Winter Knitting

The past few knitting projects, sigh.  They aren't bad, per say, just not exactly what I expected. 

First up, I made my sister this little key-hole scarf.  I like it alot, but she is a much better knitter than I ever will be and with the chunky yarn and plain knitting - you can see uneven-ness.  Still, it is nice and soft and I do like the design.  I might try to make it again some day, but add some sort of pattern to it.  This is Debbie Bliss Chunk Cashmerino.

Then, I made Omi a little knit hat and matching scarf.  You might remember that Omi gave me her knitting needles so I thought I would make her a little thank-you gift.  I used Baby Alpaca Brush yarn from Plymouth  yarn and it is nice a soft, but I think a bit itchy around the neck when I tried out the scarf, plus it tends to shed.  Also - the scarf is a bit smaller than I would have liked, but I was out of yarn.  Still - it is wearable - either the way I have it in the photo or the other way with a scarf pin of some sort.  I have no pin so just tied it in the back for the photo.  The hat makes up a bit on the small size with the yarn I used, but Omi has a small head so that is perfect.  I think she will like the set.

My winter hat was "lost" so I had to make another one.  I used a stiffer yarn - and the fit just isn't the same.   When I first put it on - I like it.  But - it works itself up into a peak while I am wearing it.  Sigh.  Like I said - just not the same fit as my lost softer hat.  If any of you have a link to a pattern for a winter hat that has a nice rounded top - please do share!  I like a hat that I can pull down over my ears - this new style of hat that just barely covers your ears is not for me on a cold, winter day!  My Nana used to knit really nice rounded hats with a brim- she almost always used a brown/tan tweed like yarn and put a small pom pom on the top.  I loved those hats, but that was many years ago and I don't have one.  Whaaa!   In anycase, I figure that I will wear this hat for the rest of this winter, knit myself a new hat and give this one to Goodwill next year.  While this hat wasn't the perfect fit for ME, someone else might really like it.

Then, I tried to make a little bag to slide my cell phone into.  I thought this yarn would felt/shrink - but it didn't really.  It just isn't what I wanted.  I am going to line it, probably put a little zipper on it and make a button loop closure for it.  It will be cute when finished - but I don't have the zipper/button, right fabric for a lining to finish it just now so I've set it aside for a bit.  I have one more skein of this yarn - it is only 33 yards per skein, but that should be enough to make 2 phone cases.  It is The Cat's Meow brand yarn that I picked up somewhere on clearance - the company went out of business.

My favorite knit item this year has been my beautiful Honeycomb Mittens.  The wool is so nice and warm and I wear them every day and they barely show any sign of wear.  In the fall I made my son a pair too and my DH a pair (but on DH's I used a slightly different pattern).  I will definately be making this pattern again and again - as needed.  The yarn I used for mine was from Brown Sheep Company - Lanaloft Worsted Weight, that you can find here .  Recommended needle size is 8 and I used a 5 - so it is nice and thick (warm!).  But - it did take 1 1/4 skein of yarn - I hate that!  DH's and my son's mittens are made with Briggs Little yarn.  The pattern is from Homespun Handknit - Caps, Socks, Mittens and Gloves.  I did add a purl row before starting the pattern and ending the pattern to help define it better, plus I did not do the thumbs as suggested - I like to put my thumb opening on a safety pin.

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Other than the mittens, I've been at odds with my knitting this winter.  Nothing seems to catch my fancy or I don't have the right size needles or the correct yarn on hand.  But - I've still managed to used up alot of yarn!  2 skeins for the keyhole scarf, 2 skeins for the hat/scarf set for Omi,  most of 2 skeins for my stripped hat (the left-overs will make perfect mitten stripes), 1 odd-ball skein for the little bag, and the wool I bought specifically to make the mittens.  I have 1 skein of sock yarn and will probably cast on a pair of socks sometime this week.  I also have a little bit of baby yarn that I can play around with  - except it is pink and my family keeps having boys!  Still, I think a few little baby hats will keep my fingers busy.  I will be happy once I use up the yarns I have on hand.  I think it is very hard to find a pattern for yarn and yardage you have on hand - I much prefer to find a pattern I like first and then go buy the yarn specifically for that pattern.  So one thing I won't be having - a yarn stash!