More Mittens

I guess mittens were the gift of choice this year. The following are pictures of mittens I made for Christmas gifts this year. The lighter ones are made with Brown Sheep mohair blend yarn. The yarn worked wonderfully and they are very soft to the touch.

Puddin in Iowa

I am visiting a good friend in Iowa this weekend. I drove Friday night in the dense fog, it was like driving in a tunnel. The blizzard came to Waterloo Saturaday afternoon, glad I was here already. Got to shovel and snow blow Sunday morning. Here are pictures of my new friend Puddin, not really, she doesn't seem to like anyone except her owner. I have never heard a cat hiss before!!!

Elizabeth Zimmermann Mitten

Yes this is actually a mitten knitted by the one and only Elisabeth Zimmermann. We think it is around 40 years old.

It's here!!!

My Aunt brought it today. Here in front of me is an actual mitten knitted by Elizabeth Zimmermann. My aunt only found one of them, story and pictures to follow.

My first seamless yoke sweater

Once I got my first Elizabeth Zimmermann book I wanted to try the seamless yoke sweater. The time has come, and in time for Christmas day. I learned a lot about my knitting ability and to just let it happen and I can think any issues through. First I could not decide what to do with the yoke, I think I have 5 different drawings/charts for this project and I finally took the design from Megs Norwegian sweater for Cully in Knitting Around. I rearranged the pattens. The decreasing was a concern for me, I actually have 6 decreases. Once I got to the neck I was close to the 40% according to EPS. I tried it on the neck hole was to big so I did another 25% decrease in the neck ribbing starting with 2 k 2p rib then p2tog the p's to a 2k 1p rib. These pictures are before the neck was complete. I am almost done, now all I have to do is bury the ends. I finished the neck with cast on/cast off method. The grafting on the underarms went well. There is something to be said about casting off the neck and the sweater is basically done.

Christmas pictures and me and sweater to follow. I am sure another seamless is not far away in the future.

Someone is thrilled with the snow.

Max is in heaven!!!

Weds

I am still here. Christmas has always been a busy time for me, my past life as a retail monkey always kept me away from home. Now I work a second job during the holidays to keep that spirit alive. Soon I will be posting my lastest project, my first seamless yolk sweater. I have had a couple commissioned knitting projects over the past couple weeks keeping me busy, my friend(agent) in the Chicago area is doing a great job. I have one more Christmas gift to make and gifts are done.