Gift-Mas Recap.... Better late than never

I did an amazing thing this year, and actually had all my Christmas gifts finished on time. In the last few weeks I did scrap one or two projects, but everyone who I planned to give a knitted gift to got at least one.

Center Squares
I made five of these hats. First up were a trio of Center Square hats for my mother-in-law and two youngest sister-in-laws (age 9 and 14). I also made two more for a husband and wife.

Pattern: Center Square
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash; each hat used less than 1/2 of the ball of each color.
Notes: These are really quick, about 3 hours each. I really like the pattern, and it was my first attempt at color work. Very fast and fun. I highly recomend it as an introduction to fair isle knitting. I did a bit more ribbing than called for in the pattern and changed the decreases, making a rounder top with the spiral decreases. The small one (purple and teal is) the same amount of stitches, but I used spiral needles. Also, as others have noted, this yarn grow a lot when washed, though it seemed to shrink back mostly if dried in the dryer.

Pony Tail Hat

Pattern: This is mostly the Hannah Hat, but, inspired by the Robin's Egg Blue Hat I made the border in seed stitch and only used one button.
Yarn: Noro Kochoran, less than one ball.
Recipient: Oldest Sister-in-law
Notes: Fun pattern and idea. The yarn is really fuzzy and I'd end up covered in the fuzz. This would have been quick, but it took a few attempts to work out the gauge issues and figure out the decreases.

Pirate Captain

Pattern: Pirate Captain Doll (non-ravelry link)
Yarn: Cascade 220 Wool and Elann Highland Wool (shirt)
Notes: I'm not sure if I'm really done with this. I'd like to get better fabric (instead of the ribbon shown in the picture), and I bought more beads but then couldn't find them in the mess of my apartment. The pattern directions weren't always clear on how to do the finishing sewing, but I was able to figure it out and I'm pretty happy with the results.


Stow-Away Shopping Bag

Pattern: Stow-Away Shopping Bag, Out Couture AC 306, purchased at Isle Knits.
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton (turquoise), Lily Sugar and Creme (ombre and orange)
Notes: I made this a little longer than the pattern called for and made the straps thicker, and I think that made it a bit tight in the pocket. This was an easy pattern, and one I'll be using again. I might hold the yarn doubled next time for the pocket/bottom of the bag to create a more solid fabric.

Mitered Mittens

Pattern: Mitered Mittens (May) by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Yarn:
Nashua Handknits Wooly Stripes, just over 2 balls (I could have used just the two, but I broke into the third to match the stripes on the thumbs.
Notes: I've recently become a bit enamored with mittens. Unfortunately, I don't really have a place to wear them, so these were a gift for my sister. Like many others I modifeed the thumb construction based on the instructions here. Other modifications were 7 rounds of 2x1 ribbing on the cuff and I didn't decrease to a point at the end, instead decreased down to about 10 stitches and then Kitchenered them together.

Sheep!

Pattern: A Felt Flock by Bev Galeskas (Fiber Trends)
Yarn: Elann Highland Wool
Notes: For the bigger one I held the yarn double, the smaller one was just a single stand of yarn. These are so fun, just the like the Hedgehog and the slippers the shaping is done with shortrows. I needle felted on the eyes.


Monkeys for Mom

Pattern: Monkey Socks
Yarn: Koigu KPPM
Notes: The infamous Monkey pattern, I think everything to be said about the pattern has already been said. I'll be making more of these, maybe a no purl version.

Last, but not least, Felted Clogs

Pattern: Felted Clogs (AC-33) by Bev Galeskas
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool
Notes: Officially the longest UFO ever. These were supposed to be a gift for my mother for Christmas 2004 (or maybe 2003). No, that is not a typo. I knit one pair for my mom and one for my dad. The knitting and felting was done on time, but I had the hardest time sewing on the sole. I finally got my dad the pair for him a few months before he passed away, but the pair for my mother had languished. I'm so happy to have finally finished these.

Holiday Craft - Home Decor

A few quick ideas in case your home needs some holiday cheer
Miniature Felted Wreaths
Little Miss Pine Cones Go Skiing (more information here)

Winter Display Globes
Mini Stockings (perfect for an Advent Calendar)
Gum Drop Wreath (probably not the best for Hawaii)
Stockings (with link to free pattern from McCall's)(I just bought some fabric to make these, hopefully there will be pictures soon)
Paper Star
Paper Snowflakes and more

Crrraaackkkk!

Last night I decided to frog a WIP, after realizing it was too small for the intended recipient. One of my circulars fell on the floor, and I diligently picked it up and set it on the couch, thinking it would be safer there. As you can guess from this set up, I was wrong.



While winding the yarn I managed to plop my foot on top of the needle while it was on the couch, and it snapped. The most frustrating part is that, if I'd stepped on it while it was still on the marble floor, it probably wouldn't have broken because it wouldn't have bent at all. That's what I get for picking things up. ;)

It is (was?) a Knit Picks Harmony needle in size 2.25mm, and I know there have been a few problems with these breaking during use, but this was not normal use and not anything I'd expect any wood needle that small to withstand. People on Ravelry who've had them break during use have been able to get replacements from KP, but I'm not even going to ask because this was totally my fault. Plus, I'd been a bit frustrated that the needles were a little more grabby than I wanted, so I'm going to switch to metal.

I'm placing another order from Knit Pics for the metal needles, but in the mean time, these socks are on hold until the needles come in. With this delay I'm not sure if I'll be able to finish these in time for Christmas. However, in the mean time, I'm trying to finish up the rest of my Christmas knitting. Most of it is almost done, with just a but of finishing. No details yet, as I don't want to spoil anyone's surprise, but here is a picture of all the gifts in my knitting basket.



Oh, and the new Knitty is up. I haven't had time to look at all the patterns, but the cover shot is gorgeous.

Holiday Crafts - Ornaments and Such

Ornaments & Other Decorations to Hang
Tissue Paper Silhouettes Ornaments
Glittery Foil Icicles
Dove Ornament

Mini Tree Bunting
Cinnamon Bird Ornaments
(I think I'd be too afraid that, here in Hawaii, these would attract bugs, though ants do hate cinnamon)
Woven Wheat Ornaments
Christmas Pinatas
Candy Ornaments (not real candy, a perfect use for those scraps of fabric)
Retro Ornaments from Foam

Holiday Crafts - Trees

Despite the lack of blogging, there has been a lot of knitting going on. However, it has all been holiday related, and as the intended recipients may be reading this, the it will have to remain secret for a while longer. So, in the mean time, I thought I'd share a few holiday themed crafts I've found on my travels through the internet. I may even attempt some of these! I'm starting with some trees, check back to see more.

Trees
Stuffed Christmas Trees
Tinsel Trees
Tomorrow Land Trees
Fun Fur Kitschmas Tree
Felted Rosette Tree (and wreath)
Soft Trees
Holiday Print Out Tree
A Different Kind of Tree

Nom nom nom!

Do you ever have those things that seem to be following you? You know, the things that just keep popping up allover the place? For the last few weeks it has been Chicken and Waffles. First it was an episode of Throwdown, then there was some chatter on Ravelry, and then last night it showed up on Iron Chef America.

So, what's a girl to do...? If I still lived in L.A. the easy answer would be a trip to Roscoe's. But I don't, so alternatives were considered. Given my abundance of free time, I figured the best option was to make some myself. Other than buttermilk, we had all the necessary ingredients, and even a wedding-gift waffle maker that we'd never used. One of my sister in laws comes over every Monday for dinner and Heros, so I figured that would be as good a day as any.

I used Alton Brown's recipe for the chicken (though I only marinated it in the buttermilk for about 4 hours), and the waffles from this recipe.



Overall, the chicken was very good, especially considering I've never made it before. The waffle was decent when I took it out of the iron, but I was having some timing issues and it wasn't nearly as good by the time it made it to the table; I couldn't find the manual for the waffle iron, but I think next time I need to turn it up a bit. I probably should have also turned to AB for the waffle recipe, and then I could have even been able to use my new kitchen scale, and it calls for whole wheat flour so might have been able to delude myself into thinking it was somewhat healthy.


In other, much healthier food news, my latest food addiction is quinoa. I've tried a few recipes, but my favorite is a tabbouleh-esque salad.

The quinoacooks pretty quickly, and while it's cooking I chop some veggies. Usually it's either cucumbers or celery, tomatoes, flat leaf parsley, scallions.


Once the quinoa is cooked, it gets mixed with the veggies, along with some salt and pepper. I then like to let it cool a bit, and mix in some feta cheese.


(Sorry, this isn't the best picture)

I've been seriously eating this at least once a week for the past month or so. Easy, quick, yummy and healthy. Hard to go wrong with that combination.

I can haz funny?

see more puppies

Actually, my place has looked quite a bit like that with all the frogging that has been going on.