FO: Aran Scarf

I present to you the one and only gift that I knit this past Christmas. It was knit for my husband upon his request for a scarf.

Pattern: Cashmere Aran Scarf from Simple 1-2-3 Knitting
Yarn: Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in Soot
Needles: size US 7

I. Love. This. Scarf. I would steal it from my husband except for the fact that he is always wearing it. I first saw this blogged on Brooklyn Tweed and I fell in love with it so when my husband asked for a scarf for Christmas this had to be it. I am extremely proud of myself for managing to keep it a total secret until it was opened on Christmas morning - something that is very hard to do when you are knitting something for the person you live with. I only worked on it when he wasn't home and when I blocked it I slid it all the way under the middle of our bed - after clearing out all of the dust bunnies, of course. It was a total surprise.

I really enjoyed knitting with Shelter. It was unlike any yarn that I have knit with before. It was very sheepy - maybe like a handspun. It even smelled like a sheep. And I really like the flecks in it. It blocked out beautifully and it keeps its shape really well after wear. I definitely want to knit with it again. One thing that did bother me a little bit was that because it is a minimally processed wool, I had to keep pulling little bits of straw, hay, etc. out of it while I was knitting.

I am really happy that my husband loves this scarf. He wears it every day. It turned out perfectly.

FO: Marled Hat, Scarf, and Mitten Set

Ever since last year I have been wanting to knit a hat, scarf and mitten set for my son. As a knitter, I find that there are patterns for each separately but never as a collection and I wanted his things to match. So I decided to keep it simple and take basic patterns and knit them all in the same yarns. Back in October I took him to the yarn store so that he could pick out some yarn with me and we both decided on a very cool marled yarn with a bright orange as a contrast color. (Yes - he's pretty good about that as a 4 year old for about 2 minutes and then he likes to get into things like buttons and baskets of yarn balls and I am running around the yarn store after him and telling him not to touch anything while still trying to look at yarn for myself.)

Pattern: Watch Cap by Melinda Goodfellow of Yankee Knitter Designs

Pattern: 2 x 2 Rib Scarf by Me (no pattern needed)

Pattern: Mittens by Melinda Goodfellow of Yankee Knitter Designs - I customized this pattern by adding the stripes!
Notice how there is only one mitten - I did knit two of them. A couple of days after I finished these , my son lost both of them on the street outside of our apartment. I was pretty upset about this as you can imagine. A few days later I happened to find one of them on the sidewalk and I searched up and down the block for the other one without any luck. I still need to knit him another mitten - good thing I have extra yarn! I have been looking for those little clips that will attach the mittens to his coat but I cannot find them anywhere!

The yarn used for this set is Cascade 220 Wool in the colors Charcoal Twist and Tangerine Heather and all were knit on size US 7 needles. I love how these turned out. This is a nice, basic set that I think he can get at least a few years of wear before he grows out of them.

Happy Happy!

First off, Happy New Year to all and here's to looking to the bright horizon of 2011. I have been unplugged for the month of December (by choice), only popping into blogs here and there, but I have some serious catching up to do. Ever since having my son 4 years ago I try to make Christmastime special for him. I feel that there is so much to do at this time of year so I put aside any unnecessary distractions and focus on spending time with my family and include my son in any traditional holiday activities. I really think it is important for him to grow up appreciating the meaning and traditions behind the holiday and not just thinking about the material aspects of getting presents. We did have a good Christmas here and I am so excited to share a couple of presents that my husband gave to me.

I have been knitting for 5 years now and I have never invested in a swift and ball winder, preferring to spend any extra money on yarn, and complaining any time I had to roll up a ball of yarn by hand. I think my husband had heard me complain one too many times and got me these for Christmas:


And these make pretty little yarn cakes like this in 2 minutes flat:

Very happy indeed!

FO: Lacy Kerchief Scarf

I actually finished this scarf back in April and didn't get around to taking pictures of it until last week! It was spring and I was in the mood to knit something pretty. I am not really a shawl person and I was looking for more of a draped scarf and this fit the bill.

Pattern: Lacy Kerchief Scarf by Lisa Daehlin
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light in the color Admiral Mix
Needles: Size US 6

This is, by far, my most favorite thing I have knit. I love absolutely everything about it! It was so much fun to knit - it definitely kept my interest and was a great pattern. I really like how long it is so that it is a true scarf. I can wrap it around my neck in the winter to keep me warm or just drape it over my shoulders when the weather is warmer. The yarn is lovely also. The pattern called for a cotton yarn, but I wanted something that would drape a little bit better so I went with alpaca. It is hard to see from the pictures but the navy is mixed with tiny red and light blue hairs that give the color a whole other dimension.

I have worn this a lot since I finished it (months ago!). It is definitely a versatile, all-seasons scarf!

F.O.: Cassavetes

I don't know if you have seen the movie There Will Be Blood, but it is one of my husband's favorite movies. In the last scene of the movie, also known as "the milkshake scene", Daniel Day-Lewis is sporting a charcoal gray shawl collar cardigan - the classic grandpa sweater - and my husband quickly put in his order for me to knit one for him. I finally found a pattern for the perfect sweater for him.

Pattern: Cassavetes by Veronik Avery from the St-Denis Magazine Spring/Summer 2010
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Fez in Charcoal Gray
Needles: Size US 7

I really liked this pattern. It was amazingly detailed and professional from the dropped shoulder seams to the hemmed edges. There was a lot of finishing on this sweater but the end product is well worth it. I must admit that I cursed every buttonhole that I had to graft together (I hate grafting!!!!) but they do look very polished.


The yarn is gorgeous! I really loved knitting with Fez. It is very soft and very warm. I think my only complaint about it would be that it got a slight halo after I blocked it and it doesn't show off the stitches as well as before it was blocked - and I am hoping that it doesn't fuzz up anymore than it already has. I originally ordered the St-Denis Boreale, which is the yarn called for in the pattern, but the color was completely off so I needed to go in search for an alternative.

This was the first man-sweater that I knit and it actually didn't take me as long as I feared that it would. I was aiming to have this done for my husband's birthday in mid-October and I was done with the knitting by then but it was all the finishing that took me a bit longer to complete it. The only mod I made was that I added 4 inches to the length - yes, my husband is tall! I am really happy with the way this turned out and my husband really likes it.

Sunday Stroll

My son and I take a walk around town together almost every day (weather permitting) but today was such a totally beautiful sunny fall day that I thought I would take my camera along. I thought I would share some of my pictures with you. I hope you enjoy!

New Yarn + New Project

I can't believe how quickly October is passing by. I have been diligently working away on my husbands cardigan, which is almost finished. There's just an extraordinary amount of finishing involved with it and it is taking a little extra time.

This past weekend we took a little trip into NYC and of course I had to stop by Purl. This is the first time I have been to their new store location - it is a lot bigger than their last space. I just happened to nab Brooklyn Tweed's new yarn, Shelter. I got the last 3 charcoal gray skeins. And I was informed that I got lucky - the yarn is selling out quickly. I think it is destined to become a scarf for my husband.


Some very pretty Koigu just happened to catch the corner of my eye too. I couldn't resist the pretty coral/taupe/turquoise color combination.


I have been promising my son (since last year!) that I would knit him a scarf/hat/mitten set. So on Friday we visited the LYS to pick out some yarn together. We both decided on some marled Cascade 220 with a nice orange as a contrast color. He is finally at the age where he can occupy himself, so on the train ride down to the city I was able to start his scarf as he colored or played games on the iPad or just enjoyed the fall scenery of the Hudson River. I am loving the marled yarn!