Knitted Gift Rejected Already

I've been talking for the last two months about the scarves I'm knitting for 4 women at work. I knit three of the four from stash. I'm pretty pleased with where I stand.

One particular person was giving me trouble. I baited her to find out a color. She thought I was talking about someone else so she said, "Scarves should be a fun color like fuschia." No fuschia in my stash so I made the sacrifice and bought malabrigo. It's tough I know. One day she was making her mii for the wii (odd I know, but I work at an ad agency) and I said, "What about a fuschia shirt (subtle huh) and she said, "Oh no, not fuschia." What? I re-arranged the scarves so she was getting the Brooks Farm Solo Silk in green/purple/gold. Jen is getting the hot pink. I knit on.

Today, Julie is carrying around a pair of fingerless gloves. I smell a hand knit item. She says she bought them at a silent auction. She said the same friend also donated a couple of scarves, but "I hate scarves so I didn't even bid on them." WHAT? Really?

Now she has a pair of fingerless gloves and she hates scarves (who hates scarves?) I guess I'll find someone else for the fabulous solo silk purple/green/gold scarf.

Trying to find the silver lining, at least I found out now and I'm not left wondering why she never wears the scarf.

Two More Projects Off the Needles

I have two more projects off the needles.

First is a baby bonnet for my friend Charlotte who is now a grandmother. The pattern is the Super Quick Baby Bonnet and that is so true. It is super quick. I finished the bonnet in about 3 hours. I didn't have a suitable worsted weight yarn for a baby bonnet so I went to JoAnn's to purchase something inexpensive and machine washable. I came home with Paton's Silky Bamboo and it is wonderful. The stockinette of the bonnet is a bit plain, but this beautiful yarn dressed it right up. Charlotte says Destiny looks pretty in purple, so I have a purple ribbon. I'm also going to include the green ribbon shown, red for Christmas and pink cause she's a girl. I can't wait to see the baby wearing this little number.

I finished Adrienne's clogs except for the felting. I'll do that over Thanksgiving vacation. So glad to be done. I need a new pair myself, but I don't think I can stomach knitting another pair right now. This is not a slam on the pattern at all. It's a great pattern, but I have knit it so many times (because it is a great pattern and the clogs are great gifts) that I am just over it. I'm not even sure why. Knitting is knitting right? You would think it wouldn't matter. But for some reason it does.

I hate to end on a negative note like that. Hmmm, other scarves are going well. If the bonnet fits Destiny I have enough to make another one and it is so dreamy, I think it makes a fantastic gift.

Christmas Knitting List Update

I guess some people have revelations when they knit. That makes their blogs so much more interesting and witty then mine. I just make progress. And then I rehash the knitting and the progress. Maybe one day I will ascend to a higher level of knitting.

Til then, here's a rehash of my current projects. I have three active projects on the needles, and that is a miracle for me. I have many projects on the needles, but these three get regular knitting. The clogs, Tudor Grace and Sunray.

Ugh, the clogs. Every once in a while I force myself to knit another portion of a clog in an effort to get the pair done. Adrienne suggested lunch while we are both on vacation for Christmas, so I now have an official due date - 12/23.

I talk about a lot of these projects being Christmas gifts, but they are for work folks so they really have to be done by 12/18 because that's when I leave for my Christmas vacation. Yikes that's about a month away. Well, really all I have to finish are the two scarves on the needles now.

I made a deal with myself, if I get at least one of the aforementioned scarves finished by Thanksgiving, I will buy the Joseph Galler Alpaca to knit Brett a scarf for Christmas. If I don't, no scarf for him.

This year I knit 8 Christmas gifts (so far) of those 6 are from stash. I bought wool for Adrienne's clogs. A must to get the color combo I wanted, but I did use up one stash black. I bought 3 skeins of Malabrigo, but I'm only using 1 for Christmas knitting. So in my warped math $11 for the wool and $10.50 for Malabrigo. I'm spending $21.50 on Christmas gifts and freeing up space in my stash for more yarn. It's a win-win.

MOM "Red Emperor" stole. I cast on and finished the first of 10 repeats for the borders. I've made no further progress. I'm concentrating on projects that have to be done by Christmas (12/18 for work folks).
Jag is for Jen. June is For Jag. is finished and fabulous.
Helmet Line. is finished.
Stulpens for Robyn are finished. These are a true stash project. I made them from yarn leftover from her scarf.
Claudia Earwarmer. is finished and I wear it to walk the dogs. It's stretching out a bit. I don't know if it's the yarn or the pattern. But I still like it.
The Inga Cowl. This hasn't gotten any knitting time in a while. I do want a cowl, but the sundara is so pretty, I really just want to use it for a scarf. I'm not frogging it yet though.
Celtic Cable Neckwarmer. Is still on the to-do list. I think it will be mine and I definitely have a skein of Malabrigo Geranio with this project's name on it.
Sunray. Cast on. It may Julie's it may be Jen's I have to wait and see.
Vogue Drop Stitch Scarf. - hmmm, maybe. Depends if I find another project for the Bonnie Bamboo.
Stulpens for Jeannie - Casting on soon. No later than Thanksgiving.
OSU Clogs for Adrienne - These are coming right along. I have one completed and the 1 sole done for the second clog.
Madonna's Tudor Grace - Madonna asked me to make her a scarf. She offered to pay, but I don't want to do that. So I made her Flutter out of Claudia Hand-painted silk. I really hate it. Nothing against the pattern or the yarn, but it was a drag to knit and when she wears it, it just hangs there. So I shopped my stash, found the nicest yarn in the bucket (Malabrigo sock) and I'm making her a second scarf for Christmas. It's an entertaining knit and she is going to love it.

Three More Gifts on the Needles

I have 3 more gifts on the needles. Sunray in Malabrigo, Adrienne's OSU Clogs and Madonna's Tudor Grace. I'm enjoying both the scarves.

Two Finished Christmas Scarves

This is Lauren's Checkerboard Scarf knit from Mountain Colors Bearfoot. This a free pattern that is super fun to knit. The scarf finished at 9 x 65 with only 350yds of yarn. I selected the open pattern hoping it would stretch the yardage. I think it worked. I also selected an open pattern because of the mohair content and the fact we live in TX.

The yarn is very nice and it blocked like a dream. I'm very proud to give this as a gift. Lauren is going to look fabulous in it.

I love the June is for Jag pattern for variegated yarns. A stockinette section to show of the yarn, a YO, K2T section to create lacey interest. It was fun to knit and the yarn was awesome. It's Brooks Farm Yarns Solo Silk. 50% silk and 50% wool blend. BFY is generous in their skein yardage, so you have plenty to make a good sized scarf. This one finished at 7.5" x 78. Good thing Jen is tall.
This scarf also blocked nicely. I didn't have to pin it out as strongly as I did the 100% wool and it still looks great.

The only thing I might do differently for the Jag scarf is knit every two rows from a different skein or the other end of the skein to futher mix up the variegation. That is a personal preference though and has nothing to do with the yarn or the pattern.

Christmas Knitting Update - 3 Gifts Complete

I just finished Lauren's checkerboard scarf in Rich Red Mountain Colors. What a joy to knit. Great pattern and great yarn. I would work with both again. I'll block it tonight and take pictures tomorrow.

I bought three skeins of Malabrigo in pink for a scarf for Julie. I may not use all three skeins, but I wanted to be sure I had plenty. Maybe I'll get a little something for myself out of the deal:-)

I'm still debating what to do for Madonna. Madonna mentioned she likes red, blue and green. I've toying with the idea of the blue Wollmeise. She is worthy of that yarn, but she is also worthy of Malabrigo and I have a beautiful skein of sock yarn. Not necessarily the colors she says she likes, but pretty just the same. I think the Malabrigo might be softer. Still trying to figure it out.

I figure Brett's red herring scarf will be last. If I can get the other knitting done by Thanksgiving, then I will buy the yarn to make his scarf.

After Brett's scarf, comes DS stulpens in the purple Louet Gems.

I also have Adrienne's clogs cast on and one sole finished. Probably I can finish them this weekend if I don't start somthing else, but I would love to cast on a scarf for Madonna and keep my momentum going.

Christmas Knitting Update - 2 Gifts Done

I'll post pictures when it's light enough to take them. I finished Jag is for Jen last night. Wove in the ends and all. Just need to block. I'll do a group blocking when I have another scarf or two done. Next up on the needles, Lauren's Checkerboard scarf in red Mountain Colors Bearfoot.