FO: Monster Mania

I had so much fun making the Penelope Sisters that I decided to create another grouping, this time for my nieces and nephews. Since all four are under the age of 5, I went the practical route on the yarn. There's just something so cute (at least to me) about super-sized monsters for little kids, so I chose super bulky.

Pattern: Penelope the Empathetic Monster by Rebecca Danger

Yarn: Wool-Ease Thick & Quick (Sky Blue, Lemongrass, Fig)

They we a big hit — not that you'd exactly know that from this I Love Lucy attempt at a group photo.

FO: Taos Transverse

The only thing I've been working on longer than this now finally finished cardigan is the Moderne Log Cabin... and that's a blanket, so much more deserving of the extended timeframe.

I'm very happy to announce that it was finished in time to make it under the tree for my mother.

Pattern: Transverse Cardigan by Ann Weaver

Yarn: Hand-dyed yarn from 2010 Taos Wool Festival

Good thing she liked it enough to be willing to pose for the FO photos. Izzy helped with the photoshoot so she gets the credit/blame for the final goofy pose. And, yep, that's Northern Minnesota in late December — just barely enough snow to call it a White Christmas.

Happy Holidays!

Lots of Christmas knitting to unveil here in the next week or so (after it's all been opened). But in the meantime wanted to send out quick holiday wishes from mine to yours. May your days be merry and bright!

FO: Tweedy Cowl

Waste not, want not? Well, maybe want less. Loved the yarn used for the Penelope "sisters," so I  was happy to discover I had enough green left over for this small infinity scarf/cowl.

Pattern: Nederland Circle Scarf by Cecily Glowik

Yarn: Queensland Collection Rustic Tweed in Forest Green

This is the time of year when I really start appreciating Albuquerque — chilly days with fading leaves instead of falling snow. Perfect Thanksgiving weather.

FO: Nightfall Woodsmoke

Nothing like 200+ yards of edging to chisel away at a lingering anxiety about knitting lace.

Pattern: Woodsmoke Scarf by Jared Flood

Yarn: Knit Picks Gloss Fingering (Cosmos & Robot)

I bought the yarn back in January with a holiday gift card, knowing that I wanted to knit this scarf. I then proceeded to keep looking at the pattern in Brave New Knits... and keep wimping out. Finally my desire for the finished object won out.

Now the anxiety and delay the lace caused seems pretty laughable. (It's a mere 8-row repeat over 5 stitches!) The hardest part was figuring out how to join it to the caterpillar created by picking up all 632 stitches in the perimeter.

After that, watching the lace edging grow and the scarf unfurl was really fun — and went too fast. Wait...  Who'd have ever thought I'd say 200+ yards of lace went too fast?

FO: Monster Mash

My finishing plans for the knitted monsters got derailed last weekend by my own little monsters. And, to be fair, my growing addiction to Pinterest is also partly to blame. It seems Halloween is approaching Christmas in this house in terms of build up and activities.

Along with trying out Ghost Cupcakes (and a half-dozen other Halloween-themed foods), last weekend Izzy's school had its first Monsters on the Mesa fundraising event, complete with a 1K costume parade for the kids and dogs. Dorothy & Toto were reprised, but this time with a wig. (Note: I've long since expected to get a shot of both looking at the camera at the same time.)

But this weekend, thanks to a light activity load (and that extra precious hour), both monsters were assembled and photographed. Here they are before the purple one heads off to MN tomorrow to a good friend's daughter who is like a sister to Izzy (who's hanging on to the other one).

Pattern: Penelope the Empathetic Monster by Rebecca Danger

Yarn: Queensland Collection Rustic Tweed
(Forest Green & Grape)

Monsters and Scarves and UFOs, Oh My!

There's been lots of knitting lately — between Izzy's skating lessons and her twice-weekly OT/Brain Training sessions, I've managed to squeeze in a remarkable amount of  "out and about" needle time. Concentrated, at-home finishing time? Seemingly impossible to find. Evidence:



A. Woodsmoke Scarf that only needs a half-dozen kitchener stitches (yes, I still fear them) and blocking
B. Tweedy Cowl that needs, geez, four ends woven in and blocking
C. Two Penelope Monsters that have been blocked and stuffed and only need assembling
D. Most shameful of all, a Transverse Cardigan that needs 1-1/2 side seams and buttons sewn on (and that's been at this state for nearly a year)

To motivate myself this weekend to finish up at least the monsters (one of which is now an overdue birthday present), I've set that finishing as a hurdle for casting on a Chadwick with the two skeins of Tanis Fiber Arts I splurged and ordered recently (Mallard and Chestnut). Seriously, folks, the colors of this yarn are even more stunning in person. 

My plan has one major flaw, though. I have 1-1/2 hours of lobby time tomorrow evening during Izzy's OT session. And no way, no how can I sit there without any knitting. Looks like I have a Scarflette to cast on... Make that re-cast on. (But that's a story for another day.)

PSA, Fellow Knitters: Tanis just launched a line of Merino-Cashmere-Silk yarn, and she's giving away a skein with a pattern she designed. Enter before Halloween! (And any family looking for Christmas ideas, consider this a big-ole-hint! ;-)