What I’m loving about this project is that the center squares are made up entirely of leftovers and scraps — those too-big-to-throw-out-but-too-small-for-its-own-project bits.  Because the gender of the baby is unknown, I chose chocolate brown as a unifying color — not only is it gender-neutral but it also tones down some of the wilder colors inside the squares.  The brown is my favorite Valley Yarns Superwash.

As you can see from the photos, I’ve finished the 20 squares and they’re now blocking.  I just need to crochet them together and then decide on a border pattern.  I’m also knitting a matching hat, using the brown for the ribbed brim and striping the very last bits of those leftovers.  It should be a cute shower gift! 

I used Valley Yarns Northampton Bulky.  I also finished a super cute Hoot Toque for one of my editors who is having a baby (and the gender is not yet known):

This is a pattern I would not have looked at twice at had I not seen my friend Sarah’s totally adorable version in real life — so thank you, Sarah!  I used Knit Picks Swish – I had ordered the color (marine heather, a sort of teal-y blue)  online a long time ago for something else, but when it arrived, it wasn’t what I had expected and didn’t work for that project.  It turned out to be perfect for this project.  Funny how that goes…  As far as the eyes, the pattern calls for a perfectly executed circular chain embroidery stitch, which I was not confident I could pull off as expertly as Sarah did.  So I did a little searching and decided to instead do the crochet eyes from this pattern, complimented with bobbles that I use on my hats.  It worked out well.

Meanwhile, I started on a new doll quilt using more scraps that my friend gave me:

I’m just kind of winging it, trying to make one of those scrappy looking brick quilts that I love so much.

Finally, I finished the MOST amazing book and I feel compelled to tell everyone about it.  It’s called The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.  It is in my all-time top 10 list — and I read a lot so that’s really saying something!

The photos is pre-blocking.  (I ordered some sock blockers from Webs but they’re backordered and haven’t arrived yet.)  I *love* them.  They are cute and comfy.  I’ll definitely use Cascade Heritage again — it seems to be a more affordable substitute for Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, my all-time favorite sock yarn. 

Meanwhile, I also whipped up this adorable (if I do say so myself) cupcake hat:

It’s for a friend who is having her fourth child, her first girl, by surrogate no less.  Since this friend has long wanted a girl, I wanted to find an especially girly pattern.  I think this one fit the bill.  I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes and Swish.

I’ve also been knitting a ton of hats to give to an organization that works with the homelesss.  I’ll post a picture when they’re all done…

I’m on the second sock and have about 1.5 repeats left on the foot and then I just have to do the toe.  They are very fun and surprisingly quick.  They’re not done yet because I’ve also been working on other projects, including hats for new babies in our school community and hats I’ll be donating to an organization that works with the homeless.  I’ve also been crocheting a very small (20-square) version of the granny square afghan – made up almost entirely of scrap yarns — for a friend having a baby this spring (the friend who modeled my Kelly mitts – see below for more on that). 

Meanwhile, at a stitch ‘n bitch this week, I inherited copious amounts of a discontinued yarn: Kid ‘N Ewe (thanks, Valerie!):

It’s a light worsted wool-mohair blend in an olive green.  I have more than a sweater’s worth.  Any suggestions of what to make with it?

Finally, I am very excited that my Kelly mitts pattern is in the Knit Picks IDP program – yea!

Jan. 1, 2011

Dec. 31, 2011

* I did misnumber a few times but there is a photo for every day of the year.

I used Madeline Tosh Chunky in a pretty grey and it knit up in just a few days.  She’s already worn it and it looked great, if I do say so myself.  Speaking of Hanukkah, I got a gift certificate to Imagiknit that I will look forward to using.  Meanwhile, I started a pair of Monkey socks in blue Cascade Heritage, my first attempt at finding a suitable, cheaper alternative to my all-time favorite (but pricey) sock yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock.  So far so good.  I am going old school and knitting these one at a time (though still on two circulars).  And I got another custom Etsy order (pink, GIA), which I whipped up in a jiffy because I am enjoying the sock knitting so much.  More to come! 

As you can see, it has pride of place among the dolls in our house.  Hopefully the dolls won’t notice the flaws — the mis-matched corners, the wonky dimensions, the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants machine quilting (see below), the binding that looks remarkably better on the final edge than on the first edge.

I’ve already got some fabric picked out for the next doll quilt.  I am loving the fabric hand-me-downs – it makes me feel very free to practice and to screw up.  Meanwhile, I picked up this great reference book:

Every once in awhile, I get a hankering for some colorwork and this book is going to be a great inspiration.  Before the book arrived, I winged it on this new sweater for my new dog:

And, finally, I am continuing to love my new Audible subscription.  I’ve listened to Little Women (heavenly!) and Bossypants, read by Tina Fey herself.  (My girl crush on her is now firmly cemented.)  I’m now onto The Great Gatsby.  Loving every minute of these books.

(FYI — My pregnant friend modeled for me.  I am not pregnant!)

Like my Parker pattern, they are fingerless mitts.   Classic, colorful and a wee bit preppy, these three-color fingerless mitts feature both horizontal and vertical stripes. The mitts are knit flat and then seamed after vertical ridges are slip-stitched with a crochet hook.  (Thanks, Diana, for the long-ago suggestion of the androgynous name Kelly, which fits this design perfectly!)

Right now, the pattern is for sale on Ravelry.  I have also submitted the pattern to Knit Picks’s IDP program (I used Knit Picks Swish Worsted) and I’m waiting to hear back.  The pattern should also soon be up on Patternfish.

I hope you like them!

I used my phone so the shot isn’t great but you get the idea.  I brought 29 hats.  (I would have had 30 but a few days before one of my day-job editors bought the yellow/black/white one she saw here.)  I sold 21, which was great.  It’s always a mystery to me what will sell and what won’t and in any event it seems to change every year.  For example, this one below I received several compliments on via the blog and I was surprised it didn’t sell.  (My daughter claimed it for herself last night!)

When I returned home, I packaged several m0re of the remaining hats to send to Halos of Hope.

That leaves my already teeny Etsy shop pretty bare, but in a good way.  I’m excited to have moved out some older hats and to get inspired making new ones.  Speaking of being inspired, I’ve mentioned a few times a design idea that didn’t work as a hat but that I was attempting again as another accessory.  The good news is: it worked!  I’ll be knitting the mate (does that give you a hint as to what it is?), writing up the pattern and releasing it sometime in the next few weeks.

I promise I will stop blogging about hats — once this craft fair is over.  In my queue:

– another dog sweater, using a different pattern, maybe incorporating some fair isle

– a pair of Monkey socks (a project inspired by my awesome Cookie A. class)

– another stab at a design project (which didn’t look great as a hat but may work for another accessory)

– maybe, maybe a Rocky Coast Cardigan, if I stop being gun-shy after my last garment disaster

In the meantime, I think I’ll peruse some Cyber Monday deals!