Christmas Knits

The Christmas knitting for the niece and nephews this year was epic.  And by epic, I mean that it was colorwork and I modified every pattern I used, including having Paula make me a chart for those fish mittens so that they’re reversible.   The little buggers have grown this year too, which means their stuff is now in the medium-kid size (sniff, wasn’t I making baby stuff for Danny and Olivia, like yesterday?).  And I started it all after Thanksgiving.  That aside, it was all done and blocked late the night before Christmas Eve, 15 hours ahead of time.  I was quite proud of myself.

To say they were well received is an understatement.  Chris, recipient of the lighter blue hat and mittens, shrieked with excitement over what Auntie Kris “sewed” for him.  Huge smiles all around.  I’ve already seen pics of the kiddos wearing them in the snow on the days after Christmas, playing with sleds and snow toys that I gave them too.  What more could any knitter want than well worn knits on happy kids?

The patterns are all from Mission Falls Just Kidding.  Each modified slightly, to add the pattern on both sides (no intarsia in last minute Christmas knitting for me, thanks) and do them in the round.  Paula was a genius with that mitten chart for the fish – thanks sweetie!  The yarns are Valley Yarns Superwash (fish stuff) and Cascade 220 Superwash (Olivia’s hat and mitts). 

On Christmas morning, I finished up one long on hold project:

My Multnomah shawl, in handspun BFL/silk from Corgi Hill.  Made a few mods to this too, thinking I had extra yarn – I expanded the garter stitch section, which made for a wider border.  Due to my miscalculation on how much yardage that would eat up, I had exactly enough yarn for 8 feather and fan repeats instead of 10.  Love it anyway – can’t wait to wear it on a dreary winter day. 

Now that its all finished, I’ve plunged full on into my traditional post-Christmas and New Year’s round of new projects.  Since Christmas day, I’ve started my Bedford pullover in BT Shelter and a pair of simple socks in Flock Sock from Foxfire Farm.  Still to cast on – the Downton Abbey Mystery KAL project that Jimmy Beans is doing and a scarf for the boyfriend.  Startitis is back with a vengeance, with way too many easy excuses for new projects