Making Gloves: Won't Be Doing That Again...

Remember how, when I made my first pair of socks, I seriously didn't like the process, but I kept on? Somehow I knew that it was a worthy undertaking, that I had benefited from the process, and would continue to do so.

Not so with gloves, my friends. Gloves, they're a huge pain in the ass - one instance, in which I suggest, machines can do it better.

Actually, I think gloves should be kid skin lined with cashmere shells (machine knit cashmere shells as light as gossamer). Or at very least Gore-Tex.

What's the use of wool gloves? They're not as warm as the other options. They're not as cute. The finger crotches (whatever we call these things) are hideously deformed - not my fault people. I tried everything. Hand needles don't get into that spot elegantly.

Somehow, though I did the exact same thing on the second glove as on the first, they look totally different. (To me, probably not to the average viewer...) And - regrettably - the second glove looks worse than the first. Which I didn't think was possible.

But I will say (and I hope Andrea or Sara might weigh in on this because they're the only ones who saw the horror that was the pre-blocked first glove), blocking was a lifesaver in this instance. And I don't think steam blocking would have done it. This blocking was freakin' surgery.

The finished product is entirely adequate, if not worth the effort:

I used Koigu Premium Merino, colour 144

You know how impossible it is to show texture and colour on blue-black fabric. And this yarn is actually blue/black variegated with little plumes of white. It's quite pretty, and textured like the actual glove pattern, but it really doesn't photograph well.

About the yarn: I used half of what the pattern suggested I would need, and I made a highly modified (aka bespoke to the hand) version of the medium. I've got just enough left over to make a pair of socks. I like this yarn, it feels nice, it's very sturdy. It's an interesting colourway - in a manly sense (and lots of colours are not so manly). I might use it again but I do think it's on the pricey side. And, while I go pricey when I love a yarn. If I'm merely satisfied by the hand, I tend to search out other options. Mind you, we'll see how it wears. Note: It stained my hands blue as I worked. And then a ton of indigo came out in the blocking. I would definitely suggest that you need to wash these by hand once to remove excess dye. And def. machine wash with like colours.

I'm glad I gave this a go. I learned things - though not how to use DPNs nor how to make finger crotches look good. I have a finished product that will act as a perfectly adequate Xmas present. But I didn't enjoy the process (this could have as much to do with where I'm at right now, aka flat out, as with the pattern). Most likely, I'd improve with practice - as I have done with socks. But I don't really care.

So you see, some mountains I have no need to climb.

Today's questions: What's the garment you've made once but never feel the need to reproduce again? Do you like glove-making? If so, why?!?! And, while we're at it, do you like this outcome - the colour, the pattern, the fit? Let's talk!

Foxhall Gloves Continued...

Let's talk about hand-knit gloves. I've finished the first of the Foxhall gloves for Scott and I now have some strong feelings about this particular handmade objet:

Look, gloves are really no more difficult than socks. In fact, I think they might be easier (which is to say quicker), but they are way more freakin' fussy. For starters, you can't just make them. You practically have to take a 3D cast of your gift-recipient's hand. Or sit next to him on the couch. Even my 2D (with measurements) map - recommended by the excellent pattern writers of the Foxhall gloves - was kind of useless in the end. Happily I have Scott's actual hand to measure from every 3 minutes (note: not a popular tack. Whatevs, when he has bespoke gloves, who'll be laughing last?)

The one thing that the pattern might have clarified a bit, especially since, IMO, there are scarce online resources on this topic, is how (technically) fourchettes work. I'm no expert, but I can say that the first 2 finished fingers were, um, not exactly profesh. 

My problem wasn't following the directions - and they were quite clear. It wasn't in understanding the why of fourchettes, (they give a bit of extra width at the base of each finger which has implications for depth). My problem was in deciphering the how. As in, how do you construct these things so it doesn't look like a toddler did the knitting. If you've never seen a fourchette being constructed - and everything's a mystery - being instructed to cast on fourchette stitches (and maybe pick up a few extra stitches which you'll then, one row later, decrease - to mitigate mini-holes at the front notch) isn't so meaningful. 

Where you add those extra picked up stitches (and which of the new stitches you decrease) is key. If you decrease at the front-side edge of the finger "crotch" (what I did the first couple of times) you get some nasty looking finger-bases. Hey, I made it through, and I improved fairly quickly, but it's only because I brought other skills to the activity.

Let's just say, I'm only showing these off once they're blocked. And I reserve the right to hide the pinkie side of the left-glove (first knit) under the right.

On an interesting side note, I did not knit one stitch with DPNs. I know, I've failed at skill-gaining. My brain just could not make it happen. What really cinched this path, however, was watching a video of a woman (a serious knitter) making fingers using DPNs. Lord, it was such a mess I could scarcely believe it. Even this knitter said: I know, this kind of looks like a mess. But it's not that bad! 

Yeah, right. It actually offended my sense of order. 

On the plus side, I figured out that it's really quite easy to knit the entirety of a glove using magic loop. With nary a ladder, without needles poking into already finished fingers and getting stuck on the stitches on the holder. If anything, I'm more hooked on magic loop than ever I've been?! Which is good, I guess, since I don't seem to have an alternative (yet). I will say it helps to have excellent joins at the (circular) needle where it meets the cable, and a cable that's quite malleable. And natch, one improves with experience. But it's in no way difficult. Simply fussy and a bit slower than other knitting in the round (or slightly larger small-diameter knitting).

Now, if that's the worst of it, I guess I shouldn't complain. I mean, half my glove is pretty nice! And maybe the whole of the next glove will be too.

What do you say?

PS: OMG, I LOVE this pattern:

Starry Starry Night by Suzanne Bryan

I have no interest in doing all kinds of challenging colourwork (never mind on socks) but these amazing things are so compelling, I have to put them on the list. Never mind when they get made. I clicked on the button to buy the minute a saw it.

In Case You Thought This Was Going to Be Simple...

Thank goodness for the back page of catalogs :-) When I began to carefully review the 20-odd pages of info about making gloves for Scott, I realized I was going to need some serious measurements. Did I mention that he's totally princess-and-the-pea when it comes to gloves?

I also realized that they'd be far more useful, here in Canada where it really does get freakin' cold for the hands, to have a way to use the gloves with the iPhone. Whereupon I sourced this:

Etsy Vendor: Urbanstein

It's conductive thread which allows for the transfer of body heat to the touch-screen so that you don't need to remove gloves in order to text.

The vendor is Canadian, and the price is totally reasonable. All in, 5 yards cost me 7 bucks. That'll last for a many pairs of gloves, not that I'm committing to glove-making in any meaningful way.

So, whatcha think of the thread? Whatcha think of using the back of a mag to draw your husband's hand? Let's talk!

Brief Update: I'd be lying if I told you I've figured out how to use the DPNs. I'm knitting the gloves using magic loop - so far. I guess, necessity is the mother of invention so, if I can't make the fingers using magic loop, I'll just have to learn. Really, though, I cast on 3 times with the DPNs and I could not mentally grasp where to go from there.

Xmas Knitting: Foxhall Gloves

Have you seen this pattern?

Foxhall Gloves by the Rainey Sisters

When you purchase it for the totally reasonable price of 6 bucks, not only do you get a really well-organized pattern - with TONS of info on fitting and men's hands and how to work the pattern - you also get a really cool Glove Guide. The Guide is 11 pages, relevant (I believe) for making any gloves, and I imagine I'm going to be very happy, once I start making these things, to have the extra support.

These gloves will be an Xmas present for Scott but, in truth, I don't know how much he'll appreciate them. I mean, I have fair warning; he told me not to go to the trouble. Mind you, everyone else at Xmas will have a hand-knit and, therefore, so will he. By making this project, at least I'm going to learn a new skill.

These are the first full gloves I've undertaken. The others had a thumb, but no fingers. This is also the first project I will ever have made with DPNs - 5, insanely mini, scary-pokey seeming Addi bamboo needles. I don't know, people. I realize that one should learn all the techniques possible, to widen one's arsenal of abilities, but there are so many needles to contend with. I think I know how to cast on and set up but, really, do I? I figure it will make me a better KAL host to have worked using the most popular method for small diameter, in-the-round knitting, even though it's not the kind I'll be concerned with. It'll be hard to convince you of the superiority of magic loop if I don't actually know anything about the alternative.

Truth is, though, I'm pretty sure magic loop is the best. Not that I'm trying to start an argument!

Today's questions: Have you ever knit gloves and, if yes, are they difficult? Have you ever knit these gloves? Have you used both magic loop and DPNs? If yes, which do you prefer? Let's talk!

A Twist on the Turban

If you're hoping to hear anything about anything other than knitting (and stuff I've bought), it's likely going to be a while. If I knit constantly between now and Xmas eve, I might finish what I've got on the agenda. And certain people, ahem, keep asking me to make them sweaters. For Xmas. Are they high on drugs?!

Anyway, while my goal is to keep some mystery alive, I cannot resist sharing with you a little pattern that is a) flattering, b) compact and c) really easy. Seriously, and assuming you have basic knitting skills, if this thing were any easier it would knit itself:

My version of the Parisian Twist 

Yeah,  it's a turban. Get over it. Cuz I swear this is rather chic (if different). I like it so much (I, who have a major aversion to head covering - which looks hideous on me 96.2% of the time) that I'm going to make another for myself. Hopefully before the cold weather abates.

A few things to note about the pattern:

• It calls for worsted held double when knitting. This means a few things: The turban is bulkier (than it needs to be), larger than the dimensions purport to be (once most blocking is factored in) and it eats up more wool than you might imagine (but still not more than 200 yards).

• I recommend, to adjust for two of the three issues above, that you go down to a size 9 needle (it calls for a US10) and use DK yarn. Of course, gauge swatching isn't a bad idea. And if you do, don't make my mistake: Gauge swatch using two strands! If I'd read the pattern in any detail, I'd have known this. But no, I didn't re-swatch. These projects get one, wet-blocked swatch and then it's showtime.

• You can't easily alter the size of the turban by using different stitch numbers (my usual trick) or by messing with the double strand because both are key to the way increases and decreases are worked in this pattern. These increases and decreases are quite ingenious, really, you knit into each strand of a stitch when making an increase and decrease by giving a strand to the preceding or following stitch.

• The buttonhole is bigger than I'd like (though it will be smaller when next I make this with thinner yarn). As instructed, you need at least a 1" button, so keep that in mind.

Anyway, I think this is a really good idea if you've got a lot of presents to make and you're looking for something practical that also has boutique appeal.

Thoughts?

Showing My Stripes

Or M's as the case may be. Here's the scarf I'm knitting for her:

More deets in this post...

I have to say, now that I've learned how to do stripes, I don't know how I'm ever going to knit anything monochrome again! I've got about 12 colour schemes in mind, including nature's perfect combo - beige and navy.

M saw me working on this (she asked for yellow and red, and this is as close to that garishness as I could bring myself to sit with for 10 plus hours) and said: That looks very Harry Potter.

You should know, I missed the whole Harry Potter thing. I didn't read the books. I didn't watch the movies. Sorry, I just don't care about Harry Potter. But a quick Google search does corroborate her perspective.

I nonchalantly tested the waters on this. So, said I, Is Harry Potter not cool? I swear, you can never tell with this child what's old and crappy. I held my breath cuz I'd spent 70 bucks on this yarn and a few hours, at this point.

I am pleased to report that Harry Potter is awesome, and whomever thinks otherwise sucks. Apparently.

A Bit About the Construction:

• I used this tutorial (with hand out) to figure out how to carry the non-working yarn because I have no appetite to weave in 70 plus ends. It's worked very well. You can see the yarn on the wrong side of this scarf, but because I have slipped the first stitch on every row (to neaten the edge), the last stitch curls to the back slightly and totally hides it.

• "Slipping the first stitch" has never seemed particularly impactful to me (yeah, I hate that manufactured word also, but I'm too lazy to search for another) but I'm really seeing it in this plain, stockinette pattern. The tutorial, linked above, explains how to align colour-work with "neat" edge stitching technique when you're knitting FLAT, not in the round, but it doesn't articulately distinguish between the two basic scenarios you'll encounter when knitting a stripey scarf, in stockinette, having clean edges. Those are:

• Scenario A: Rows when you switch from one colour to another
• Scenario B: Rows when you're continuing, from the previous row, in the same working colour

• Very briefly:

• Scenario A: You actually knit the last stitch of the row prior to your "new colour" row in the new colour, to get things set up. Then, turn the work, slip the first stitch of the next row (for neatness). Only then, between first and second stitches, do you wrap the non-working yarn over the working yarn to "carry it up" from the previous row, so when you need it again, it will be there. Then, natch, start knitting with your working colour.

• Scenario B: On rows when you're not switching colours, on the side that has the loose, non-working strand (generally the right-hand side of the knit row, but not necessarily), you'll still need to wrap the non-working yarn over the working yarn after the first (slipped) stitch. Otherwise, you're not "carrying it up".

• When I started to knit, I vowed I'd never make a boring, plain scarf - that seemed like the worst way to learn given my nature - but as I know more (and as I can apply the techniques more confidently), I realize that a plain scarf can have a lot of appeal. Particularly when knit with the right yarn.

• And speaking of yarn, I used the Madeline Tosh vintage yet again. You know I like this yarn, since it's over 20 bucks a skein and I've bought 4 skeins in the last 2 weeks. I don't know how to explain its appeal. It's not super soft. It's not the most beautifully dyed yarn I've ever seen (though the dye is expertly applied). It's not "good value" yarn. But it knits up beautifully. I can tell, already, that it isn't going to pill. It's got excellent spring which produces that beautiful stitch definition and awesome recovery. There's no halo (I hate hair halos). It doesn't lose its shape in blocking. It's durable, but refined. It's a joy to knit with. 

When I think of comparisons between the Tosh yarn and others I've knit with, here's what comes to mind:

• The yarn has much more spring than Cascade 220 - and I'm not dissing on Cascade (which is affordable for most and very adequate, if cheap and cheerful). It's spun more tightly. (Note: I have NO idea about how things are spun, so feel free to tell me I'm high on drugs. I'm going by how it feels...)

• It's MUCH less scratchy than Brooklyn Tweed - but then, just about everything is. It's also less delicate and softer. It doesn't have that hipster-meets-granny appeal, however.

• It's a lot like Quince in some ways - it's got that same kind of springy thing happening and very nice, if not "high-end" hand. But Quince's colours, while saturated and delightful, do not come close to the saturation and complexity of Tosh yarns. Of course, Quince isn't hand-dying tiny batches. It's affordable yarn for the masses.

• When first I started knitting, I was extremely drawn to Debbie Bliss. It was so soft, affordable, pretty - and I still think the fingering is quite nice to work with, especially for baby things. However, I knit many things with Bliss yarn - every one of which grew stupidly the minute I blocked it - and never reverted to normal size or previous shape (well, everything except the gauge swatch). On reflection, Bliss yarn, with its whacky plying, is a bitch to knit (I'm using the last of my aran stash now, which is how I know). It splits ridiculously. The Tosh yarn would not understand splitting if you showed it a video of someone knitting with Debbie Bliss yarn. It's like "fit" yarn. It's beautifully symmetrical and toned.

So, anyone else here worked with Tosh who wants to weigh in? Do you like the scarf? Let's talk!

Pretty Is As Pretty Does

You can tell it's a dreary mess in TO, cuz I just bought a ridiculous amount of yellow...

For a bit of backstory, Andrea and I met at Ewe Knit (this place is like a very courteous crack den) and spent 2 hours looking at yarn and cotton lawn (which they LYS has just started to sell at a very reasonable price) and drinking coffee (really good, made on site and provided gratis, for us!) and talking together and with Claudia (the owner of Ewe Knit). It was about the best way to spend a dull, grey yuckball morning that ever there was.

I knew what I was after and I stuck with the program:

• Yarn to make M a scarf (she never wants knitted objects from me but the Madeline Tosh Lolita sucked her in)...
• Double pointed needles for gloves I'll be making for Scott (Gail, you won me over...)
• Cotton fabric to make a new yoga bolster cover and eye pillow cover. The bolster cover I have now, which came with the bolster, is 25 years old and it was hideous from the get go. Gotta wonder what took me so long to do something about this given all the quality time I spend with that thing.

But enough talk.

Here's a pic of the scarf I will make for M:

Striped Up Scarf and photo by Jacinta Grant

 I actually love this colourway, but M wants red and yellow in her scarf. Which is why I've gone with these skeins:

Madeline Tosh Tern (Gray), Lolita (red), Candlewick (Yellow)

My intention is to use the gray as the accent on the rib band. Andrea suggested it and I think it's a great idea! This is the second time I've used the Lolita colour - that purple, red shade. It's like the best shade of autumn flower and it looks amazing with the yellow. I am a convert to this yarn.

This isn't a colourway I'd choose, but I think it will be very nice for M. And this kid better wear the thing cuz the yarn is 21 bucks a skein, before tax.

My other fun purchase was a yard of this:

 

I can't remember the fabric name (quilters know the names and designers of the fabrics they buy, if you can believe it). It's on the selvedge but I'm too lazy to walk upstairs...

I think this will be a cheery upgrade to the "burgundy" cover I've used since the beginning of time. And the matching eye pillow cover will be an alternative to one that my sister made me for Xmas last year. (Finally, I can wash it!)

One yard of 44" wide fabric, at the cost of $12.00 will get me both of these. I'm not working from patterns. Just copying the construction of the former covers. I don't need to reinvent the wheel.

So, thoughts or feelings? What do you think?? Let's talk.

Just Like Honey

I'm off to the yarn store with Andrea this morning (where they now sell GORGEOUS quilting cotton aka lawn - and for which I've finally discovered a use). Hopefully I'll have pretty textiles to show you in a post later on today. And some info about what I'm using the cotton to make.

In the meanwhile, cute yourself out with version 2 of the Honeycomb hat:

This is the bigger version (though still smaller than the pattern's small) for my older niece

I seriously can't get over how adorable this is. I think everyone needs one!!

Xmas Knitting: And So it Begins

As I've spent the last week planning a rush of hand-knitted Xmas presents, my husband reminded me (with amusement) that I have this weird compulsion to make things for Christmas. There was that year I forced him to bake (and then deliver) 20 pies. I always make cookies and candies to give away. Just ask my friends for whom I've written poems (ok, not since university, but still). When I started to sew, I sewed gifts. And now, with knitting, well I've hit my stride with the perfect Xmas craft.

Little helpful tip: If you think you might get a Christmas gift from me, don't look at my Ravelry page for a while.

In some ways, I'm as insane about things as ever - 14 gifts between now and Dec. 20, though 3 are already complete. Mind you, this is the year I found hats. And hats, my friends, they're very fun and fast - and practical, and cute. Really, what was I waiting for?? Note: I'm making some hats and some other things. Not all gifts are hats.

The truth is that it's all about me. I have a pin-head, fine hair and a pixie cut: hats tend to look terrible because they're all massively huge on me. It's put a bad taste in my mouth. Happily, though, I finally realizedthat making hats to-fit is a piece of cake by comparison with fitting a sweater or a pair of pants or, let's say, a bra. I won't get too much into it but I'm using drape and yarn tension to my advantage - in addition to accurate measurements of head circumference and crown depth. I don't go from the pattern instructions. Patterns like to make huge hats. I figure out how big I want the thing to be, what drape I'm looking for, and then I do the math. The end result is a hat in the size I want which is to say the size I'm anticipating. It's just key to scale the pattern so that you can divide the number of stitches you use by the stitch repeat and get a whole number.

No, I haven't been knitting size-test gauge swatches and I know that's risky (esp. when I'm unfamiliar with how a yarn will block). The thing is, I measure often as I'm knitting in the round so I know my gauge constantly and I'm willing to do some fancy footwork on the fly. My objective is to knit a hat with about 3 inches of negative ease. That's more than any pattern (I've found) allows for, but I find that yarn can stretch ridiculously. Even if the hat blocks small, there's more than enough room when a person wears it. I'm infinitely more attuned to the likelihood that a hat will be too large than too small.

At any rate, I've been knitting hats for about a week and a half. Don't take my advice on anything!

Here's a hat I knit for my niece:

Honeycomb Cable Cap by Jennifer Hagan

Is this not the most adorable thing ever?! I used Madeline Tosh Vintage, a new-to-me yarn that I seriously love. The yarn didn't thrill me initially, but it's springy and soft and the colour is so berry-beautiful. It's got lovely hand-dyed colour-saturation variations. Remember when I hated shit like that?? :-)

The yarn is not cheap. You can do approximately as well with Quince, in terms of the springy nature of the yarn, at much less cost. But it sure is nice to pick up a skein in the store and just start knitting.

I used the smallest pattern size and then sized it down considerably more by cutting out one row repeat and using a smaller needle. Yeah, I realize this looks like a toddler hat, but my nine year-old niece is SO tiny that she still sits in a car seat and a modified high chair. She weighs like 50 pounds. Note: My sister, as a child, was little like this and now she's taller than me.

The proportions of the honeycomb will look better in my next version, to be made for my other niece (who has a slightly larger head). I'll be able to do another cable repeat and the ratio of cables to crown decreases will favour the cables.

I should also say that this design is very simple. The cables are a bit fussy but they happen for 2 out of 12 rows, so it's barely a blip. BTW, the K1P1 rib threw me a bit when I was tired. I somehow managed to flip the work inside out and knit backwards - basically short rowing half the hat circumference. Which means, when I realized this (2 half-rows later) I had to short row on the other side of the hat to restore row equilibrium. OK, I could have ripped back, but my solution seemed more efficient, no?

So, today's questions: Have you knit this cap and, if yes, do you love it? What do you think of Madeline Tosh yarn? Are you Xmas knitting and, if yes, to what extent? BTW, you can see some of my planned projects in my Ravelry queue if you're interested... Let's talk!

Christmas Crafting: The Madeline Cowl and How I'm Shopping This Season

Somewhere between a cowl and a shawl, this quick-knit is a good gift:

I should have positioned this off-centre but it didn't happen. Try to imagine it.

Madeleine Cowl by Teresa Chorzepa

This 50-row, 133 stitch project took 2 evenings. Then I wet blocked it and dried it using blocking wires to stabilize the shape (another day and a half). Then I spent 10 minutes seaming it up. You could easily make 5 of them before Xmas and they do look chic / serve a valuable function.

While I swore that I wouldn't be making any gifts this Xmas - in light of my commitment to conserve energy - I have busy-knit a bunch of things that seem better suited to friends or family. This is one of those items. I sense it will be wonderful on Hilary. How fortunate that she is having her traditional (and very exclusive - just our two families) tree-trimming party tomorrow, wherein gifts may be exchanged. I'm trying to resist baking something for that gathering, but I don't know how I can go to a Christmas-themed event without turning up like the treat Santa. I did find some perfect hand-made ornaments for the kids on Etsy, from CarynBay's shop. The arms are made of actual twigs?!

Not only did I say I wouldn't make or bake stuff, I've also committed not to shopping in stores this year. Partly, I just can't stand the crowds. Partly, it takes too much energy. Partly, I'm afraid of germs. By the time I go to work, I really don't have much left over.

Now, I have had to go into stores for a couple of items I couldn't get online (absurdly), but I was able to roll that "real" shopping into lunch.

I've had a steady parade of parcels arriving from all over the world since the middle of October. Seriously, it takes 3 minutes to buy a present online and then YOU get a present when it arrives at your door. It's two-times a gift.

I can't list everything right now (people might see!, also, it would take too long) but I have purchased just about anything you can think of, mainly on Etsy, but on a variety of other online boutiques also.  It's hard to say if I've saved any money. Surely, not going out to the shops has minimized my opportunities for holiday lunching in expensive restaurants. Mind you, since I can't pleasure-eat or -drink, it's just as well I don't have to push off that associative experience. These days, I'm trying to associate online Xmas shopping with coffee or tea. Yeah, it's not working so well.

One great thing about the online shopping is that, if you opt for pre-wrapping, you can send the gift directly to an out-of-town recipient. It's not as personal as I'd like, but then neither is not seeing someone you're getting a gift for at Xmas dinner.

There is one trick to online shopping - and Xmas crafting, for that matter. You have to start early. Happily, it takes very little actual effort (just thought and skill), and it's utterly comfortable to shop from your own home. But if you wait much longer, it's not going to be an option. Many vendors have already indicated that the end of next week is the deadline for things that can be expected to arrive before Xmas eve.

It's never been a better time to buy online for that person who crafts - I mean, other than you! :-)

• You can find beautiful yarn at WEBS.
• Check out this washi tape. (Kids who love to "duck tape" craft are so into this.)
• Colette Patterns has put together some lovely sewing-related gifts.
• Give a Craftsy course.
• Or, for your fibre-craft friends, gift a pattern from Ravelry. (This can be complicated if you don't know Ravelry or knitting, so do be sure to ask for help if you need it.)
• Buy a great book like this new knitting offer or this terrific sewing reference. (Honestly, anyone who buys books any way other than online is insane. You save an average of 40 percent on the list price and heavy items are delivered, generally within two days, to your front door.)

So, let me turn it over to you: How are you approaching gift-giving this season? Do you love or hate to online shop? Are you crafting for others and, if yes, what are you making?? Can you recommend a great online gift?

Unraveling, As it Were

I'm one of those people who uses Ravelry to good effect. When you click on my profile, you see just about everything I've ever knit with details, a fairly complete list of favourites, a well-stocked library and now, since yesterday, a catalog of yarns, with photos, indicating my stash and which things are queued up to be used with specific stash yarn. The lengths I'll go to to avoid finishing the Bettie Pullover...

If you love being organized like, to the nth degree, this site is for you.

At any rate, I've opted to take a brief break on the Gauge the Situation series (until Xmas, likely) as I will be occupied by knitting the following:

1. The Sisika, knit for me:

Photos from Designer Yarns

In the Amitola colourway 106 (far left):

Yeah, I know, I succumbed to the craziest (for me) choice ever - a totally variegated nubby wool/silk blend that looks fingering weight but actually knits up like a DK (or worsted, if you double it). I went for the most subdued of the shades - I think it's the one used in the promotion photo but there are a few others, on other swatches, that look kind of similar. It's soft, but with a vaguely hairy halo that undercuts the softness. We've got to hope it blocks nicely, which is to say much less natural-seeming than it appears to be right now.

You know, I make a lot of sweaters, but the things I wear most are the cowls, scarves and shawls (because they work on top of outerwear or with inside clothing). If this scarf works, I think it could become well-traveled in my wardrobe.

2. The Madeleine Cowl also for me - It's important to aim to make simple things that really work and are worn often (try to ignore the overkill of the beret):

I do find the yarn this pattern calls for to be fairly horrible. It's got "wool-blend chainette yarn" "accented by diamond-like silver medallions". Um, no.

So, I'll make the cowl (more like a shawl, really) in Zara Plus, colourway 448 (Taupe):

Photo from Royal Yarns Intl.

The taupe is actually much more green (like khaki) than this photo shows.

3. For M, for Xmas, another Rondeur Pullover, in the 1628 colourway of Zara DK, again, the photo makes it look more blue than the green, highly saturated shade that it actually is:

Photo from here

Please be advised that I intend to knit them one at a time, like a "sensible person". At least as of right now.

So, today's questions:

• Whatcha think of these patterns and yarns?? Have you used any of them?
• Now you can see all of my crazy yarn stash. Do you think this is excessive? Be honest.