and the pattern was exactly the measurements of the pattern.
Facts to remember: I need to remember that there can be hazards in a photo shoot. Click on the final photo for all the details.
Things I Love: I loved this so much more than the glazed carrot Koolhaas (scroll down)
Reaction of the recipient: We will see when he gets it.

Click to find out why this is here

These socks have progressed since last week simply because they were plan stockinette stitch and that was something easy to pick up and put down when I had the chance.

This is the last of my popcorn knits. I really wanted to work on it over the weekend but it was so hot. Malabrigo might be yummy and all but it feels yucky in 90 degree temps without air conditioning. I hope to have this finished soon. I should since we have alot of driving this weekend when we go to visit our friend in Bend.

Lastly I have gathered my yarn for the Labyrinth pattern which is one of the Sexy Knitters Club patterns this time around. I am so excited. We have moved to ravelry and I was asked to be an administrator. It is super exciting but right now in the transition period as we set up the new group site there is a bit more to be done.

Pattern: A Hat fit for a Boyfriend by Stephanie Nicole Raveled here
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted 1/2 skein (100g/216 yds) in Black. (100% merino wool)
Needles: US 7 (4.5mm) Knitpick’s Interchangeables.

Mods: This pattern was super easy it was so hard to change anything. The pattern as written finishes at the tip of the ears. In it there is a suggested mod if the ears are to be covered. It said to knit for an extra inch. Since the recipient has almost the same size head as mine, I felt that it only needed an extra 1/2″ to be long enough.

Facts to remember: Malabrigo hats are so cozy you don’t want to give them to the owners because they are just so perfect.

Things I Love: What is there not to love about malabrigo and a simple but perfect hat pattern?

Reaction of the recipient: He loved it even though I should have gone for the whole extra 1″ to the pattern. When he came by yesterday, he was wearing it. Just so you know this hat maybe for a boyfriend but it was knit for a friend. Actually the friend who worked up my website.

Aren’t these decreases great?

Since I finished wicked on Saturday, I needed something to work on Easter while visiting friends. I finished up the first endpaper mitts pretty quickly. I thought I had a lot further to go on this one. I was amazed to work on it so little and finish up one mitt. I might have gotten further that day, but I forgot that Ham gives me severe migraines and had some for Easter dinner.

Since I still had a little over 1 skein of malabrigo left from knitting my wicked sweater, I decided to make something else for Malabrigo March. I finally decided on A Better Bucket since I really like to wear them all year round. This should be a yummy snuggly hat that keeps the rain out of my face.

The other little start there is my swap sock. I had to rip it out at the beginning of March for the second time. I really did not want to think about it for a while so I placed it in time out. Today I decided that I needed to get it done since the swap ends at the end of the month. My pal gave me a bit more time since this thing was frustrating me too much after knitting it twice.

I have been working on getting my next pattern out to my test knitters so these pitiful attempts are all I have to show you. Once next month starts I will be knitting my final sample of Alisa (rav link), the pattern I will be releasing at the end of the month. You will get to see the pattern as it develops. I will be donating the first couple of months of proceeds to ravelry and then later a portion of the proceeds will go to ravelry.

In order of completion,

Pattern: Firebrick mittens (ravelry link)
Yarn: Mountain Colors 4/8’s Wool Colorway: Ruby River 1/2 skein (100% wool) and Dale of Norway/Dalegarn Baby Ull color: Black 1/2 skein (100% superwash wool)
Needles: US 2 1/2 (3.00mm) Knitpicks Harmony Fixed Circular
Mods: Well since I created these, they are a mod. I am in love with my mittens and sad that I will be sending them on tomorrow morning to their mitten swap partner. I do know that I will soon have another pair for myself since I think I have enough left to make myself a pair with the leftovers. Once I got this pattern hammered out, it took me a little less than a week, but this was my fastest design time from start to finish (a week and a half). I am finishing up the pattern and sending off the stuff to the test knitters to look over and work on. One of them has to finish up another test knit for me so we will wait to see this pattern in full production but I am thinking it will be for sale in June.

Click the pic to read the importance of the flowers

Pattern: Koolhaas Hat (project page) by Jared Flood
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted Colorway: Glazed Carrot 1/2 skein (100% HandspuMerino)
Needles: US 6 Knitpicks Harmony Interchangeables Magic Looped
Mods: None. I did knit this in the large. In the picture, it is a bit short but I blocked it and today it was the perfect fit. I love the yarn before blocking but fell in love after blocking.

I leave you with the Bun approving the Carrots.

Wrangling a bunny is not as easy as you would think. He was more interested in the unfamiliar surroundings than his favorite snack. Silly Wrabbit.

I have been craving glazed carrots recently. I am not really a fan of cooked carrots but it is project spectrum right now and thought I would try to appease the masses. So, I gathered the supplies – honey and carrots. I started to mix up a batch of yarny goodness, …………..

I have not started but I really wanted a new hat and have really fallen for all the hats made from Malabrigo that I have seen.

Next up on the block of food is the lovely but fishy pomatomus, it really needed a nice classy wine to be a stand up entry.

This week things worked out a bit better for me. I whipped through the leg and am one repeat from the start of the toe. I really love this yarn. It is a really nice and I want to make myself a pair of socks from it.

Lastly I have been laboring away at this exquisite Christmas present.

I just wish it would go a bit faster. I am definitely making progress. I think if I keep knitting it while I watch TV, I will be finished sooner than later.

That’s all the knits for now. I have been creating designs this week. Lots of creating more details and swatching. I am really falling in love with some of these designs.