What Happens to Mittens at My House

At first there were two:

Now there is one (dirty, sad, partially felted, in need of dental work) alligator mitt:

Amelia Bedelia

In case you're wondering about my other child--the one who likes to be photographed--here she is:

"They think they can keep me from climbing on things by just turning over the dining room chairs but I'll show them. Look! I can move my small chair to the buffet to get mom's computer and cell phone just fine! I'm moving on to her knitting basket next."

"Gee, do you think I look exactly like my Omi, or what?"

"I'm not up to anything, I swear!"
(Yes, those are the very same pants that I made for Jackson that are getting a second life with Amelia. ♥)

"Just being adorable, again..."

"Whoooooa, are all of those Christmas presents for ME?"

"Uncle Tom is my favorite. Sorry Uncles Rob, Joe and Nathan. I've seen him a whole lot more lately! Mom and Dad say you're welcome to come and visit any time though."

FO Report: 1st Selbuvotter

Yarn: KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Williamsburg (blue) and Cascade 220 in 8010 (ivory); 100% wool, worsted weight
Pattern: NHM #5 from Selbuvotter by Terri Shea
Needles: US6
Size: "toddler size," approximately 7" long and 3" across (that's way bigger than toddler size if you ask me)
Started: 12/26/09
Finished: 12/29/09
These mittens are the result of wanting to quickly turn out piles upon piles of mittens for Jackson this year (since he gets them soaking wet or loses them so easily) but then the project got derailed in the land of Thinking Too Much. He has a few pair of 1-color worsted weight mittens but those just don't seem warm enough for true winter play so then I went down the 2-color mitten road but was like a kid in a candy store with all of the choices and ideas.
Ooh! Snowflakes! Ooh! A snowMAN! He loves snowmen! Ooh! I could incorporate his name! etc.etc.etc.
Then I remembered that 1) these were supposed to be quick and 2) he was likely to lose them anyway so don't sweat it on these.
I know it looks like I still "sweated" it on this pair but trust me, I didn't. I'm dying to point out all of the errata on this pair of mittens but I shall refrain out of respect for my husband who always tells me that I focus on the imperfections too much (I do). But--for this pair and this pair alone--I was able to move along when I spied a color error a few rounds earlier and that, my friends, is saying a lot. The whole point was to use two colors so the yarn would be carried in the back creating a thicker-weight mitten that would do a better job of keeping out the wind. The snowflake pattern is just a happy bonus.
I will say that the thumbs suck. There, I said it. I'll consider them my practice pair of Selbuvotter and you can be sure that I'll try harder on the thumbs next time (when they're not for an almost 4yo boy who is going to have those thumbs felted in a matter of days anyway).
Speaking of that boy, I couldn't help but include these multiple photos of him "modeling" his mittens. If you read this blog often, then you know how difficult it is to get a photo of him doing anything with a smile (except for this one) and today was no different. But let me assure you that he gave me a great compliment by dropping what he was doing when I was done with the mittens and immediately putting them on both hands. He wore them for a good long time in the house too, just because he liked them so much (til he got a little too hot, that is, so at least I know they work to keep him warm). He did ask me when his Frosty mittens are going to be done (I made the mistake of telling him about my snowman idea too early) so I guess I'll have to get on those soon too. I still have to block them and am thinking about knitting an I-cord to string them in his jacket (his request). Not a bad idea for a boy who has already lost one of these.
(I love this photo...he can't totally hide his smiles!)

P.S. The mittens really aren't twisted like the left one looks in the top photo, that's just a result of not being blocked yet. I hope.

P.P.S. I was using leftover yarns for these mittens and eyeballing it on the quantity. I had just a few yards left of each...phew!

Speechless

Hats for the Homeless 2009
234 of the hats are pictured here, 50+ were already donated to the women's shelter and there were countless piles of homemade scarves, polar fleece caps and gloves...
...speechless...

Jackson Bakes

He was ***SO*** happy to help bake holiday treats for his preschool teachers today. When was the last time I got a smile like this from him??

And the winner is...

...Kate! The random number generator spewed out #1, which is Kate's position in the comments line-up (since TinkingBell was just saying hello -- hi!). Kate, I know where you are, so expect your book soon. Thanks for playing along, everyone!

P.S.

• Love having Daddy home after a long week of solo parenting.

• Love not knowing and not caring about Tiger Who.

• Love mail in December. (Right on, Janet!)

• Love Caribou Reindeer Blend...decaf.

love, friday

Giveaway: Fleece Navidad

I haven't done a giveaway on this blog in ages so I'm definitely long overdue. (Yes, I know I owe many back payments of love, friday too. Another time...)
I've told you all before that I get a kick out of these silly little knitting mysteries and Fleece Navidad by Maggie Sefton was no exception. I bought the hardcover of it last year because I really wanted to read it during the Christmas season (I know, amazing! I never buy hardcover of anything!). That didn't happen last year, but I did finally get around to it this month. And since it's a mystery, I can't tell you anything about it! Silly, fun, predictable, comfortable...definitely perfect for those who are feeling a little stressed out this season, as it requires little thought.

This book will be sent to a random winner of this giveaway, so leave your entry in the comments of this post by Friday, December 11, 8pm CST (be sure to leave a way for me to contact you). I'll put it in the mail on Saturday morning so you'll still have a chance to read it this season and enjoy the tales of a tight-knit yarn shop, a super sleuthing knitter and the *crazy* antics of this small Colorado town at Christmas time. :)

Good luck! And thanks for reading with me!

Hats for the Homeless Program on the News!

FO Report: Frosty Scarf

Yarn: Cascade Lana Grande 100% Peruvian Highland wool, colors 6022 and 6010
Pattern: just a scarf, k1p1 over 14 stitches
Needles: US13
Size: Jackson size, approximately 4' long with fringe
Started: yesterday
Finished: yesterday

Jackson is super into Frosty the Snowman this year and requested a green and white striped scarf just like the Frosty in one of his books. The kid needed a scarf anyway, so what's a good knitting mom to do except drop everything else, take the boy to the yarn store to pick out his own colors and cast on?

The bulky yarn made it a quick project and it was done just a few hours after I started it. He really did love it when he saw it this morning, though you can't tell from the photo below. I added another photo (sans scarf, taken just moments before) for proof that he's not *always* crabby.

FO Report: Gnome Hoodie

Yarn: Yarn Lust 4-ply DK weight 50% superfine alpaca, 50% wool, "Lilacs"
Pattern: Lyalya Hoodie Pattern ABC (Adult/Baby/Child) from Etsy
Needles: US4 + US6
Size: child
Started: November
Finished: November
I finally decided on the perfect pattern for this gorgeously soft yarn that my friend, Gwyneth, gave me for Amelia when she was born and I'm so happy with the results. (Redux of the first hoodie that I made this fall for The Other Amelia.) This pattern unleashes the "killing cuteness," as Kristina says. Yes, yes it does. And it's so worth it that I didn't even mind having to do it twice (I attempted the baby size first since Amelia is still so petite but it was definitely too small). There's just enough left for some matching mittens too.

FO Report: Amelia Skywalker

Yarn: Cleckheaton Country Naturals for the main color (85% wool, 15% other stuff), Knit Picks Wool of the Andes for the sash stripe (100% wool) "pumpkin"
Pattern: Oriental Lily (free pattern)
Needles: US6
Size: 24 months
Started: October?
Finished: partway through November
I found this yarn in the clearance section of my LYS (the very same yarn that I used for this and this) after I had special-ordered one more ball to finish a previous project. They weren't carrying it on their shelves anymore so obviously they had ordered a quantity just to get my one ball and then clearance-priced the rest. If that didn't make me morally obligated to buy the extra yarn, then I don't know what would. (And, at only $3 a pop, it wasn't so painful...)
I let it simmer in my stash for a while and then came across the pattern for this dress while surfing one day. Boom. Instant match. The yarn was perfect for the dress and the dress was perfect for my babe. I agonized a bit over what to do with the sash color choice (since I was only letting myself knit from stash on this one, seriously...NOT worth it to buy something just for a little sash) and was still not sure when knitting it that it would work out color-wise. But my final verdict is favorable. I like how the pumpkin sash picks up the natural flecks in the lavender/periwinkle yarn (this is way more obvious when you see it in person).

The pattern is super simple (knit from the top down in the round, no seaming) and could not be cuter. I'm making it work for Amelia this year, though it is definitely too big. Next year will be perfect!
Dan calls it her "Amelia Skywalker" dress. That's okay by me. At least I'm knitting for the force!

FO Report: Amelia's Christmas Stocking

Yarn: Cascade 220 100% wool
Pattern: Christmas Socks by Nancy Lindberg
Needles: US7 16" circular
Size: just big enough for some goodies from Santa
Started: 11/22/09
Finished: 11/30/09

Amelia finally has a Christmas stocking and we are all ready for Santa's visit this year. Amelia's is the white one with the wreaths above and mine is the red one with the trees. Dan's and Jackson's stockings are pictured below so you all can see the whole set (I did not make Simon the Cat's stocking, but it's pretty adorable, wouldn't you agree?).

I made Dan's when we were just dating and he came with me to the yarn store to pick out the colors. HE suggested (did you get that? This next part was ALL HIS IDEA) that I pick out enough yarn for oh, say, four stockings or so...just in case. Seeing as how we weren't even engaged yet, that was better than a ring! So the yarn has been simmering in my stash, waiting to be a family of stockings for all of these years. Finally, all four stockings are done. Our little family is complete.

FO Report: Red River Socks

Yarn: Elann "Sock it to Me" color 21, reinforced toes and heels with nylon thread
Pattern: Universal Toe-Up Sock Formula, k2p2 ribbing for the cuff
Needles: US1 dpns
Size: women's large
Started: sometime in the spring
Finished: just before Thanksgiving

My friend Jenn offered me a whole bunch of her sock yarn (she can no longer knit comfortably) for the simple price of knitting a pair of socks for her from her yarn. Seemed like an easy enough way to get some yarn! The socks took so long because 1.) I started them in the spring when she really wasn't going to need warm wool socks for a while and 2.) they were re-knit at least once due to not liking the pattern on my part. I will say that knitting socks for people with large feet on size 1 needles is not my most favorite pastime, but the yarns she promised were indeed beautiful and are comfortably sitting in my stash now, awaiting their futures as socks for my family.

Amelia Falls Asleep at Lunch

Christmas Preview

We broke with tradition slightly today to honor another tradition while taking advantage of having family in town. The 8th Floor Christmas display at Macy's (you old time Minneapolitans will agree that it's really Dayton's) opened this weekend and my sister really wanted to bring her 3-year old daughter, Gigi, since she'd never been and they were just in town for this week. I can't say that we reluctantly went along, because that's just not true (I adore Christmas!). But it was definitely weird to have a Christmas Preview before Thanksgiving. The kids loved it though and fun was had by all.

Jackson told Santa he wanted "all of the toys" for Christmas after pulling a Ralphie and freezing up at first. I half expected him to blurt out the BB gun line (that his father and uncles know oh so well) but he all he could come up with was "all of the toys." We'll have to work on whittling that down this month...