Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year break!

I got some new yarn from my daughter and husband for Christmas.  One of the yarn I got from my husband was the same exact yarn I grabbed for my daughter for Christmas!  We laughed as we opened our gifts because the yarn also had the same colour and dye lot!  My husband was probably confused when he saw me wrapping the yarn for my daughter, he asked me what I'm doing with the yarn lol

I finished knitting the seamless hybrid sweater one day after Christmas.  I'm really happy how it turned out, it fits my husband so well!  I still can't believe I knitted this in 10 days.  That was a lot of knitting!

I started knitting a lace shawl called Traveling Woman for my grandmother's birthday.  It's almost done.  I'm on the chart B on row 14 right now.  I left this work aside for a couple days because I kept dropping stitches.  I was too tired to go back and fix it.  Today I got back to it and it's ready to finish.  I'm glad I took some break from it because knitting lace doesn't go well when I'm frustrated.  I guess it's time for me to invest in getting some lace needles.  I'm blaming my needles for not being sharp enough :P

Ok, so here's my Knitting New Year's resolutions!

1. Try at least one colourwork project. 
2. Knit my mom a sweater.
3. Knit more for myself :-)

I'm not going to try knitting a pair of socks or a shawl every month this year.   Not that I accomplished last year but I think knitting should be something enjoyable, relaxing and fun for me.

I wish everyone a happy new year 2011!  Happy knitting!

Holiday Knitting

Christmas is coming soon.  I've been knitting a lot lately!  I started a men's sweater, Zimmermann's Seamless Hybrid last Friday.  This is the last Christmas gift to knit this year.  I probably won't make it by Christmas, but I managed to finish the body and a sleeve so far...  I'm almost done with the other sleeve, a few more rounds to go.

I knitted a Baby Chalice Blanket as a gift for my daughter.  I worked on this secretly when my daughter was not around.  It turned out beautiful!  I can't wait to see her face when she opens it.

I've also finished a couple other things.  The Owls sweater by Kate Davies and a Mystery Beret by Woolly Wormhead.  You can view all of my projects here if any of you are interested!

Happy Holidays & Knitting, everyone!

Started a New Pair!

I started knitting a new pair of socks.  The pattern is called "Gentleman's Fancy Socks" by Nancy Bush which is in a book called Knitting Vintage Socks.  I always wanted to try out this pattern, love the classic design!

This yarn had no label so I don't know anything about it, but it's turning out great.  The first one is almost done.  It's really warm and it feels good, I wonder what the name of the yarn is?

I was trying on my socks I knitted in the past to see which one's better.  I've only knitted two pair of socks for myself (and a pair for my husband & daughter).  Hmm... the conclusion?  ....I like them all!  They are all unique, warm, cute and homemade looking, can't compare with machine made socks.

I totally failed on knitting a pair every month in 2010 as I declared in January, but I might try it again next year.  Knitted socks make our feet happy :-)

Almost a Hat, Cowl

I was going to knit a hat but I changed my mind...  made a cowl instead :-)

Yarn: 1 skein of bulky weight yarn (about 100 yards).  I used Tosca by Lang Yarns.
Needles: 7 mm 16" circular needles
Gauge: 12.0 sts = 4 inches
Required Skills: Cast on, Knit, Purl, Knitting in a circle, Bind off
Size: One size

Abbreviations:
K - knit
P - purl
M1 - make one
sts - stitches

Instructions:
Cast on 50 sts loosely and join in round.
K1, P1 ribbing for 2 inches. 
Knit 1 round.
Repeat K5, M1 until end of round. (60 sts)
Knit until the work measures 10" from the cast on edge.
Bind off loosely.

Crocheted Circle Scarf

This cowl goes around your neck twice.
The Ravelry page for this pattern, please click here!

Yarn: 1 skein (210 yards) of Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted
Hook: 6.5 mm (K)
Required Skills: Chain, Join in the Round, Double crochet

Instructions (Updated Dec 10, 2010):

1. Using 6.5 mm hook, make at least 105 chains loosely  (or more if you want your cowl to be loose around your neck.  Make sure the chain goes around your neck/head twice comfortably).  
2. Join in the round with a slip stitch in the first chain to form a ring.  Be careful not to twist.
3. Make three chains, start double crochet in the second stitch.  Work a double crochet in each remaining stitch of a round;  total 104 stitches of double crochet, 105 stitches with the first three chains.  (Click here for more instructions on double crochet by Annie's Attic.)
4. At the end of the round, join the first and last stitches of the round with a slip stitch by inserting the hook into the second chain of the three chains.
5. Continue 3 & 4 until the work measures 7" or desired length.  
6. Weave in ends.

Please feel free to contact me if you find any errors in the instructions!