sounds like a plan



"they seek him here"

One of my unannounced resolutions* this year was that whenever I finished a project I would knit a hat for the Christmas shoeboxes (Operation Christmas Child). It's always a scramble in Sept/Oct to knit a hat or two, yet I collect toys and stationery for the boxes all year round, so it makes sense to knit hats all year round too.

I knit "they seek him here" by Elly Doyle, in March, modelled here by Jen. It's a straightforward pattern and makes a good unisex hat.

After I finished Jack's (as yet unblocked) Alien scarf I rattled out another Ralph hat. This is a simple hat, suitable for all ages, which I've made a few times in various colours. It's good for TV knitting, particularly when I'm watching subtitled Danish TV programmes! (We're enjoying watching The Bridge at the moment, it's gripping)

It would be easy just to churn out basic hats from all the leftovers in my stash, but I want to have fun too, so today I cast on Cashmere Cosy by Loraine Birchall. Like Elly Doyle's pattern this was published in Knit Now which specialises in accessories and is a good resource for hats and cowls.

I'm not sure if I should choose some hats or socks for the Ravelympics (thank you for reminding me!) I need to choose something for the Tour de Fleece too, the Euros in Pol/kraine and Wimbledon. It might be a lot of hats. It will certainly take a fair bit of planning!

*my resolutions are usually unannounced, it's easier that way!

Galaxy

this week I finished a snood/cowl for Jen, knitted in King Cole Galaxy.

This is a pattern from Knit Now, a UK knitting mag which specialises in accessories rather than adult garments. The designer is Sam Parfitt and I like her quirky, contemporary style. The dropped stitches were a bit fiddly as the yarn has quite a fuzzy halo, but a small sized crochet hook helped me to drop the stitches all the way down. This is the first time that I've done a pattern with dropped stitches and I like the effect. I still have almost a full ball of yarn left so I may have to produce a pair of handwarmers for Jen.

Next in the queue is a scarf for Jack:  Alien Illusion Scarf, by Shetha Nolke from the original Stitch and Bitch book. I've been promising him this scarf for a couple of years, so I'd better ignore all my wip socks and make this for him. I don't know if he wants it as a standard scarf or in the new style of loop scarves (where the ends are joined to make a loop). I've not done an illusion pattern before so I'm looking forward to seeing how this comes out.

While I wait for him to get back to me I'm going to focus on my landgirl top. I feel as if I have too many UFOs and need to finish some stuff!

Galaxy, aliens and UFOs? This is a bit sci-fi this post!!

knit now

I'm very biddable, so I will!!
(cue hubby rolling around on floor laughing manically!!)
A new knitting mag has just been launched in the UK , edited by one of my online pals Kate Heppell. It's a bright cheery encouraging mag, with a contemporary feel and full of patterns for the intermediate knitter (like me).
Iss 1 comes with a free circ needle and has a very useful "beginner's guide" supplement, which also contains 12 patterns. I particularly like the children's mittens which have animal faces on them.
I hope this new mag does well, it must take a lot of energy , commitment and determination to launch a new venture in the current depressed economic climate. Kate (Kitty) is very smart and I'm sure this will do well.
now then, where's my knitting? must get on, I've been told to after all!