fuzzy heads

See, I wasn't kidding about the pre-Christmas crafting. So far, I've managed to finish this:


(I let him have this hat early, since he didn't get the one he was supposed to get last year.)

And this, which I love...but am definitely going to give away to the person I knit it for:


The pattern is called "First Hat" from Knit 2 Together which is co-authored by Tracey Ullman (yep, Tracey Ullman knits...who knew?). I am convinced that this hat is so cute, it will look good on anyone. I used Manos del Uruguay yarn in "Wildflowers" and I'm seriously considering making one for myself in the same yarn (but a different colour). And can I just say that I love, love, love the colourways of this yarn? I think I love them all equally. I stood there for a long time with about five different skeins laid out in front of me. I couldn't decide which one was the best. At one point, the thought crossed my mind that I ought to just buy them all. Surely I would find a way to use them. But the more I thought about the recipient of this hat, the more I liked Wildflowers (colour #113). My amateur photograph doesn't really do it justice. I think I need to block it a little and then it's ready to wrap up.

I have one more hat on the needles, and then I think I'm going to try a wee baby sweater for a friend who's expecting a baby in early January. I really want to try the Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann. I first saw it on the Yarn Harlot's blog and then a friend of mine (who is a more experienced and fearless knitter than I) let me borrow her pattern. It seems fairly straightforward. I hope.

works in progress

Let's start this post with a finished project: Sam's Sweater (which, in my own mind, this pattern will now and forever be called, regardless of future recipients of the same sweater). I really hope this sweater fits Sam; he lives a couple of hours away, and couldn't try it on for fit while I was knitting it. If it DOES fit, I'm hoping to wrangle a photo of him wearing it to post here. Of course, not having a photo that proves it fits isn't going to stop me from posting a picture of the very first adult-sized sweater I've made. Woo hoo!

The weather here has been cold and grey for a couple of days, which puts me in the mood for curling up on the couch with a hot drink, some new magazines, and a new knitting project. This one is a hat for my husband. Who has been patiently waiting for a new hat, and who watched me knit four hats last Christmas...none of which were for him. Actually that's not exactly true. I started knitting a hat for him last year, and then I gave it away to someone else. He has not let me forget this.

I found this beautiful merino wool at a new yarn shop that just opened nearby. It's Berroco "Jasper" and the colour is called "Black Galaxy." I had no idea when I bought it that it's a self-striping yarn. Happy surprise. It's a nice subtle stripe of black, charcoal, light grey, and a hint of green so dark it almost looks black. It's knitting up very fast and is really nice to knit with. (I keep saying to John, "Here, just touch it! Seriously, it's really soft...isn't that nice? Wow, I so love this yarn..." Yeah...he doesn't care quite as much as I do.) This yarn is so soft and cuddly that I might keep this hat for myself...ha ha. Just kidding. I don't think I could get away with that a second time. The pattern for the hat, by the way, is from The Yarn Girls' Guide to Simple Knits. It's easy and quick and it looks great on everyone.


My mom is also gearing up for Christmas, choosing fabrics for quilts (such as the ones above...more to come on that in a few days), and making up all sorts of plans for other sewing projects. When November hits, some people start making shopping lists and trips to the mall; my mom and I start buying craft supplies. The countdown has officially begun.