Finally. Done. Christmas. Presents. Whew.

Yes, you read that correctly. I am finally done* Christmas 2006. Whew.

The last few projects (i.e. those I have not yet posted pics of) are as follows:

For my friend Julie. She hasn't received it yet so, you know, don't tell her. shh.

Pattern(s): Knitty's Danica (entrelac scarf) and a combination of several patterns for the flip top mittens
Yarn: Patons SWS in "Natural Earth" Somehow I managed to get the striping to match up (almost) perfectly on the mittens. Love it when that happens.
Entrelac in this particular colorway of SWS is so nice! I may just do one for myself. Eventually. Not for some time though. Entrelac was a lot simpler than it looks, but I don't think it will become a staple of my knitting repertoire. Also, I'm pretty much done with knitting flip top mittens (this was pair 4). At least until I decide to make myself a pair. Eventually.

For my friend Cobi. She also has not yet received this, so, again, don't tell.

Pattern: I got the chart and basic directions for the mittens from a friend. The directions were less "pattern" and more "here's the steps that you will need to do in order to get mittens". I kind of liked that (although it sort of freaked me out a bit when I first contemplated it) because I think I learned more about the process of knitting them and will be able to apply that to different gauges this way. The hat is just 4 repeats of the mitten chart. Whee.
Yarn: Sirdar Country Style DK (45% Acrylic, 40% Nylon, 15% Wool). I LOVE this yarn! It doesn't feel very "acrylic" but not scratchy either. It has enough "grab" for doing fair isle type work and the yardage was incredible: 348 yds/318m to 100g. I have enough left over to make at least a pair of fingerless mittens.
I really think there is something that happens when knitting this two-color stranded knitting that makes time slow down and your hands speed up. It seemed like I knit the mittens faster than any other mittens I've ever knit. How is that possible?

For my friend Cobi's son (one of the twins). Again, he hasn't received it yet.

(It seems wierd that I haven't seen my best friends to give them their gifts, doesn't it? Cobi and her family are moving (big sob.) and Julie was away. I'm not THAT much of a hermit.)(haha)


Pattern: Free downloadable pdf (link to pdf on this page) at Xtreme Knitting.
Yarn: Red Heart Cozy Wool from stash.
I made this guy with bulky/chunky yarn and US8/5mm rather than worsted and US6/4mm as called for in the pattern. He turned out quite a bit bigger than the one I had made previously, which is what I wanted. I kind of like him in the variegated yarn. I think a dinosaur should have mottled looking skin. For camoflage. You know.

And, finally, a birthday gift for Cobi. I saw her on her birthday but it wasn't done yet. D'oh.

Pattern: Magknits' Sophie
Yarn: Patons SWS in "Natural Denim"
This turned out a lot smaller than I had hoped. In my defense, I was knitting it as my cold/flu was starting up and wasn't thinking so clearly. It's useable and doesn't completely look like a little kid's purse, but it's not what I was aiming for. oops.

So, that's it. From now on, I knit for ME. I'm working on a top-down sweater for myself (I'll show you a progress pic when it looks like something) and have plans for a pair of fingerless mittens for work using my handspun. (whee). I also plan to make myself a pair of Norwegian mittens from the pair that my "aunt" Evelyn lent me.

I'm also going to challenge myself to knit from stash this year. I've seen this talked about a few places and it falls in line with what I had already been thinking/planning. I have MORE than enough yarn currently on my shelves to knit all year. We'll see how long this lasts. (I like the exception that is made for spinning fiber!)

*I'm "done" but not completely done. I have 1 leg warmer and a teeny tiny tutu to make for my friend's little girl. The main gift was the tutu I showed a while ago, but after it was done I decided to do leg warmers too. Then, because Mr. Bunny needs whatever she gets, I'll work on a tutu for him from the scraps. THEN i'll be DONE done.