A hat, a cowl and a sweater - it's cold!

Brrrrrrrr -  Wool knitted items and quilts are good things to have in this weather and staying in and creating is the thing to do!

I've finished two challenge projects.  The first is the Loopy Ewe "Mix it up" challenge.  You could either mix up patterns, different weights of yarn or project materials, like yarn and beads.  I choose the yarn mixers using Zauberball and Shibui Silk cloud yarn with the Green Tea Latte hat pattern.  The Loopy yarn staff was very helpful picking the right color of the silk cloud yarn to match the colors in the Zauberball.  It's colorway is a little crazy, not sure I like the green in it but I really liked the combination of it with the silk cloud, it feels so wonderful.  I already gave it away to the DIL who likes slouchy hats.  The photos are hat brim doubled and straight.

The other challenge is the Eat Sleep Knit challenge which was to something new to me.  I choose the Chunky Fair Isle Cowl pattern (Cascade pattern) and Dream in Color - Groovy yarn.  It knit much faster than I thought and I really like it.  The cowl is very thick and warm and though I intended it for myself I think it is more suited to someone with a nice, long, thin neck (aka not like mine)  I'll have to try it again and add a repeat possibly.

I am also taking a sweater class at my LYS, Rose Tree Fiber.  It's the first knitting class I have taken and I have gotten some great tips, the instructor is very good.  The pattern is Bulky Asymmetrical Cardigan and I am using Ella Rae Chunky yarn.

I didn't knit much last weekend - it was another quilt retreat.  It's so much fun sewing, laughing, eating and sharing with friends you see often or infrequently.  I completed this top, pattern Blueberry Pie.

Check out what everyone else has on the needles has at Patchwork Times.

New starts

We had a great Christmas holiday with family and friends, everyone stayed at our house for almost at week.  Then.....I retreated to my chair and knitted to rest and recover :-)  I gave 4 hats, 2 cowls, 2 sweaters and a shawl as knitted Christmas gifts. 

My pictures are out of order time wise but here goes....  It's just like quilting.  I always have lots of projects and like to start more projects.  Good thing I finish most (some?) of them!

I am doing a sock KAL with knitpurlhunter.com  I am waiting for the correct size needles to come to use with my CoBaSi yarn.  But while I was waiting I started with a different yarn and needles.  This is my first attempt at socks two at a time.  This one is done Magic Loop, 40 inch circular Addi Sock Rocket needles.  I did the sock KAL last January also but only managed to get one sock completed.  Two at a time means I'll have a pair!

Next photo is the Loopy Ewe challenge - yarn mixers.  The rib of the hat is two strands of  Zauberball. When you get to the main part of the hat you break one strand and pick a strand of ShibuiKnits Silk Cloud.  The pattern I'm using is Green Tea Latte.  Mine is a little more colorful than the pattern picture.  So far I like the main part of the hat a lot, not too sure about the ribbing yet. 

I also started, finished, gave away because it was too big for my head and started a new hat from the Bunhead pattern.  The yarn is a chunky Malabrigo, so soft.  The pattern knits quickly, hopefully this one fits me!

The last knit photo is the start of the Brickless shawl for me. My daughter and son-in-law gave me the yarn for Christmas.  They had purchased it in Oregon on vacation, Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Twisted. 

I also have one quilt finish - I got the quilt done for my neice.  She likes Japanese type figures and black and white quilts.  I did 24 embroidered Japanese Dolls (from Designs by JuJu) and did simple piecing around the blocks, set together in a straight set and added borders. 

Happy New Year to all!

Checkout what everyone has "On the Needles" at Patchwork Times.