This pair of mitts flew off the needles faster than I thought they would! After getting the hang of the pattern the first time, they were a cinch to make, because there was hardly any concentration required, except for the casting on and binding off stages (the blah blah style sure does make a beautiful edge, too). I didn't have any 3.00mm needles to make the size medium, so I just used 3.25mm and they turned out fine, I think. I have baby hands and small wrists, and they still fit ok on me. I hope that the recipient likes them! It's hard to part with yet another pair of these especially as my fingers get beyond chilly in my unheated apartment at night. Next up, a pair for myself!

I also started a fun new project that I had been thinking about for a while, for use this week on my snowboarding trip to Hokkaido. It's my own pattern so no more peeks until it's finished. I'm not quite sure what it will look like! It's not done yet, but after the ferry and plane ride there (and the waits) hopefully I'll have something new to keep my ears warm.

Posted by Molly at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Mason Dixon's Moderne Log Cabin Blanket
Silky Tweed, 19 skeins
Size 6 US circular needles
Started in September 2007 and finished by Christmas!

I started this blanket back in September and with a goal of one skein per week, I got the whole thing finished by Christmas in total secrecy. It was a huge accomplishment especially as I spend the majority of my weekend free time with my boyfriend who couldn't know what I was making. I worked on it faithfully every weeknight that I could, and I struggled to continue with and start on other new projects so that he wouldn't get suspicious. When he opened the present and promptly wrapped it around itself, all the stress and the secrecy paid off. But in the future I don't want to do anything like it again soon!

The happy recipient and his new knitted quilt.

Posted by Molly at 03:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

It's been a challenge trying to keep up FO output these past few months to throw my chronic snoop boyfriend off the trail of this major project. If you've been wondering why it is taking me so long to make my Endpaper Mitts or why I keep posting about dishcloths, here's the reason.

This Christmas, that sweet guy who learned to knit for me in secret a year ago will be in for a good one. This has been a hard secret to keep. But it won't be opened for another few hours, so don't tell!

If you celebrate, Merry Christmas!

Posted by Molly at 12:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This week, I suddenly got the idea in my head that I wanted to start a colorful crocheted blanket with some of the piles of yarn that I have left over from old projects. I have been pretty tired and burned out by the time I get home at night so I wanted something easy. I remembered seeing this pattern at Brainylady (and a million other places a while back), so I decided to give it a try. My first real crochet project! I started by chaining 210 stitches, making it just slightly wider than my couch. It is addictive and going so fast, but of course I realized that none of my leftovers were very colorful so I had to run out last night and stock up on a few more brights. Any guess which one of the above was a late addition? I hope this blanket doesn't take me as long to finish as the last one I made.

I have some guilt about starting this project because I am still working on things for Christmas that haven't been finished yet. Sigh. But who wouldn't love a New Year's gift or another kind of mid-winter surprise instead?

I made two more Noro scarves after deciding to keep the first one for me. Can you even tell where one scarf starts and the other one begins? These have been finished for a while but I am having trouble parting with them. They are 26 stitches across and knit on slightly larger needles, they are perfect for cold-ish weather and not too bulky under a coat.

Next up, a hideously bad shot of my finished endpaper mitts (just to show that I did actually finish both!).

How I love these mitts. I made size small and they are so snug and perfect for my small wrists and hands. Hopefully my friend has small hands like I remembered... or else she can return them. Another gift that is hard to part with, but I take some consolation in the fact that I have lots of extra yarn and should be able to make another pair for myself. As soon as I finish that second gift pair, which is only about 10% done.

That's all I've got for now! I am off to crochet on my mindless blanket and think about how I should be concentrating on the Endpaper Mitts. Life is full of hard decisions, isn't it? I'm not the only person with holiday knitting hanging over my head, am I?

Posted by Molly at 12:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

How have I already made 20 (plus)? It turns out that 20 dishcloths makes a rather large pile. When I finally had to drag out the space heater where they had been resting all this time, I found myself moving the pile around my apartment, not ready to pack them away in the closet to be forgotten. Perhaps it's time for me to start using some of these dishcloths? Or at least finding someone else who will... 2 went to Megan today, and it wasn't as hard as I thought to part with them.

The dishcloth-making has been slow since I discovered the Noro scarf (I'm on my third now), but once I get through the pile of supposedly "small" and "quick" Christmas gifts that I am trying to finish, I know I will always be able to fall back on the dishcloths. I've still got a lot of Sugar 'n Creme to get through, after all.

Posted by Molly at 10:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

A long time has passed since I gave up on my gorgeous Noro Cash Laine sweater, but it wasn't until just this weekend that I really commited and used the yarn for something else. I didn't even have to rip, but simply cast off at the top of the sleeves and made the two bell sleeves into two thick and cozy legwarmers. I love the stripiness of the yarn, and even though they are not symmetrical, I am sure that I will wear them with black tights and a skirt to work anyway. These were not made to be hidden under my jeans!

I finished these babies off as soon as I got home from my tiring proficiency test last Sunday, and have loved having all that study time turn back into free time this week. I thought it was a good week, but then today it turned to a GREAT week when I found that the perfect jeans that I have been coveting from Uniqlo are actually the perfect fit. When does that ever happen? Never, if you're me. I am going to be knitting a mile a minute with all this good energy tonight (yes, I am wearing the new purchase right now).

I also finished my second Noro Stripes scarf and even my Endpaper Mitts last night. More pictures soon, whenever I can stop dancing around in these jeans.

Posted by Molly at 05:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)