Christmas Round-Up

So I finished the Wendy neckwarmer.  Yay for me!  I knew it'd be a quick knit.  Just needs seaming and weaving of ends. 

With this one done, I thought I'd better make a good and proper list of all that needs completing.  Here's my progress thus far:

Nephew: Baby Sophisticate and Earflap Hat (knitting done; needs finishing)
Niece: Fishtail Cowl, Lacy Star Hat and Eyelet Yoke Cardigan (knitting done; all need finishing)
Mom: Fishtail Scarf (still knitting)
MIL: Fern & Waves Scarf (still knitting)
BIL: Wendy Neckwarmer & Fingerless Gloves (one done; other still knitting)
(By the way, the links above go to posts on my blog, but if you're a fellow Rav member you can just access my progress bars to the right).

I'm feeling pretty good.  Just a few more items.  I'm hoping to finish all in the next two weeks as November will be my "finishing" month.  There are other non-knitting Christmas items to be completed as well, but only one of these will be my project.  The rest will be completed by dear hubby.

Meanwhile, back to knitting . . .  ;)

Scarf No More

Remember that cabled scarf where I could find no love? Haven't frogged the thing--at least not yet.  The project was doomed from the start: the yarn and cables fought each other.  Besides, I hadn't considered that cables would shorten the length (thanks for that tip Knitinsage) which means I'd need more yarn--yarn that I don't have. 

So instead of a scarf, I'm falling back to a tried and true standard: the neckwarmer (aka the cowl).  I'm using a simple rib from the Wendy Scarf pattern (found in the Knitting a Pattern a Day Calendar 2008).  Moreover, I've nixed the Bernat Worsted; instead I'm using Bernat Chunky.  I must confess that I've got a soft spot for the Chunky: very soft and knits up very quickly.

Truth time:  I've made this before for my boys.  Hard to beat something that I know is gonna work.  Originally I used about 72 stitches on 5.5mm and knit until the piece measured about 5".  For the adult version, I'm using 78 stitches on 6.5mm and working until piece measures approximately 5-6". 

The plain version

The striped version

Hopefully the neckwarmer will match the fingerless gloves.  More importantly, I hope the recipient will get some use out of the items.  He definitely appreciates hand-crafted items. 

Later,

:)