What are you knitting for Christmas?

I've had several people ask me the questions... Have you started knitting for Christmas? and  What are you knitting for Christmas?
The answer is heck yeah I've already been knitting for Christmas! And lots of stuff!
After the stress full and frantic 3 months of sock knitting last year I decided to start very early this year. I've actually been knitting for Christmas... at least a little... since January! I decided it would be a great idea to just knit whatever I was in the mood for and then divide it out come December, although along the way some projects have kind of claimed an owner already. It just turned out that half way through I thought a particular person would love the project and it became theirs. Obviously I'm not going to say who goes with which project (unless they aren't going to be reading this), but here are some finished ones.

The first one is a multi-directional scarf for my sister. The second picture is of some Bella's mittens. The third picture is a keyhole scarf out of some super fun Noro. The fourth picture is another multi-directional scarf (I may keep this one!) Numer five and six are both Clapotis. One for my MIL and one for my godmother. The bubble gum colored hat is for my niece and the last hat is knit out of some marbled chunky yarn I really like.
I am also knitting a Wonderful Wallaby sweater for my son. I let him pick out the yarn. And I'm knitting a cardigan for my mom and for my hubby. I have an afghan in progress that I plan to finish for Dad and Biggi's present. So yes, I'll be busy!
During my non-Christmas knitting time I am working on Elizabeth Zimmerman's green sweater and am planning on knitting my own Clapotis.

Happy knittig ya'll!

Been awhile... BUT, I've been too busy knitting!

I know its been a while since I posted anything on my blog... yikes! Its been 4 months! Wow... I must say the last few months have simply flown by! I've finished several classes this spring and projects are coming along nicely. My favorite project right now is my Clapotis:

Its a super fun and fast knit... I will definitely be making some of these for Christmas presents!

My second sweater is all finished and I love it even more than the first one! I did make a super silly mistake when finishing the second sleeve... I made it a one by one rib instead of a two by two rib like the other sleeve. Its very hard to see since its short sleeves that end up at the elbow and the fabric is so dark... so I've decided to leave it... its a good conversation piece... the moral of this story is: Don't work on anything you have to think about when you're on serious cold medication!!!

This is the coolest project ever! Its a hat you can wear as a boggin, or as a neckwarmer or you can leave the draw string open in the back and wear it as a slouchy hat with your long hair hanging out of it! My only complaint is that I didn't find this pattern until the end of Winter!

Bella's mittens are all done! I learned how to do cables using this project. They are super easy to do and look really impressive! These are going to be a Christmas gift for someone special! ;)
I also finished knitting a Shawl Collar Vest - Ravinelli for my mother-in-law and finished a scarf or two.... I have a pair of socks about a third of the way done, my Clapotis is making fast progress and I think its more than 2/3 of the way finished. This weekend I started another sweater for myself since I decided I need a spring sweater (this one is a cotton acrylic blend), and Aiden's Wonderful Wallaby sweater is started.
So.... I have been too busy knitting to work on my blog!!

Happy New Year!

The end of last year has gone by too fast! With all the holiday knitting and finding time to get together with friends and family the month of December just flew by!
I did manage to finish my Christmas knitting...

I finished Granny's double day flower scarf... and a bunch of socks...

I must have been a very good girl this year, because Santa was very good to me and my family!

Happy New Year!!

Frogged Socks

Here are Aiden's socks I worked on this weekend. I was knitting them toe-up and had the foot, gusset and heel turn all finished. Then I made a big mistake. I mean a stupid ginormous mistake. I talked while setting my markers for the heel flap and failed to pay attention as I kept on knitting a CROOKED heel flap!! When I finally did notice I frogged back, but I had cleaned out my knitting bag and only had my #2 needles with me. You know the ones I was knitting the socks with... I couldn't get the stitches picked back up!!!! So... after a weekend of knitting Aiden's adorable little socks... I FROGGED them COMPLETELY!! ARGH!!!!!!!!!

In other news...

I knit up a cute little hat for my niece's doll and am now working on a cute poncho to go with it. They are quick and easy projects. I plan to knit up a sweater as well, which I'm going to learn steeking on to turn it into a cardigan.

and ohhh...

I got BonJovi tickets for April!! WooHoo!!

...which ALMOST makes up for the frogged socks.... almost.

Tattoos and Socks

I finally got my knitting tattoo! Bryan (Tattoo's by Bryan in Harriman, TN) incorporated my three frogs to sit on a hank of yarn which is unraveling and partially rolled into a ball of yarn with needles in it. I love it! I had planned on color, but after 2 1/2 hours I couldn't sit anymore. Besides, I am liking the color of the frogs in the black and white. I'm going to just live with it a while before I decide if I want color or not.

In knitting news... I finished my Noro socks and am in love with them. They did turn out a bit big, so they will be a Christmas present. I have enough yarn to knit myself another pair after the Christmas knitting madness is over! As you can see they're fraternal socks... all the more fun!

My sister came to visit this weekend and we had out first ever sisterly girls-night-out...

I carved my first pumpkin...ever!

On Sunday I carved my first pumpkin ever. It was a family activity and we had a lot of fun. Aiden picked out the stencil... so we carved a skull. Aiden was really grossed out by the pumpin "guts" and wouldn't help clean it out, but he was all about trying to help cut on it!

Not about knitting...but about life...

Its been a week I don't want to have to repeat any time soon.

My sister's ex-husband passed away. He had pulmonary hypo-tension and passed away at age 29 leaving two little boys behind. My nephews are almost 7 and 8 years old. The receiving of friends and service last night were a nightmare. I feel so bad for the boys. My sister broke down badly a couple of times. I was proud of her though, she was strong for the boys and mostly held it together. She's only 24. She has gone through so much in her young life. Even though I disagree with a lot of the choices she makes, I'm very proud of her.