Pattern: A Hat Fit for a Boyfriend
For: Noel
Yarn: ~160 yds of Cascade 220 in Charcoal Gray
Needles: US 7 KP Options
Timeline: started 12.27.2008; finished 12.28.2008

Not much to say. Knit this continental, which really seems to be helping out my shoulder. Also, since I was worried about my gauge being a bit off, I went down to a size 7 instead of the suggested 8. A nice, fast knit and the decreases at the top look nice. I knit the main section to 5.75" instead of 5.5" and blocked it to be a bit longer, too. Otherwise, I knit it as written.

Update - 02.09.2007
I lengthened this and made it so it folds over. I don't have a picture of it, though.

Pattern: Last Hurrah Scarf
For: Me
Size: 7 1/2" x 54"
Yarn: 220 yds of my Stormy Skies Handspun
Needles: US 17 HUGE plastic needles
Timeline: started 12.25.2008; finished 12.27.2008

I had spun up this crazy mixed batt a while ago and the yarn was so squishy that I knew it would be great for a big, squishy scarf for me. I looked on Ravelry for a nice, simple pattern that would let me enjoy the yarn, and this pattern was perfect. I cast on using a cast-on I learned at a workshop with Susanna Hansson this year at Stitches Midwest; it's the spinners' version of the long-tail cast-on and it keeps the yarn from untwisting. I couldn't find it online anywhere, so I'll write out the directions below. The scarf is basically just one row repeated, and I simply knit until I ran out of yarn. I love it. I'm toying with the idea of blocking it a bit longer, but I have the feeling it will stretch out on its own.

Spinners' Version of the Long-Tail Cast-On
(Taken from Susanna Hansson's handout at her Great Beginnings workshop at Stitches Midwest 2008.)
"Adjust your hand position [from the typical long-tail cast-on position]. Instead of draping the yarn over your index finger and thumb, put your index finger between the two strands and the thumb "outside" the tail strand. Insert the thumb between the yarns from right to left. Now pick up the "inner" loop from the thumb and after that proceed as for the regular long-tail cast-on."
Just a note: I've found that I need to reposition my thumb at the beginning of every stitch I cast-on. I'm not sure if that's just me, but it's something to keep in mind as you use this cast-on.

Pattern: Rose Red
For: Karyn
Size: 22" head circumference
Yarn: ~205 yds Cascade 220 in White; ~8 yds Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky in Blue Blood Red for the trim
Needles: US 8 Knit Picks Options for everything, except US 6 Knit Picks Options for rows 55-72 and the nipple-like part on top, US 5 Knit Picks Options for the one row of red
Timeline: started 12.07.2008; finished 12.26.2008

I've knit this before, so nothing much to report here. I purposely knit the top part of the hat on bigger needles so that the lace would be more open. I also initially knit the cable part on the bottom on 4s, but it was way too tight. I ripped back and knit it on 6s and like that a lot better. I also added a single row in red and bound off in red, too, per request. I like how it looks. Now, I just need to send it off.

Pattern: Cozy Armchair Socks AKA The Miraculously Striping Socks
For: Baylie
Size: to fit women's 8 1/2
Yarn: ~160 yds Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted in Curacao
Needles: US 7 Knit Picks Options
Timeline: started 12.08.2008; finished 12.26.2008

I've knit this pattern a few times before, so I don't have much to say on the pattern itself. I do love the afterthought heel, though. The real miracle of this project was how wonderfully the Malabrigo striped. I was just going to knit and see what I got, but it came out just amazingly well. I was and am astounded. These are a gift, but I'd love to make myself a pair of these in Malabrigo at some point. They're so decadent.

I've been spinning a bit over the past few months and figured it was about time to talk about it. (All of the links go to Ravelry.) I have some fabulous chocolate brown Montadale on the wheel right now, and some dyed Cotswold locks on a spindle.

Stormy Skies

No earthly idea of what-all is in this one.
220 yds / 5.6 oz.
2-ply, bulky, 7 wpi
Timeline: started and finished 09.19.2008

This stuff is awesome. I purposely spun it up thickly and I'm dying to make a huge scarf for myself with it. Hopefully, I'll get to it soon.

Ocean Fingering

100% wool
265 yds / 4.6 oz.
2-ply, fingering, 14 wpi
Timeline: started 09.22.2008

Ocean DK

100% wool
166 yds / 3.1 oz.
2-ply, DK, 10 wpi
Timeline: finished 11.26.2008

These were both spun from the same big bump of fiber. Of course, I didn't pay attention and ended up spinning the second half more thickly. Oh, well. It spun up pretty well.

Neapolitan Blue-Faced Leiscester

Frabjous Fibers Hand Dyed Blue Faced Leiscester Top from The Fold
100% Blue-Faced Leiscester
412 yds / 8 oz.
singles, sport, 12 wpi
Timeline: started 11.26.2008; finished 12.08.2008

Adult Alpaca

!00% adult alpaca from my Yarn School (Spring 2008) goody bag
~61 yds / ~4.2 oz.
2-ply, super-bulky, 6 wpi
Timeline: started and finished 12.10.2008

This was my first time spinning alpaca. I did a bit of research on the spinning forums on Ravelry, and decided to spin it thickly, with very little twist, and from the fold. I was able to avoid it becoming wiry, and I like it spun up and plied way better than the raw fiber. I'm not sure how I feel about spinning adult alpaca; it was sort of like spinning hair.

Pattern: Unisex Gloves
From: One Skein
For: Baylie
Size: 7 1/2" hand circumference
Yarn: ~148 yds Noro Kureyon in 178
Needles: US 6 and 7 Knit Picks Options
Timeline: started 11.28.2008; finished 12.07.2008

These were a great knit, mostly due to the beauty that is Kureyon. The pattern is simple and straightforward, so I didn't run into any issues. The only change I made was to skip the tips of the fingers and use EZ's sewn bind off for everything. I didn't match up the colorways perfectly, but wanted them to be a bit similar. I think they are amazingly beautiful. I might have to make myself a pair.