Look mom! Only 2 balls of yarn!

I dove into the stash and knitted up Tam C of the Three Tams from this winter's issue of Knitty. I didn't decide who it was for or have any reason for knitting other than I wanted to. I finished it in 2 evenings. I used some Cream Paton's Candiana and some leftover Colorchanges by Ironstone. I used about 1/2 a ball of the Colorchanges and less than 1/3 of the Canadiana.

It's now one of my favorite things I've ever knit. I think eventually I will be the one wearing it. It's too big for Maggie and, besides, oranges are my colors! For now it's serving as a sample at my lys. It makes me feel so good when someone sees my sample and buys yarn to make one too. Imagine how good the designer must feel!

I am actually thinking about making another one , maybe Tam B, with a black or brown main color. I saw a few on Ravelry that way and they were striking.

I really did finish the holiday knitting.

I just haven't gotten around to blogging it. I finished the snowman for my mil back in October or November.
Then I turned out the Very Cropped Top Hoodie from Magknits, for my 13 year old godchild in about 4 days. I wasn't planning on this one at all, but the lys where I work had Big Ball by Schoeller+Stahl on sale 50% off! I used only about a ball and half and size 17 needles for the whole thing. I crocheted the edging around the neckline and hood.
Then I began Blustery. I used Baby Twist in a gorgeous chocolate brown by Alpaca with a Twist. I can't say enough good things about this pattern. It's classic and well shaped. The shaping keeps things interesting and the softness of the yarn kept me chugging along. I got to learn how to do a tubular cast on and a sewn tubular cast off. Both of these techniques produced beautiful professional looking results, but, be forewarned they take for freakin' ever. I'm glad I did it though, and I will no doubt use them again. The vest was blocking by 10:30 AM on Christmas Eve morning. A personal best for me. I did have to sew on the buttons and wrap it after midnight, but the actual knitting was done. I still need a modeled shot. My mom wore it the one day I didn't have my camera with me. I'll show you the boring flat shot though.
About 3/4 of the way through Blustery, I stopped for a quickie, one skein project. This time I used Big Baby by Alpaca with a Twist (I love this stuff!) and made some cabled fingerless mitts for Maggie's kindergarten teacher. It took less then an evening each. I used size 10 needles and had to skip a few rows of the pattern to make sure I had enough yarn. I finished with just a couple yards leftover.
Thus concludes my very first round of holiday knitting that ended without a minor breakdown on my part. Now, I'm eagerly knitting projects that had been put on hold for the holidays. It's so nice to have no deadlines!

Sock, interrupted

Not only have I knit a pair of socks for myself (not shown here because they are too embarrassing to post), I took the leftover and turned it into a sock. And that little ball next to it? That's going to be the other one. And here's the amazing thing, I, your Resident Sock Hater, came up with that toe-up design based on some hidden mathematical genius that surfaced only for a few moments, allowing me to do make up my own baby sock. I am so impressed with myself, I could just knit. Each sock used 40 yards, so if you are ever in a stash-busting mood, these are the socks for you. In an ideal world, the sock itself would have been a little smaller and the cuff a little longer. But it's not bad for cutting out on my own, dontcha think? I know Elisa will be so proud. I used Vesper yarn, which I picked up when I bought some for the yarn swap with Elisa. If anyone wants the specifics I will be happy to post them for you.

Now I must go and NOT balance my checkbook.