Pattern: February Lady Sweater / Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash / Raveled here.

I made the size XL and used about 7 and a half balls of the Cascade 220 superwash (I had purchased 9, in case). To get gauge, I used US7 needles rather than the US8 that the pattern calls for.

I chose to make three-quarter length sleeves. There are 19 lace repeats (one from prior to where you cast off for the sleeve, and 18 knit after picking up the stitches again) plus 8 garter ridges to make the cuff.

So now that my sweater is done, I’m itching for what’s next … ?

Suddenly I feel a lot more competent where larger garments are concerned, and digging through my stash, I remembered I had a bunch of balls of King Cole Splash DK and a vest pattern I’d picked up quite some time ago.

The bright green makes me think of springtime, which I am looking forward to. It seems like a really “happy” knit to shake the winter BLAHs. So I’m casting this on tonight! I’m excited!!

I’m also thinking I need to get back to my sock knitting. I’ve been tempted to buy some more sock needles (I prefer 32″ circulars to magic loop) because I swear mine disappear (erm, or they just might still be located on a bunch of unfinished sock projects *ahem*).

I signed up for the 2010 Rockin’ Sock Club from Blue Moon Fiber Arts (and am so psyched for the January shipment). However… I realized I still have all these from the 2009 club to knit: Rogue Roses, Fraggle Squiggle, In Season, Knetted, and Raven Swirl. (I have the yarn wound for Rogue Roses and Fraggle Squiggle … that’s a start, right?)

… And we won’t even discuss how many kits from the 2008 and 2009 Loopy Ewe Sock Club I have yet to knit. (*cough*mostofthem*cough*) I don’t think I’ll be signing up (or rather, putting my name into the sign-up lottery) for that one this year because unlike the Rockin’ Sock Club, spaces are limited in Loopy Ewe’s, and I’ve been a member two years in a row — it is someone else’s turn.

So anyway… once I’m over this small obsession with knitting bigger garments, I need to get back to socks. Lots and LOTS of socks.

(Sadly it’s not even my oldest unfinished project … that award goes to my Clapotis, which I started in June ’08.)

I was worried when I dug out my February Lady that I’d have trouble figuring out where I left off. Thank goodness the lace pattern is only a repeat of four rows (two of which are “purl”), so it didn’t take long to pick it up again

Whew!!

So now I have the entire body of the sweater done and I just have to knit the sleeves. I haven’t decided for sure whether to make them three-quarter length or long sleeves.  (I’m leaning toward three-quarter.) I guess I’ll start and see how I like it as it comes along.

I’m hoping to have it finished on or before my birthday, which is February 24th. Think I can make it?!

P.S. The Blue Moon Fiber Arts Rockin’ Sock Club for 2010 is now open for sign-ups! You better believe I signed up for the next year — there’s going to be some phenomenal pattern designers participating again this year. I can’t wait! Christmas present to myself… heh.

Koolhaas hats [rav-link]…

… and the Scallop-Edge Beaded Necklace [rav-link] from 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders.

And more Koolhaas hats (numbers 5 and 6, for the record).

AND MORE Scallop-Edge Beaded Necklaces (I have 5 more done than are pictured here).

Yup.

While at the Yarn-Over, I discovered this little project that has quickly become my new addiction…

The pattern is the Scallop-Edge Beaded Necklace [Rav link] from 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders. I’ve had the book for quite some time, but this particular pattern has never caught my eye till now. I think it was partially because I’m not the type of person who can pick out yarn and beads to match — thankfully these little kits took care of that!

The kits come with everything except the pattern (you need the book for that, of course): yarn, beads, toggle-clasp, and even a floss-threader to string the beads.

I bought three kits the night of the Yarn-Over event and cast on immediately. By the end of the evening, I’d finished all three!

… and by that time I was so hooked that I decided to buy three more kits before I left.

I have it down to just over an hour for total time to make one, from stringing the beads to sewing on the toggle-clasp. What a great little project!

Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas?!

I knitted this one using Cascade Venezia in a gorgeous shade of vibrant red. It matches my winter coat perfectly. I can hardly express my love for this yarn! Lucky for me, my local yarn shop carries it in tons of colors.

(Or perhaps that should be un-lucky me, or at least un-lucky for my wallet.)

I think I’m about done with my Koolhaas obsession for this year. I may do one more. I’m thinking a nice white or cream in the Venezia yarn would be yummy!

I’ve been looking for something new to cast on. The two pairs of socks I’ve had waiting on the needles just haven’t cut it for me.

That’s when I came across the 5th Avenue Infinity Scarf, which is currently among Ravelry‘s top 10 patterns. It’s such a simple pattern, but so beautiful! I knew I had to cast it on right away.

I decided to use some Classic Elite Princess that I had originally bought for a different project. Princess is positively delicious yarn too. In the ball, it’s kind of deceivingly dull, but once you start to knit with it, you discover how wonderful it is. The fiber content is pretty much the “sugar and spice and everything nice” of the fiber-world:  40% Merino, 28% Viscose, 10 Cashmere, 7% Angora, 15% Nylon.

Plus, in case you haven’t heard: the snood/infinity scarf is the accessory for this winter. Who’da thunk?

After one false-start that resulted in a complete rip/do-over, I think I may have conquered the Koolhaas.

I was so intimidated by this pattern. But once it “clicks”, suddenly it becomes so incredibly fun and clever! Oh how I love you, Jared Flood!

This particular Koolhaas is a gift, but all I can think about is making myself one out of this gorgeous Cascade Venezia that the shop has in stock right now. I’m seriously considering swapping out some of my sock-knitting Christmas gifts to do more of these hats. (Is this an illness?)

Now that Gordy is done (and temporarily taking up residence at the knit shop), I’ve started working on more gift-knitting…

Pattern: Dead Simple Lace Socks
by Wendy Johnson (from Socks from the Toe Up)
Yarn: Fiber Optic Yarns Footnotes in “Jellybean”

I have two pairs of socks on the needles right now. One is a gift for a mid-December birthday, and the other is a Christmas gift. I have at least four more pairs of socks I’d like to finish for Christmas gifts, and ideally I’d like to finish six pair (the latter two can be replaced with store-bought gifts if absolutely necessary).

Pattern: Short-Row Toe and Heel Basic Socks (modified)
by Wendy Johnson (from Socks from the Toe Up)
Yarn: Zen String Loopy Legends in “LB’s Lucky Day”

I’m still hooked on Wendy Johnson‘s Socks from the Toe Up. Surely you’re all tired of hearing me go on and on about it — but seriously, you NEED this book. Every sock I’ve knitted lately has been from this book, either exactly as the pattern says or with a little different ribbing added to one of the plain vanilla recipes. I just can’t get enough. Those other six socks I’m hoping to knit as Christmas gifts? All from this book. I love it.

Because my hands occasionally need a break from fingering weight yarn and size 1 needles, I threw in a couple worsted-weight hats…

Pattern: Kiddie Cadet from KathrynIvy.com
Yarn: Encore Tweed in “Hunter”

It is so incredibly difficult to find cute things to knit for little boys. I thought the Kiddie Cadet hat fit the bill pretty well (though it would certainly be equally cute for a girl). Plus it was just a nice deviation from the typical beanie or skull-cap style hat.

I’m loving the Encore Tweed yarn also. It seems to have a slightly softer and loftier feel than original Encore (unless they’ve changed their “formula” since the last time that I knitted with it). Has anyone else noticed this?

Pattern: Koolhaas by Jared Flood (from Interweave Knits)
Yarn: Berroco Vintage Wool in “Cast Iron”

And yes, I finally decided to bite the bullet and attempt a Koolhaas. Ya, ya — I realize it’s old news, being that it premiered in the 2007 Interweave Knits Holiday edition. I was just too intimidated till now to attempt it. I’m just starting the ribbing so I’ll let you know how I feel about it once I’m into the actual chart. Eep.

The two hats are technically Christmas gifts, but I have a funny feeling they won’t make it to Christmas.

… I think I may have discovered my issue with starting Christmas-knitting early. If I finish early, I can’t stop myself from giving it to the intended recipient immediately, thus leaving me gift-less again for Christmas. DUH. I need to work on that.

I cast on this project on October 9th and finished yesterday, October 18th. I was surprised how fast he knit up. I probably could have finished in 4 or 5 days had I been knitting on this project exclusively.

Pattern: Giraffe by Susan B. Anderson (from Itty Bitty Toys)
Yarn: Berroco Comfort
(My Ravelry Project Page)

I think the pom-poms are what totally makes this little guy. Don’t ya think?

I really can’t say enough good things about this book. If you’re a fan of Itty Bitty Hats and Itty Bitty Nursery (and how could you not be!?), then this book is a must-have.

The first thing that impressed me was the number of patterns. I don’t have the book in front of me at this moment to count, but I believe there are at least 25 different projects! There are plenty of animals and toys appropriate for girls AND boys, which is a relief for those of us who struggle to find cute knitted gifts to make for baby boys. The book is also totally appropriate for knitters of pretty much any skill-level. If you can knit and purl in the round, you can handle this book.

I started the giraffe project (on the cover) right away because I know a little boy who loves giraffes very much, and he totally needed it.  (Ha ha.)

Pattern: Giraffe by Susan B. Anderson (from Itty Bitty Toys)
Yarn: Berroco Comfort (2 skeins “Goldenrod”, 1 skein “Pumpkin”)

Ok so fine… at the moment my giraffe looks more like a gourd or butternut squash. But he’s coming along.  I’ve named him “Gordon” (because of his gourd-y look).

I only started knitting him on Friday and his head and body are totally done (as you can obviously see) and I also have about one leg finished. I was surprised how fast he knits up, and I was also surprised how big he is! I think he’s really going to be quite huggable and lovable.  Can’t wait to sew on his spots and embroider his face!

I already made my mother a cute scarf. But her birthday is December 4th, so that will probably be a birthday gift. Can’t count that for Christmas knitting.

However, I did start these last weekend…

Pattern: Basic Socks from Socks from the Toe Up by Wendy D. Johnson
Yarn: Loopy Legends by Zen String (“L-B’s Lucky Day”)

I’m kind of using a combination of two of the basic sock patterns from Socks from the Toe Up (which has quickly become my favorite sock book). The toe is Judy’s Magic Cast-on (my favorite!) and I’m planning to do a short row heel (which I used to hate, but now love).

Even better… I’m knitting from my stash yarn!  (I know, don’t faint… here are the smelling-salts.)  I bought this yarn when The Loopy Ewe first released their Loopy Legends series. I don’t even know how long ago that ways, but it has been a while. They’re incredibly bright. I hope the recipient of these socks doesn’t think I’m crazy.

I still need to come up with my list of people and patterns to knit for Christmas. I’m going to try and be good and use up some stash yarn. (I say that every year — but really, I am!) Most of my stash yarn is sock-yarn, so I’m thinking people are getting socks and/or fingering weight scarves. Yup.

What are you making for holiday-knits this year?!  I could use some recommendations!