Small projects ... keeping me out of trouble

 Here are a couple of the small projects I've just finished up:

This is a baby set for the latest arrival to our dear friends ... this is their 8th baby and I always like to do something special when the family is large to remind myself just how precious each gift-from-God is!  These are knit with Knit Picks Wool of the Andes ... so they're 100% wool but are soooooo cozy.

Ballet Hair Snoods for two little friends who love ballet but hate having their hair put up.  I'm hoping these help their mom with getting the girls ready for class.  These are knit in a Dale of Norway Falk (a washable wool) which is a dream to use for knitting.

Lest you think I'm just doing little projects ... I just sent off a submission to Vogue for "Memories of Eire" vest made in washable worsted-weight wool.  It's a beautiful sage green color that my lovely MIL gave me for Christmas.  I also submitted Patrick the Leprechaun as a sample for a Santa Doll for the Holiday 2010 issue of Knit Simple .... we'll see if they like either design.

Right now I'm knitting for my niece's first child ... a girl who is due on 2/15/10.  I just wish I could knit faster (or more) as everytime I'm about half-way thru with one thing for this bundle of joy, I think of something else I want to add ....

What fun designing and knitting for wee ones!

Hope you're knitting muse is keeping you busy ....

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs
bhwh.mary@gmail.com

Small projects I've been working on ...

These were made for Christmas gifts this past season (but I couldn't post them till everyone had rec'd them!).  These jar cozies really make a neat, unusual gift.  I got a cute snowman fabric -- that serendipitously was designed with circles that just fit the lids -- and glued fabric to the tops of these small mason jars.  The cozies are made with wool and a quick-to-memorize lace pattern.  The larger jar is filled with potpurri while the smaller jar contains a votive candle.  Here's how the candle looks lit ...

2010 looks to be a very productive knitting year.  Here are some of the projects I've finished already and we just passed the half-way point for January:

Twinkletoes -- toe-up, two-at-a-time socks in Dale of Norway's washable wool (Falk).  String Bean loves these socks as her new pink is purple (if you know what I mean ;-' ).  Since she has such an odd foot (long, skinny toes, high arch, narrow foot), it looks like I might need to make a lot of these -- they're the first that really fit her.

This is a hat I finished for LegoManiac on Sunday.  I made him an earlier version that just didn't fit right -- it would slip side-ways to cover one ear and just wasn't right.  So ... that is relegated to the let's-remember-the-mistakes pile ... and I started a new hat while watching the Saints cream the Cardinals.  Productive game and very productive knitting ... and Lego Maniac loves the new chapeau.  It's a 3x3 rib that slowly decreases (every 8 rows after the initial 4 inches or so, at the rate of k3togs in 5-multiples) up to the knotted blip at the top to create a bit of a bull's eye pattern.  The yarn is double-stranded Knit Picks "Essentials" (renamed "Stroll") which has a lovely feel and is a washable wool.

I'm also putting the finishing touches on an aran-inspired vest for me made of gorgeous pale green washable wool my dear MIL gave me for Christmas.  I'll post pictures as soon as I tuck in ends, sew on buttons and fix it up nicely!

Enjoy the journey with your knitting muse ... now off to enjoy mine ....

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs
bhwh.mary@gmail.com

Roadtrip Sox: Last knitting of 2009

Here are my Roadtrip Socks ... I started them just before leaving South Carolina (after a fabulous post-Christmas visit), continued them on the road to North Carolina .... worked on them while visiting with dear friends in Raleigh ... and then finished them up as we headed north back to the Old Dominion!

I made toe-up, two-at-a-time, short-row heel and then a loose bo (by doubling the yarn for the last round of ribbing and then bo).  I used 2 skeins of Knit Pick's Wool of the Andes in "evergreen" -- a rich, dark forest-green and knit them on US#2 needles (so it's a pretty firm sock -- perfect for winter or hiking boots during the summer).

These socks are for me ... I like to do a ribbed foot (this one is 2x2 rib) so that it hugs my high arch and fits my Fred-Flinstone-ish feet.  After the short-rowed ss heel, I inc the knit portion of the ribs to 3sts and then do a twist stitch cable for the leg ... bo'ing off loosely to ensure the sock will fit well on my calf.

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs
bhwh.mary@gmail.com