“O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?” -- Percy Bysshe Shelley

We've been lucky so far. What little cold weather we've had here in Cincinnati so far this winter, when it was cold it was really cold!

And only a true friend would model some of my knitting on Fountain Square in a wind chill that was probably in the single digits! My friend Nancy is wearing one of my first projects, a poncho made with Mode Dea Ticker Tape. The yarn was on sale and I was excited about working with the elastic ribbon yarn. I gave the finished project to Nancy knowing how fabulous it would look on her. She gave it her own touch and trimmed the fringe which really enhanced the look. She's also wearing the Booda Bag I knitted using Noro Kureyon yarn. She loved the Booda Bag and again it was perfect for her.

Knitting the Booda Bag was a real adventure. I'd found the pattern on the internet but, couldn't figure out exactly how to do the base and knitting around it. It was more searching and finding many blogging knitters with advice that I finally was successful! I picked up the Noro Kureyon at my favorite LYS, Fiberge, though I can't remember what color it was. I probably should have felted it a little bit longer, and the felted I-chord straps were still stretchy, so more felting might have helped with that. I would also suggest cutting a piece of plastic canvas, covering it in a matching fabric and stitching it to the inside bottom of the bag for support. Nancy liked it as is, so this one didn't have a flat bottom.

Currently I've finished everything I've been working on with the exception of the baby kimono. I've got some projects I'm prepping though, and am anxious to find something else that doesn't take a lot of concentration. I'd found a "reading shawl" that I can't seem to stop thinking about, as well as a mobius shawl that I bought in a kit. I'd also gotten a skein of recycled silk from sarongs and would like to make something for me from it, so I'm looking for the right project.

But when we're through this New Year, you'll see, will be, Just fine.

Wow... I've been away for 2 months and not much to show for it. A few gifts were finished and got away without pictures. And Jane made an incredible Sock Monkey Hat a picture of which she promised to share so I could post it here.

I finished a very quick but delicious afghan. Using the Speed Stix pattern, I avoided using Homespun and instead used some yarns I found on sale and were colors I was dying to use. I've really come to like the "Neapolitan" colors (chocolate, strawberry and vanilla) that seem to be in vogue. I'd found at Hobby Lobby Yarn Bee "Frosting" in Barely Iced which was a pale pink and Creme Plus which was a variegated pink/brown/cream/blue. I used 2 skeins of each, then added one skein each of "I Love This Yarn" in a coffee and a cream. This help added bulk to the afghan and the "Frosting" yarns made the afghan incredibly soft. All the yarns are washable and dry at home in a dryer. It was the 6-Hour Throw free pattern on Lion Brand using Speed Stix. but again I didn't add fringe and this time no border (honestly, I forgot... I started the project at the last minute while I took Patrick to see a movie that I'd already seen). It will be nice enough, though if I were to do it over, I'd definitely add the border like the other ones and I'd make it a bit wider. The pattern calls for 34 stitches cast on, using these yarns I'd probably do at least 40.

It's a gift for a friend in the hospital who has a long rehab ahead of her. I'm hoping the softness of the yarn is pleasant to her touch, like hugging a favorite stuffed animal.

I also finished the baby blankie mentioned back in November, and a baby hat. I'm still working on the kimono and probably will have to give that to the baby's proud "Nana" later.

And finally, I'm finishing up something that while should have been so simple has been incredibly frustrating! I purchased at a post Thanksgiving yarn sale at Fiberge, my favorite LYS, two skeins of Karabella Yarn: Gossamer. The yarn is a fine, very fine thread which was a dark brown color that had copper metallic strands woven into at intermittent spots. I'd seen a completed stole on display and thought it was the perfect gift for one of my friends. It's so delicate and light, it is just beautiful. Working with the yarn for me however was a nightmare because it was fine and delicate. It was a basic stockinette stitch, I used bamboo 15 (everyone in the store who had already made one said 15s were preferable over the specified 17, which was convenient since I didn't have bamboo 17s and they were out of them as well, but had lots of 15! Fortuitous! Also, the women there recommended since I was using 15s, I should probably cast on 70 stitches which I did (I think the pattern called for 50). As simple as this should have been, I started this project 3 times before really liking my work and continuing beyond the the first 5 inches. It just took me an incredible amount of time to get the right tension for working with such a fine yarn. I'm determined to use all two skeins before calling it done and at this time, there's not a lot left. Hopefully this weekend will be the date and I can start on something new.


Perhaps I'll get a chance for a picture of her wearing it, so the real beauty of the stole and the wearer can be fully seen. It's really a gorgeous accessory, perfect for wearing over a black or brown turtleneck I think.

So, Christmas is almost over. So many more things to make and not enough time, but a New Year to do it all in!