Knitting with a Stuffy Head

Happy Holidays! I'm glad it's over!

...Only because I have to stop eating all this candy. Between Christmas and my birthday, it can get a little out of control. In addition, I've had a nasty headcold for the past two weeks, which I can't seem to shake. It's very frustrating because all I want to do is go to the gym and workout. Oh well...in the meantime, I'm trying to keep the kids occupied while they're on their break, and I'm doing a lot of...you guessed it: Knitting! I didn't think I'd get to the blog before the New Year but there's a lot on the needles and I wanted to share.



To start: I finished a lovely waistcoat for my mom's birthday. I think she's living in it now. This was Jenny Watson's design for Noro. Such a quick and easy knit.

I'm about halfway done with another pair of mittens. I'm using small needles here (US2), because I'd rather have them fit snugly than loose on the hands. This one fits my daughter perfectly and she loves them, so they will go to her when I'm done. As you can see, my chart-reading skills are improving!

I'm hosting a knitting meeting for the local knitting group at my house this Sunday. I figured that it's a good way to start the new year, and to keep our group active. I'd like to host something outside in a public place, but I'm still trying to figure out when/where.

I feel another challenge coming on...I have 800 yards of peace fleece worsted. I want to make something for my husband. A vest perhaps? Problem is, the yarn is actually 2 colors (400 yards red, 400 yards grey). I need to find a pattern that is two color, but not too crazy and wild because that won't fly with Mitch. The nice thing is that I received not one, not two, but three gift certificates for various yarn sellers...so if I need more of something...I can get it! Although I'd like to use them very carefully, thoughtfully, wisely.

Finally, here's a tale I'd like to share with you about a sweater I'm finishing. Last August, I went to a fiber festival in Greyslake and bought some alpaca/merino wool spun by Frontier Fiber Mill in Indy. The yarn is so soft/warm/luscious, in a beautiful mulberry colorway. I held onto it for a while because again, I wanted to use it for something worthwhile. Then I found this pattern for a shawl cardigan in the winter '09 issue of Vogue. I looked at Ravelry, to see if other knitters had made this cardigan, and decided to use the alpaca/merino as the waistband/collar portion of the sweater. But what to use for the body? I took a risk and bought 10 balls of Di.Ve Mohair Kiss Ombre (on sale at WEBS of course). The risk was that I chose the vanguard colorway, based only on an online photo. Well...could you ask for a better match? I always say "Things work out!"