A Christmas Knit...Cozy

Miss Linda, my Secret Elf recipient, and my brother's girlfriend, is modeling the little beauty. The photos of just the Cozy are pre-blocking pics - I had a TERRIBLE time getting these photos posted, so forgive the layout. It's awful.

The specs are:
Pattern: Cozy
Fiber: 8 skeins of Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Chestnut
Needles: size 8 US addi turbo circulars
Measurements: pre-blocking: 18" wide by 63" long; post-blocking: 19" wide by 78" long

Please excuse the rushed photos. Miss Linda doesn't like to have her picture taken, and I was fixated on finishing and gifting the Cozy. Especially since I didn't finish knitting it until late on Christmas. Gifted the morning of the 26th. Worth the wait though, I hope...and my Mom broke her right wrist a few weeks ago, so the Mighty Righty needed help.

And now I have to finish Bobblicious. I thought it would fit comfortably over her cast and help keep her warm during this damp New England winter. And Edgar for my Dad. And a Nantasket Basket for my Mom. And a Cozy for my sister. Yikes.

The pressure is on!

Yup, the big day is bearing down on me...and I should have at least one lovely Cozy done for the big day. Provided I get some knitting time. But there's so much to do, and so many people to see!!!!

I promise to post FO pics sooooon. Certainly by the 25th :-).

Happy holidays to my brave blog readers! And thank you!

Serena is soaring to Virginia...

I completed Serena, the beauty, and she's tucked safely in a padded Fed Ex Pak winging her way to Miss Isabel right this very moment...

I knit her, tucked all those pesky ends in, gently soaked her in some newly acquired Eucalen, and then blocked her. What an experience blocking is...after 24 hours, I was fearful she wasn't going to dry, so late last night, I put a fan on her and WHOOSH, she was dry in no time.

Looking elegant and regal, here, on my dear model-friend Paula, I present to you, Serena:

The details:

Pattern & incredibly prompt and gracious pattern help:
Serena by Wendy Wonnacott for The Garter Belt
Finished Measurements: Width: 13 inches Length: 67 inches
Yarn: Panache by Knit Picks in Moss; 68 yds per skein
Yardage: 522 yards
Needle: Size 11 Addis

It's a stylish pattern which appears more difficult to knit than it truly is...

Serena, stopped dead

So I think this is possibly a great learning moment for me, I'm just not sure if I'm clear about what I need to learn, but I suspect it has to do with gauge...Here's my Serena so far:

I am using Panache (68 yards a skein) from Knit Picks, and size 11 needles. The pattern calls for a gauge of 12 sts/17 rows=4 inches. And I really did do a gauge - for about the 3rd time in my knitting life - not that that's long, but still...and I was only off a little. Maybe .5 at the most on the row count. So I thought the knitted piece might be a little small, since I purchased the yardage that the pattern called for: 270 yards. But here I am, only on row 115 or 235, and I'm out of yarn. All 4 skeins gone. So what did I do wrong?

Oh sweet Ella

Here's my progress on miss Ella...designed by Miss Wendy. You can find her prowess at www.thegarterbelt.com She's my new hero. I'll wax on more about her later...
My little Ella is being done in Brooks Farm Four Play, colorway Golden Splendor 2, on size 10s, although I think I told someone somewhere I was on size 8s. What? This progress report is brought to you courtesy of Ali.

For the love of Freds

Meet Fred. And Fred. Aren't they cute?

Fred is one of Silke's designs. She's dreamy. You can find her work at www.smallknits.com. The light blue Fred is made out of Reynolds Lopi, and the coal/mist Fred is made our of Sierra from Knit Picks. You can see Ella peeking out of my Fred...

These are my first forays into felting. Fun, easy. And mistakes are gone *poof*, and I just adore bags. Fred is considered a basket. So I guess I'm fond of baskets too.

Anxiety of the blogging and finishing kind...

So, as you can see, I'm not much of a blogger.

I have abandoned the sweater pattern that kicked off this blog - the gauge is off a little AND I need a break from the project no one seems to know what to do with...

I finished Fred. Perhaps I'll post a picture soon. It's Fred, a felted basket, from Small Knits (www.smallknits.com). Silke is my hero. I found her website thru Knitty.com - she designed Edgar. Fred came out well, my first felted project that is larger than a Christmas tree ornament. I just received some Sierra from Knit Picks - my first experience from Knit Picks - NOT to be confused with knitpixie!!!! - and I'll let you know how the yarn knits up and felts.

I'm also working on 2 hats for Charlesie. He's 2.5 and was just diagnosed with leukemia. The doctors think he's going to be OK...he's going to be bald for about 3 years, so I better get on those hats.

I also have a scarf going - a pattern of Silke's. You like that? Her first name, as though I know her. She as VERY nice via email - at least I can say we've exchanged emails.

Do you ever have finishing anxiety? I HATE finishing work...

Holy cats! I am pattern challenged!

I have finished 3 baby blankets in the past few months, and knit my first fruit cap yesterday, all so I didn't have to try to wrap my brain around this pattern. It's going to be a loverly sweater, if I ever make it past the right front corner...

So here's the schematic to the sweater that is knit in one piece, with the sleeves picked up and knitted down. Bloodquaffer, if this helps you help me, I'll be grateful. truly.

Hugs.