Find out what occupies Angela's time living in New Zealand.
I am once again knitting like crazy, take a look at some gifts, and a few key projects that I've laboured long and hard over.
Since I have time and interest, if you thought you wanted something, just drop me a line! I'm expert at socks--and you've had nothing until you've had handknit socks--and can whip up silly scarves and hats in no time.
I started this shawl by all estimations about ten years ago. I remember casting on when Don and I lived in our first house, then working on it only sporadically for a few years following. The mohair, a light purple and green variegated, was a very small strand and I don't like seeing progress - progress with small strands is long in coming. And then it sat and sat.
But this year, my year to work on projects for me, I got down to it and just worked and worked and worked. And it's done, and it's beautiful! (So is my model, you can see how thrilled he is to model this shawl.)
I had been working on this blanket off and on for six years. Mostly off. It would sit in a basket near our fireplace in Colorado, skeins all over. Here it is, don't I look exhausted and relieved! I am so glad it's done, a real accomplishment and a lovely wool lap blanket. Finished winter 2008.
In between Don getting some slippers (not pictured) and a few xmas items completed, I managed to put together this gorgeous green, pink, orange, and red scarf for Margaret, fellow blogger, who emailed me to take me up on my offer to make something.
From Margaret: "I had no idea that i would love it so much!!! Thank you, thank you!!! It is so warm and soft and LONG I can wrap it around my neck and arms. The colors are so rich and lovely, it will go great with many things I wear. I'm so happy. Thank you again!! I absolutely adore the scarf and I've never had anything like it." (I'll take that in a good way :) )
I knit a few new scarves last winter, here they are:
DK yarn, or even thinner. I had to do a double strand in order to manage to get these done on size 4 needles in reasonable time without throwing in the towel. They are wearable in work shoes and reinforced at heels and toes for Don, so he can have them for years.
I bought this yarn years and years ago and made a friend this pattern, with different colours, for a wedding gift. At the same time I bought these colours for my own blanket of the same design, and worked it over the past four months. It works beautifully on our bed.
Here's a close up of the blanket's pattern and colours:
Among all the socks I did for various people, this year I knit my mom a scarf and hat in her favourite pinks/roses/browns. Here's the scarf:
Skirt - yes, a knitted skirt. I started this skirt right after we arrived in New Zealand after seeing it in my quarterly issue of Vogue Knitting. I worried about the size, the fit, the yarn I chose because it varies between thick and thin in the strands (would my knickers show?), and on and on. But I was diligent in my measuring and this year buckled down to finish it. And I'm so pleased, it fits, it doesn't show through, and it looks great on ME! I modified the pattern to avoid a zipper and instead just ran an i-cord through a wide stitch loop and it sits on my hips with ease. YAY!!
This pattern was great fun to do, and I think I chose the perfect yarn, and it turned out lovely. Bright vivid colours will suit Kate very well.
