new projects

It's the season for gift-knitting. At least, it's the season of realizing that if you're going to knit gifts, you had better start NOW.
I have a list. I'm getting started. But there are many pictures I will not be able to post! They are gifts, after all, and shall be kept secret until their gifting.
I'll show whatever I can.

new Jitterbug

I taught a sock class last week, and this is the sock I worked on during class. Dusk colorway, very pretty. I always divide sock skeins that have punk yardage, and the picture above shows how little yarn I had left at the end of this sock.
Will start the second today, probably, so that I can wear them soon. It's cool today--sock season is upon us!

Opal re-knitted

Finally, the purple Opal socks are done! I knitted these a few years ago when I got back into making socks, but they were too narrow, and I didn't like the gauge. A few months ago I decided to reknit them. After the first sock was finished, I couldn't find the yarn for the second sock. Luckily it turned up and now the socks are finished and much better than the originals.

lining freeform purses, and finished monkeys!

I've been lining some of the freeform purses that I made last year. Here's a yucky overly bright close up of Sherry's purse, about to be lined.
And a nicer shot of the whole purse in better light!










This one is my mom's, and it's actually been lined already and returned. I couldn't resist a close up of a spiral and bullion shell.

























Not one, but two, two (!) finished monkeys. And no, I'm not that fast, it's just that both pairs have been on the needles for a while. I'm in the midst of a sock-finishing-frenzy. Two pairs to go, then I can start something fresh and new.

disco monkeys

No, not dancing monkeys, but disco yarn monkey socks! The pair is almost finished for my mom!

market bag

Here's a quick project--it's the market bag from the Classic Elite website. The pattern is free, and it takes just 2 balls of Provence, a mercerized cotton. Here's the link: http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/pattern_detail.php?patternID=30


It's been a fun couple of days for knitting. Finishing a pillow and the bag in one day is exciting! Now I'm going to finish a few pairs of socks so that I can move on to new projects.
More details about other projects you can see in the photo: the orange purse is Margaret's felted bag pattern knitted in 220, the pink sweater is a Cindy Walker easy baby sweater knitted in Tessin, and the blue shawl is Margaret's Vine Lace Shawl pattern knitted in Colinette Mohair. All patterns and yarns can be found at Cozy in Durham.

finished pillow

This is the first of 4 - 6 pillows to go in my dining room chairs. It's a little brighter and wilder than I had originally intended, but it's not too terribly bad. The next few pillows will probably be more subdued, especially on the large spiral side.
After I did the spiral itself, I did the surface embellishment the same as the small spirals on the front. I may leave it off the next one, or at least use colors that blend a little more.
The other problem I'll try to avoid in future pillows is that the top and back are both a little bit bigger than they need to be. Here's a situation where you really need negative ease . I worry that with use, this pillow will start to get a little loose and floppy. Should be easy enough to fix on the next one.

jitterbug

Remember these socks? They're Colinette Jitterbug, and they are my favorite socks of all that I've made. Today, there is new Jitterbug yarn on the shelves at Cozy! This color, Florentina, is not there yet. Alas, it is back-ordered. The other colors are great, though, so go check them out.
Joyce, your skeins are on hold and you can go in and get them as soon as you're ready!

No knitting, but some crochet

Not too much knitting or crocheting going on right now, but little bits of progress can be seen here and there.
First, the market bag I'm working on for the shop. It's a free Classic Elite crochet pattern that can be found on their website. I'm halfway through the bag.






Next, the crochet spiral pillow. It's time to sew the front and back together, but that's no fun, so I'm procrastinating!
I decided a few days ago that it would be a lot easier to work on this project if I could see all of the yarns available. Now the guest bed is covered. Guess that means no guests for a while........
If you look past the pillow top, you can see the loose spirals for the next pillow waiting for their surface embellishment.

yarn sale

Get ready for the anniversary sale at Cozy in Durham this weekend. Yarn is on sale Sunday from 12 - 5 (all yarn is 25% off. Yes, all yarn!), and the clothes and shoes and some other things are on sale Saturday from 10 - 5. This marks Cozy's 6th year in business, and it's the owner's birthday weekend, too. So, say happy birthday to Deb if you see her!