Baby hats!

Earlier this year I knit baby hats for the adorable babies of a friend. So nice to show the FO actually on the rapidly growing little bundles!

Here is a more flattering shot of brother and sister. So, so sweet!

It's not about how many

The daughter of the Yarn Harlot answered my question: See "Excuse the seventh." Her daughter, Sam, apparently identified me as a knitter from a distance wearing grey bobbles, pink lace, and brown cables.

With my own lack of a hip-and-trendy teenager to query regularly, I seek out others who may be hip-and-trendy. I'll take Sam for now. My current projects in progress nor stash support her recommendation, but I'll take it under advisement.

How many is too many?

I went out for my daily knitting walk around the Capitol today. I was quite chilly yesterday and had to pop inside to warm up, so today, I bundled more appropriately. However, as I ventured out, I pondered if I could be too hand-knitted? I inventoried my current hand-knit coverings and rationale:

Bobble hat - essential for under 30 degrees. Okay.
Fingerless mittens - essential for outside winter knitting. Okay.
Lacy scarf - maybe not critical, but the breeze in a cotton turtleneck yestderday left me a bit chilled. Okay.
Icelandic sweater (the version I knit) - it's the core of today's outfit. Okay.
Socks - I specifically chose knit wool socks over thinner storebought ones today. Okay.
Socks - knitting project in progress. Does it count? That's the reason for going outdoors. Okay.

Well, I certainly seemed justified in my draping of handknits. But still I wonder, how much is too much?

The Mitt-a-long continues with fine progress to report! AM came over today with her completed mitten who visited with mine.

How handsome they are!

The companions are under contruction now.

It's coming!

One would think that I would still be basking in the Thanksgiving through New Year's holiday glow. But no, a total of 11 vacation and holidays (give or take) in the past eight weeks isn't enough. I am SO looking forward to a four-day holiday weekend! I have plans to stamp, knit, work out, cook, loaf, nap - oh the possibilities!

Happy Lee-Jackson and MLK, Jr. Days!

A visit to Helsinki

In this week's Knitter's Review, the author reviewed, with glowing remarks, yarn from a hand-dyer in Helsinki. I found out about her from Stewart, the owner of The Yarn Lounge, just prior to our visit to Helsinki last summer. I had the joy to meet Leena and pick out yarn and a mitten kit in person at her booth.

Leena and her husband share a booth - she sells her lovely yarn beside her husband's photos. She is charming.

And her booth is next to this

And thisAnd this

And this

And thisAnd this

Every day.

And she lives equidistant between Helsinki (photos above) and Turku, where you can find this view.

Pretty tough, huh?

Here are my purchases from her. Some sock yarn

And a mitten kit.

Her mother writes the mitten patterns. They are pre-boxed, but I was able to swap out the yarn to make my own color creation.

Good for Leena and yay for all of us who get her yummy yarn!

Mittens - take two

We're rejuvenating a mitten knit-along! Also known as a mitt-along. I tried once before with limited results. I recently solicited a lesson on wrapping floats from the experts at The Yarn Lounge Man, they know their stuff! Amazing how utilizing correct, or at least more efficient, techniques can make knitting so much easier. They are coming along much better this time. Still a bit bumpy. Definitely pink.

I'm keeping the project in my lovely silk Lantern Moon bag from The Yarn Lounge. It's sumptuous.

It's even more lovely in person. An indescribable, iridescent purple.

I'm also working on socks from the new Interweave Knits. Also progressing pretty well.

I this will be a good lunchtime walking project - a simple (as long as one pays attention) two row repeat, with a fine, distinct pattern.

Happy New Year knitting!

Happy New Year !!!

Ah, the resolution possibilities. Work out more? Lose weight? Write more notes to friends? Make more cards? Knit more? Finish more projects? Cook more? Bake more? Keep a cleaner desk? A cleaner car?

I'll go with laugh a little more.

All the best for a fun and prosperous 2009!