It's taking forever!

It's Wednesday - time for another 'Yarn Along with Ginny. Christmas knitting is getting rather boring!!! There's nothing worse than thinking you HAVE to knit something (tell me I'm not the only one who thinks that). In order to make sure I have a little something knit for all of my family back in England, I've resorted to making hats for the last few people on my list (mainly the guys!). I think I only have about 5 to go. 

Other than hats, I have Wray on the needles for me, designed by the lovely Lily Kate . . . . 

 It's taking forever (in the title) is pertaining to the 1x1 rib around the yoke! It was only for 31 rows, but with over 200 stitches on the needles, it did indeed feel like it was taking me forever. Especially as I wasn't picking it up very often. But I love this pretty cardigan, knit in lace and I think it will all be worth it in the end ;-)

I'm hoping this will be my first FO of 2012 - the year I knit for ME (even though I cast on in 2011)! Along with the knitting, I am back to reading Harry Potter - after a short interval where I read 'Look Again' for book club this month. I'm reading the 4th book and can't wait to finish it, just so I can watch the movie. I borrowed the book from my neighbor and it doesn't have a dust jacket, hence the reason for the photo courtesy of Amazon.

Also joining in with WIP Wednesday 

ADVENTure Update

So, last Sunday marked the 3 month mark to Christmas - Sept 25th.  Only 2 more updates after this one! I didn't think I had much to show this month for my ADVENTure update, but I have 3 hats that I haven't shown pictures of yet. I enjoyed knitting the 'Who' owl hat pattern for my nephew's little boy, so I decided to stick with that for his little girl too . . .  I'm also working on a blue one for his other little boy ;-)

Also got a ribbed hat finished this week . . .  this is the 'fit for a boyfriend' hat pattern on Ravelry.

It knit up nicely with Hobby Lobby's I love this Wool, but knitting rib is so boring. I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere for the first couple of inches, but then it seemed to go quicker and before I knew it I was decreasing. This was originally intended for one of my brothers or brother-in-law but it's a bit small. It fit's Kristen perfectly so I will gift it to my niece's boy who is 10 yrs also, and next time I knit one for an adult I will add an extra inch before starting to decrease. 

Finally, another hat like the one I did last month but this time in grey. . .

Excuse the terrible photos! I was taking them quickly so I could write up a post. I'm hoping after the holidays I might actually get some pictures with the recipients modeling them ;-)

86 Days to Christmas! Have you started your Gift Knitting yet?

Yarn Along - 9/28

I was going to post my ADVENTure update today, but I thought I'd join in with Ginny's Yarn Along first, and post my other update later this week (cos I haven't got much to share for it!). Just like Ginny and many others who join in with 'Yarn Along' two of my favorite things is reading and knitting. I do a little of both just about every day. For the past few weeks I've been reading the Harry Potter books. I only read the first one many years ago, even though we have the first 4 books sitting on our shelves, and I've seen 3 of the movies. I started book 2 a couple of months ago, finished it in about 3 days, then watched the movie again. The following week I read book 3 and watched the third movie again with my hubby and daughter (she's 10). Now I'm reading the 4th book which is over 700 pages long and it's not going as fast. 

As well as that I'm also reading a book for book club this month called Look Again by Lisa Scottoline. It's about a woman who adopts a baby boy and later finds out he was actually kidnapped from his parents and then abandoned by the kidnappers because he had a bad heart. Bit of a mystery/suspense book and a pretty quick read. It's an interesting story line and one that will make for a good discussion at the meeting too. The woman has to make the heart breaking decision to either ignore what she finally realizes and keep the child, or share what she knows, knowing she will have to give up her son to the rightful parents. 

On the needles next to the book is another Christmas Gift hat (fit for a boyfriend!)  Knit with Hobby Lobby's I love this Wool, in black. I actually started knitting Jared Flood's Koolhaas last week but made a mistake and with black! oh my, I just couldn't do it - I hate knitting with black, so I pulled it out and started this simple beanie. I really want to do Koolhaas, but I think I'll try it with a grey yarn next time. 

Berets

I like knitting berets, so I think I'll have to start wearing them! I took (at least I tried to) some modeled shots of the Rustling Leaves Beret I just finished. Loved this pattern and wouldn't mind knitting it in a lovely Fall 'orangey' color sometime.  I love Alana's Autumn Vines beret too, so I think I'd want to knit that first before I do another Rustling Leaves. Anyway, here's some photos (the best I could do on my own, with bright sunshine and a little too much breeze for my hair!)

 

 Looking a little too serious I think!

Trying to keep my hair from flying all over!

  

Yesterday I knit another beret at the request of a friend :-) (you know who you are ;-) That's all I'll say about this one, as it may be gifted to someone from her. She wanted a simple chunky beret, so I used big needles and cast on 53sts. Increased every other stitch after the ribbing, knit 5inches more and then started decreasing.

The yarn was Sensations Angel Hair from JoAnn's Fabrics. It turned our rather nice I think, and is super warm. Might have to knit me a couple of these too ;-)

A Little 'ME' Treat!

Next month is my birthday, so I decided to treat myself and pre-order the lovely Coastal Knits book by Alana and Hannah.  

 With the pre-order you got two lovely patterns, incase you wanted to get started on something before the book arrives ;-) I decided to cast on for the pretty Rustling Leaves Beret because I had some sock yarn in stash that I could use.

I used Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn in a soft sage green. You can see my Ravelry page HERE. I still need to take some nice modeled shots this week.  I'm not usually a hat person, but I've decided I'm going to be more 'stylish' this Fall/Winter, so wearing a hat when I go out is a good start I think (of course I'll be wearing more than just the hat, you understand!!!).

 blocking on a dinner plate!

The color looks much darker than it actually is, in the second picture, because the flash went off. It's really more like the top photo, a soft sage green.  I've just cast on for another hat for a Christmas Gift. I'm finally trying out the wonderful 'Koolhaas' by Jared Flood. I've wanted to knit this hat for ages. I'll share pics when I'm done - it's going to be a pressie for my brother. And I can mention that, cos I know he doesn't read this blog ;-)

Time for ADVENTure!

Wow, I'm actually on time this month for an update on my ADVENTure knitting. If you don't know what I'm talking about, head over to Krysten's blog to read about it. I started way back in January with her, having the intention of knitting a lot of my Christmas gifts this year. As usual during the summer I get a little off track, but right now, I have to admit I'm doing pretty good.

Since I last posted I finished Alana's lovely Cream and Sugar Cowl. It's so hard getting good photos though!

I also knit the Shawl Collared Cowl after buying it in her wonderful sale she had earlier this month. This still needs blocking and buttons adding to it. I used Malabrigo Merino Worsted that I had in stash.

And I also got a cute Owl hat knit. The pattern is actually called OWL and you can find it on Ravelry, HERE.

This still needs buttons for the eyes, not sure if I'll just put two buttons on or put the eyes on all the owls? I like the owl hat, it's rather cute and a fast knit. I may knit a couple more for my nephew's little boys.

Did I mention 2012 is gonna be a 'ME' year? I'm dying to cast on for something that I actually want - is that selfish of me?

I 'heart' Alana :-)

Alana Dakos! I just LOVE her patterns and her blog 'Never Not Knitting'. Does she have a group on Raverly? If not, she should have ;-) If I knew how to start one I would! I want to knit everything she designs. 

This week Alana has had a Fall Pattern Sale featuring one of her gorgeous patterns every day. Just the other week I bought the Cream and Sugar Cowl Pattern. It was the first one on sale this past week which of course I didn't need. Day two was the beautiful Autumn Vines Beret, but I missed it!!!! Not to worry, Alana has kindly extended her pattern sale to Monday (tomorrow) and will have a 'Oops I Missed It Sale' from between 4pm - 7pm pacific standard time.  I plan on getting the beret pattern tomorrow. I also bought the lovely Cosette wrap pattern this week and the Shawl Collard Cowl.

I've already finished the Cream and Sugar cowl and blocked it. I just haven't taken a final photo yet. I used Knit Picks Imagination sock yarn that I had in stash. I loved knitting this, and hope to add it to my queue to knit one for myself soon.  Speaking of my queue (on Ravelry of course) I've started adding things that I want to knit for ME! I think I tried this last year, but ended up knitting gifts again!  2012 is going to be a 'ME' year, definitely this time.  I think most of Alana's patterns will be on there for myself ;-) 

I cast on for the Shawl Collard Cowl as soon as I got the pattern the other day, using some Malabrigo Merino Worsted - again from stash! Not having an LYS I have to use stash or wait til I order the yarn online. This one will be a Christmas gift this year, so I plan on getting more yarn that I like and can hopefully knit one for myself for this winter.

Still got tons to knit for Christmas. It would help if I had all the patterns picked out that I want to make, but I don't. I'm just thinking them up as I go along. Mainly hats for the kiddos (cos they're quick), cowls and scarves for the girlies and I don't have a clue what I will do the menfolk!  So much to knit . . . . . so little time!