I have a bit of a dilemma - it's one that I have many months left to solve, but it's something that I'd like to get out of the way as soon as I can (so I don't have to worry about it later on).
I *had* been planning on knitting my MIL some reusable grocery bags for Christmas (she never takes bags from the grocery store). I thought though, that I would ask her what kind of knit things she might like at gifts - just to make sure that I wouldn't be wasting my time on something she wouldn't use. Yeah, I kinda regret it a bit now...
She wants a sweater....and a "fluffy" one at that...
Well, lets just say that MIL's and my tastes couldn't be further apart (her tastes range from loud sparkily/glittery shirts to those floral print t-shirts that you might expect a Grandma to wear, while I'm more of a jeans and t-shirts/sweaters with a dressy/funky shirt thrown in here and there kind of girl), and what her idea of a nice sweater is about 1000 miles off from what I would like, and well, it would be in a yarn that makes me want to run and hide. Oh, yes, and it would be in a 3-4x size. Don't get my wrong, I have nothing against plus sized knits (I'm a borderline plus sized gal - I teeter the line - myself), but knitting something that size in a yarn that gives me the "ICKY" kind of shivers, it's not my idea of fun. To be completely honest, if I was ever insane enough to start the project, I don't think I'd ever finish it.
For this year, I had a good excuse to bow out (I had previously been telling her about my saga with Wicked - she knits too), so I lucked out - BUT - she told me she wants one when I'm" ready to knit something like that"....Which, in all honesty, will be never - but I didn't tell her that...
Maybe I'll be able to play the "Oops, I forgot" card next year , or hopefully, I'll get lucky and she'll forget that she ever asked (Christmas '09 IS a whole 22 months away after all!).
In the meantime, she's asked for a "toque" , so now I need some sort of interesting hat pattern. I have 2 on my knit queue for this year already, but one is for me (Odessa - and I'm not giving it up either!) and one is for my best friend's Christmas gift. This leaves me somewhat clueless - I guess I aught to take a peek on the Ravelry pattern browser and see if I can find something that catches my eye. If anyone is still out there reading this - do you have any suggestions?!?
Hmmm....
Slower than molasses...
That's how the progress on these Jaywalkers is going! Seriously, I can work on these for an hour or 2 at a time, and they just don't seem to get anywhere. It's gotten worse now that I'm at the heel flap - I seem to have gotten heel-flap-itis. I just seem to have little to no desire to work on them - which makes it a very good thing that they don't have to be finished until the end of November. That reminds me - I've decided that they'll be going to my sister - that way I won't have to worry about them not fitting. Now I just hope she doesn't mind following the washing instructions!
Brain will not compute...
I am a MORON. Seriously. I cast on for the 6th attempt at Wicked today. I managed to get to the point where there was only a quarter of an inch left on the collar when I take a look and think "this doesn't look right". Yes, that's right - I forgot the regular ribbing row! DUH!
I feel so incredibly STOOOOOPID. I'll try again tomorrow - and should it not go well, I'm knitting this satan spawn without the crossovers!
Birthday socks...
I've been forgetting to post a photo of these although they have been finished for nearly a month (and have been worn a few times now)!
I *LOVE* these socks - they're nice and soft and cushy - BUT - I do have a small issue with them. The yarn (KnitPicks Memories - a discontinued yarn) seems to start pilling the moment you start to put the socks on your feet!
Ah well - I love them anyways - especially because they're so comfy, and I enjoy the way they stripe!
Another FO
The edges are a bit ragged, and I don't think the yarn was right for the pattern, but I still kinda like it anyways!
Pattern: Mochimochi Land Free Hearts
Yarn: Elann Sonata in Ruby (left-overs from a Tuscany Shawl)
Needles: US3
Time to complete: Approx. 20mins (including finishing)
Mods: Used DK weight yarn instead of worsted weight, didn't felt (used cotton yarn), went down a needle size (to try to compensate for lesser weight yarn).
One little monkey...
Well, it's not exactly little (I have us 10 wide feet), sock #1 of the Monkey socks is done! I L-O-V-E LOVE it - as does GG (as you can obviously see!). Even Hubby thinks they're pretty spiffy! Yay for spiffy socks!
After this project, I'm going to take a quick detour from sock knitting to knit up some cute little Mochimochi Land hearts as my February project for the Craftster 2008 Colour Craftalong. It'll give me an oppertunity to use up some of the left over yarn from Gramma's Tuscany shawl. These will likely end up being ornaments for the Christmas tree for next year (might even whip up a few as gift tage - we'll see) - yay for advanced crafting!
After that, it's back so my current sock knitting obsession and finishing up the Monkeys and more work on the Jaywalkers!
Oh, and a little note on the Jaywalkers - I'm now trying to decide if these should be going to my mom or my sister. Why I may be changing my mind - I can't remember if my mom has the insanely muscular calves like I have (that would prevent them from fitting her). If it happens to be that way, at least I can gift them to my sister (who I think would also like them - especially because they'd be nice and warm for skidooing )....
Decisions, decisions.....
Jaywalker progress
Welcome to February! I'll start the month off by showing how much progress I've made thus far on the Jaywalkers for my mom - please excuse the craptacular photo.
I have to say - I wasn't really feeling the colourway (although I know my mom will love it) of the yarn before I started knitting, but I have to admit that I kind of like it knit up in this pattern.
I spent all of my knitting time yesterday working on this (slow progress - I think it's the smaller needles - smallest I've used to date), and I'm very happy with how it's looking. Hopefully I'll be able to finish these, the Monkeys and one other project (yet to be decided) by the end of this month!