#51 - NEW YEAR, NEW KNITS

Finishing Christmas knitting is so relieving and exciting for me. What to knit next? After very little contemplation, it has been decided - 2011 is the YEAR OF SELFISH KNITTING. It's less about knitting solely for myself (although that's definitely on the horizon), and more about knitting whatever I want, whenever I want. No deadlines, no obligations, just enjoyment. Who's joining me?

Ravel it!

I've started the year off on the right foot. My brother and sister-in-law got me some gorgeous yarn for the holidays, including Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk aran in a hunter green shade. It is soft and squishy and lovely, so I knitted myself a hat with it. I am a self-proclaimed hat junkie, and this one is a simple, slouchy, all-around hat that has been my go-to lately.

My other knitting plans for the new year? My two overall goals are to KNIT THE STASH and START TRYING SWEATERS. I think sweaters will be a good platform to get me trying new techniques and learning about garment construction. As for the stash knitting? My stockpile of yarn is becoming an embarrassment, so I figure that's reason enough.

I'm on the ground running - cast on 2 sweaters with stash yarn (Whaaat?!) this week, and another hat for myself with stash as well. What's on your needles at the moment?

Happy knitting!
xx

#45 - BRAMBLES

Ravel it!

I knitted the Brambles beret from the deep fall 2010 issue of Knitty, and oh how I loved making it! First of all, I used Angel's Kiss Alpaca/Merino worsted weight yarn, which was a birthday gift from lovely A. This yarn is just incredibly. Soft and squishy and bouncy and I could go on and on. The kettle dyeing makes for some wonderful, subtle variegation in shade. And it feels wonderful in your hands while knitting away.


As for the pattern, the Knitmore Girls always refer to working cables as potato chip knitting. And they're right. I found myself wanting to turn just one more cable, or to get to the next round, or to the next chart. Before you know it, you're finished and stretching this little baby over a dinner plate.

This pattern has already been suggested, but is so perfect for all of you #stashbustarmy knitters looking to use up a single skein of worsted weight yarn. I am a bit tight on tension, and used less than my 220yd skein for the medium size. And because it's such a breeze to knit, you'll feel like an ace when it's complete and will get to watch the compliments roll in - just don't let your head get too big to fit into your new, cozy beret.


And ps, take a look at my owl-o-lantern! Hope you had some fun festivities on All Hallows Eve, too.

#43 - STASH BUST ARMY

I've been knitting a lot of small projects as of late, trying to bust some of my impossibly growing stash (Yes, it's taking over the living room), along with lots of lovely Twitter knitters in the StashBustArmy. You may have already heard about it from @Voolenvine on the Yarngasm podcast or the Electric Sheep podcast from @hoxtonhandmade - we simply knit from yarn we already own and share projects and inspiration for busting stash! Nonetheless, I highly recommend that you search for #stashbustarmy on Twitter to see some brilliant knitters and crocheters using up some of that languishing yarn.

First off, I have a few balls of Noro Silk Garden Sock, despite the fact that I'm not typically a sock knitter (I really can't help myself around such lovely colors), so I knitted one up into a Lacy Baktus with the intention of keeping it for myself. But as my mom began to ogle it, I set my selfish tendencies aside and realized the colors look amazing on her - so look who got to keep it!


ps, Isn't my mom just gorgeous? She hates having her photograph taken, but my silliness behind the camera brought out some real smiles.

I also knit up a pair of Toasty fingerless mitts for myself after seeing the pair done up in Malabrigo by Nitters on Ravelry. I have a few balls of Amy Butler for Rowan Belle Organic in dk weight, and oh my goodness, I cannot recommend this yarn enough.


So soft and squishy, perfect for gloves or scarves that will be right against your skin. My only complaint is that the yarn can be a bit splitty, but I have a tendency to use tight gauge, so that is a likely culprit.


I knit these extra long above the thumb gusset to keep my fingers warmer than regular gauntlets. They're so cozy that I never want to take them off.

Now, I'm working intermittently on some sweaters, a lacey scarf, my first ever pair of socks, and the Peak's Island Hood from Ysolda Teague. Startitis got me. At least I'm busting some more of my stash along the way, right? :)

#27 - QUICK KNIT, QUICK POST

From Knitting, etc.

In-between schooling and working and being my general disorganized self, I quickly knitted up this fun, retro cotton hanging dish towel for one of my secret swappers. The colors aren't typical of me, but she loves anything bright and this is a perfect way to use up some stash yarn. I have some ideas for a few variations to start working up in some more muted tones to match my kitchen, but I love this one because it's so fun and colorful. What types of handmade goodies do you like to make for gifts?

#21 - BLOG PARTY SECRET STASH GIVEAWAY

The party's still going... and I wanted to give everyone a hint of the types of things that might end up in the Secret Stash Giveaway grab-bag! In honor of the Permission to Unwind blog party, simply leave a comment on any of my posts today to be entered in the contest. Don't forget to include your email address so I can contact you. Once a winner is selected at random, I'll chat with you about your crafting and your likes and dislikes to receive a package tailor-made for you. My crafting stash is so full of fun things, I'm sure I'll have something for everyone, whether it's yarn, fabric, notions, handmade goodies, and a little something special.

Those recipes are coming up, I promise! And wish the lovely Marie a happy day while you're at it!

#14 - HOLIDAY INSPIRATION

From Blogger Pictures

Talila Abraham's Dantela, 2004

via The Curated Object

The holiday season gets me thinking about ritual and how we move further and further away from it as a society by being so wrapped up in consumerism.  On this train of thought and in search of good reading material, I stumbled upon the exhibit Reinventing Ritual at The Jewish Museum in New York, running through February 7, 2010.  Ritual allows us to transcend our everyday activities and to provide them with meaning.  Some artists are seeking to revive our connection to ritual, and pieces like Talila Abraham's Dantela are of great inspiration to me.  Merging art, technology, and craft, Abraham has created a metalwork object that is reminiscent of traditional lace textiles.  An item to be used at the Passover seder, it connotes tradition, family, faith, and history.  I hope that my holiday activities can similarly reflect upon these ideas, and the process of hand-making gifts helps me to do just that.

From Knitting, etc.

From Knitting, etc.

With all of that in mind, I finally have some finished objects to share!  First off, the Building Blocks scarf from Interweave that I shared in the veeery early stages last time.  I knitted it in an admittedly small gauge, thinking I could figure things out as I went.  I made no alterations to the long scarf pattern, and after blocking, it was still much too short to actually be a scarf.  Not wanting to frog it, I decided to stitch it up into a loop, making a lovely double-wrapped cowl.  It's so soft and the colors look great, so I hope my friend doesn't notice my measuring error and thinks I intended to make it as such.  Also, please excuse these sort-of awful photos that illustrate how irritated I became with my camera's self-timer.

From Knitting, etc.

(yeah, PhotoBooth is the worst.)

From Knitting, etc.

I also knitted up the Cable and Bobble Headband, also from the Interweave Holiday Knits issue for another friend of mine.  She requested a headband-type item with big pom poms, so I'm pretty sure this delivers.  It was quick and really simple - made from Manos del Uruguay Wool Clasica in an afternoon's time - and I think the pom poms are a nice touch.  Here's hoping she agrees!

Now, I'm working on some fingerless gloves - the Spirogyra wristwarmers from Knitty, yet another gift.  I'm altering the pattern a bit so I can use up more of that giant pile of Turkish yarn in my stash.  Depending upon how these turn out, I may make another pair for my sister-in-law.  If not, Fetching is a reliable standby.  

I'm so very glad that the semester is wrapping up this week... because I have so much more knitting on my plate to complete by December 25.  5 hats, 2 pairs of socks, and a shawlette - if all goes according to plan.  Undoubtedly that will change, but I like to aim high - so we'll see what happens!

#13 - KNITTING IN SLOW MOTION

From Knitting, etc.

Everything is overwhelming me right now, so it makes sense that I start a knitting project that is simple and laid-back. Not to mention that it's the end of November, and I have yet to complete even one holiday gift. So, I've started up my first one - the Building Blocks Scarf from Interweave Holiday Knits.  I'm knitting this up in the gorgeous Nako yarn that a fine gentleman bought for me in Turkey this summer.  45 balls of this have been sitting in my stash, impatiently awaiting the right project, and I love this yarn in a dense garter stitch.  I think one of my lovely lady friends will like the saturated colors, the softness from the cashmere, and the slight sheen the bamboo brings.

Otherwise, my knitting progress is at a crawl, due to schoolwork and applications and exams and whatever else has landed on my plate until Wednesday.  Until then, I'll take a yarn break from time to time with this easy-to-knit scarf and hope I get some more projects on the needles soon!  What are your favorite handmade holiday projects?  I'm sure there are some amazing ideas out there that I've yet to see.

#12 - ETSY LUSTING

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade superhiprachel.etsy.com

hello friends.  in lieu of a post documenting some yarny progress, i wanted to share some of my favorite things for sale on etsy right now.  i could spend hours browsing the handspun yarns, unique jewelry, holiday knick-knacks, and fun accessories.  as always, i highly recommend etsy for holiday shopping - buy handmade, sustainable, thoughtful gifts for your friends and family!  and feel free to buy some of these lovely little items for me, wink.

there is some knitting in progress, including baby knits; holiday gifts; and a fun addition to the Jacques Cousteau hat, which was rather well received by its owner.  in the meantime, what are your current etsy faves?