not too much excitement around here...

I guess that's what February is all about sometimes. I've got a couple of big projects in the works, but I haven't had much time to devote to actually starting them. They involve math and measuring and stratagems and such, and my tired brain is unable to reliably solve such challenges on a weekday night. But perhaps tomorrow will provide an uninterrupted expanse of brain power. So I've been knitting small reliable things which don't require much mental capacity.

I've been working on a pair of socks for Elliott as he sprung a hole in the heel of his browny green socks. I fear that made him worry that hand knit socks are fragile and he should ration out the usage. I figure it's better to use them up and make more, so I've been cranking away at a new pair. Photo soon - its essentially a teal, lime, brown, periwinkle variegated affair. Luckily mr. e is willing to be bold with his color choices.

And I finished up some christmas socks for my friend in Philly. I think this is the last of any promised christmas knitting. She really wanted a pair of monkeys and decided on Kangaroo Dyer's Macaw colorway sock yarn from Webs. She is certainly not shy about color either:



I'll leave you with some spinning:



This is for one of the aforementioned large thinking projects. Suffice it to say I'm thinking circular yoke sweater - this handspun would be for the yoke design. Yummy roving from Fantom Farm. Still plotting...

Have a good weekend all!

month of mittens

Apparently, January was the month of mittens around here. I love mittens! They are like little sweaters for your hands. Happy wool accessories!



I got to test knit some lovely Fiddlehead mittens for Adrian at Hello Yarn. She designed the mitten pattern and handdyed the amazing palette. They are also lined with alpaca which makes them even softer and warmer. I really can't say enough nice things about these, they were a pleasure to knit. Here are some of the other color combinations on Ravelry.



I also have been secretly knitting some mittens for my mom's birthday:



pattern: various charts from Magnificent Mittens cobbled together
yarn: Hifa 2 - various colors
lining yarn: Misti Alpaca Lace doubled
needles: 2.75mm
details: The mittens are lined with alpaca which makes them super cozy and warm - well worth the extra effort. Happy birthday Mom!



So many lovely people listed Yarnbee as one of the blogs "Makes their Day". Thank you all so much, you're making me blush!

If you haven't yet, you should run and visit just a few of the blogs that make my day:

Macoco at Craft Pirate

Mel at Pipe Dreams and Purling Plans

Tomoko the Goodsmaker

Adrian at Hello Yarn

and

Elliott the resident chef at mountain of spices blogging about food

just a quickie

I've been making friends with my grandma's Singer 600 deluxe sewing machine. I forgot to take a photo, but it looks pretty much like this. We had a casual conversation over this little log cabin pillowcase that I whipped out with inspiration from Denyse Schmidt's Quilts book.



This is a combination of Marimekko fabric and some amazing fabric Lucy at Zebraknits gave me from Africa. Now this girl can sew! If you want to go see some amazing quilts - go visit her blog!



Then the Singer and I had a more serious conversation when I put her through her paces and she whipped out 8 buttonholes in grosgrain ribbon like it was nothing. I think on our next date we'll have to check out all of her decorative stitches. Anyway, the ribbon is for the bunny cardigan who quickly developed stretched out buttonholes. I'm hoping that backing the buttonbands with ribbon will solve my problem.