Guitar Sonata

Niece Mallory's boyfriend Ben is a fantastic guitar player, musician, and songwriter.
Ben is not seen very often without his guitar, Mallory is not seen very often, not at Ben's feet while he is playing.

Mal asked me if I could knit a pair of fingerless gloves for Ben so he can keep those fingers warm and still continue to play. They had 1 request, make the gloves convertible so he could flip up a mitten to keep the whole hand warm, and to also make a thumb mitten.

Found the perfect pattern 'Pink Sonata' in Vogue Knitting Fall 2008.
Now had to find the yarn. Mal and Ben gave me little to work with on yarn colour, just a adamant not "navy blue".

As I was finishing up the the Cabled Socks realized I had most of 1 skein of yarn left. Knew that my yarn stash had several other skeins of Claudia Handpainted.

Ben's Gloves will be worked with Butter Pecan and Black Walnut.

Love the way these two colours look together. Earthy, masculine, fun.

The first glove is complete except for weaving in the ends and working up the mitten caps. The caps will be worked in the darker Black Walnut. I should have the caps completed by tomorrow and will post more photos.

EZ Snail Hat

A classic pattern from Elizabeth Zimmerman.

The Snail Hat was fun and easy to knit.

It was enjoyable to take a break and knit a easy project that can be finished in one night.
Especially if said project looks much more complicated than it is.
And that my friends, is the joy of Elizabeth Zimmerman.

I keep thinking that my grandmother used to receive her newsletters, wouldn't it be a hoot if I could find them!!!

Next EZ pattern to try....the ever popular Surprise Baby Jacket.


Small Hat: worked as written on size 11, Rowan Big Wool, 18 rounds worked before decreasing.
Large Hat: worked as written on size 13, Rowan Big Wool, 18 rounds worked before decreasing.

Hat Swap

Ok, how fun is this.
Red Purl my favorite LYS, hosted a hat swap this last Friday.
I believe there were at least 12 participants.

I swapped my Sideways Grande even though my intentions were to make an entirely different hat while in Florida.

With the pattern in mind I searched for the right fibre, but alas could not make a match.

I also wanted my hat fibre to have been purchased at Red Purl. Amy generously hosted this successful event and she should have reaped some benefit.

Or is this just the small retail shop owner shouting out?

Anyway, it was great to see all of the different hats rendered by some wonderfully talented knitters.

This was my first time attending the Friday night knits at Red Purl, and you can tell that group has gotten to know each other well over the last year. I felt a little out of place, but it was still a fun time.

I was so envious of the EZ Snail Hat (back row 3rd from right) rendered by Amy that I purchased fibre to make my own!

On the Knitted Front

Double Cabled Socks worked on 2 Circular Needles
Needle size: 2
Yarn: Claudias HandPainted Sport
Colorway: Butter Pecan
Pattern: Double Cabled Sock from Kalamazoo Knits

This is the sock I will be teaching at the Red Purl beginning this Thursday.
I am looking forward to showing how easy it is to knit socks with 2 circs.
This sock took me only 3 evenings to finish.
I loved working in the Claudia's Sport, it makes for a beefier sock, but still with a nice hand feel.

Class participants will complete one sock by the end of the 3 classes.
Learning the easiest heel turn and heel gussets and leaving the class wanting to buy up all of Amy's wonderful new sock yarn.



I also think this colorway goes quite well with "Squeak".

Two Weeks Off

Wonderful things happen when you get 2 weeks off for the first time in 14 years.

Getting to spend time with your families for the holidays, and shopping with your grown up nieces!

I am not a shopper by any account, I rank it up there with getting your annual physical. But, when the girls needed hair supplies and I needed yarn, and everything is so deeply discounted due to the economy and stores overbuying, we jumped in the car and went for it. (how is that for a run on sentence)

Mallory, Gracie and I first hit the local shopping area in South Bend, got both set with all the professional hair products they wanted. Though Mallory has since decided she wanted what Gracie got. Big Sisters that's all I can say.

We also hit Barnes and Noble twice, (thanks Dan) and the Super Target. By that time I was shopped out .

Lori, Em and I did our annual trip to Grandville on New Years Day. I tried to find clothes for Dan, and did buy a few, but alas, will be returning most of them. Did I mention I hate returning items more than shopping for them? We had a great time, especially at Gap Body.

Then a good friend of ours had his first baby on 12/30 and I had to start right away on a knitted baby gift.

Gracie and I headed to Holland, I found yarn at Lizzie Anns and then another stop at Barnes and Nobles to look for a pattern.

While standing in the Knitting section, I struck up a conversation with a fellow knitter. She told me about a new yarn shoppe in South Haven. How thrilled was I, it is just 15 minutes from my house!

Gracie and I were able to make it there before closing, great little shoppe, wonderful owner and scrumptious yarns. Of course, many soft, squeezable, luscious, glowing yarns came home with me.

Two weeks off, pure heaven!