Christmas Knits

Hello. I hope you all had a good one. I thought I would share with you a few festive photos.

The Tree - note the knitted angel at the top - made about 4 years ago. The cake, finally decorated. How we are going to eat this much Christmas Cake I don't know. And finally some presents:

The Cosy Tank Top from "And So to Bed" by Lucinda Guy.

Started: End of Nov
Finished: Mid Dec

Yarn: Rowan RYC Cashsoft DK in 501 (Sweet) and 516 (Sage)
Comments: I absolutely loved making this, and I hope Carys enjoys wearing it as much. I reckon it is my favourite knit so far! I found some cool jeans with pink and green flowers on to match. The wool is gorgeous to knit with, the pattern is ridiculously easy, but it looks really cool. Unfortunately the picture doesn't really show the stitch pattern too well - the link above shows it a little better.

I gave in, and made some scarves for my friends. I think scarves are a bit of a cop-out present, but they seem to be enjoyed. Here is Lauren's, in GGH Nevada

Finally for today I will let you peak at one of the final Chrismas presents, it should be with the recepient tomorrow.
Pattern: Kai Sweater from Louisa Harding's Natural Knits for Babies and Mum's
Started: 24th December
Finished: 27th December
Yarn: GGH Samoa in a lime green colour (from the Get Knitted summer sale) - 3 balls.
Comments: Another favourite I think. I love the colour, and it is a bonus that it is something NOT BLUE for a boy. It might be a little bit big for Toby, but I made the 12 month size as he is quite big for just over 6 months. I did make the sleeves a little shorter than in the pattern, as I always find sleeves ridiculously long on babies clothes. This was so quick to make - that's the aran weight cotton I guess. After all of the socks, it seemed like a miracle it was finished so quickly!
I need to take a picture of Tony's finished Christmas socks... they are in the wash at the moment. I also have one last Christmas Knit to finish - the cardigan from the front of the EMU baby book here in the same RYC Cashsoft as the Cosy Tank Top above.

Then it is on to more projects. Here are the items on the knitting agenda, a bit ridicuous I think
1. I want to make some fingerless gloves that turn into mittens from the angora my SP sent me.
2. Finish off the odd Fair Isle Free sock
3. 30th Birthday present for Suzie (Bday 14th Jan) - not socks, maybe a cop-out scarf! Or maybe some DK socks, which will be superfast!
4. Jumper for Sam, who will be 2 on 10th Jan
5. 30th Birthday socks for James (15th February) - in Crystal Palace colours.
6. Clapotis in the burnt orange silk Kerrie dyed for my mum's birthday (10th Feb)
7. (And most important) - baby blanket for Carys' new baby brother or sister. Due 15th February. I am having a hard time deciding between the Debbie Bliss Alphabet Blanket and the Roost Blanket from the Lucinda Guy "And so to Bed" Book.

Or just making another blanket from crochet squares. What do you think?

Merry Xmas Everybody

The last few weeks have been quite manic and also horrid and stressful... moving house turned into a nightmare which involved sitting on the side of the Motorway in a broken down van for hours and the rudest removal firm in the world - if you live in South London and are moving house, never, ever use ASL Removals.
However hopefully that is over now (apart from the compensation claim) and I can look forward to 10 days off work and lots of time to spend with friends and family. I've got lots of Christmas presents to blog about, but they will have to wait until they have been opened so as not to spoil any surprises! I've still got a few things to finish, including Tony's Christmas socks, but there is only about 2 inches to go, so I should make it by Monday.
Bryony sent me fab gifts for winning her blog competition; a handmade Miffy purse, some stitch markers and some yummy chocolate. They were ace... thank you! Pictures next time I promise. I may not get chance to blog again before, so, as we say in Wolverhampton, MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY

Secret Pal 9 gift and more Christmas knitting

Look what delights arrived on Saturday morning for me from my Secret Pal....Two amazingly soft balls of Louisa Harding's Kimono Angora; with a suggestion to make them into fingerless gloves. Lavender soap (which smells amazing), La Senza lip gloss, Brighton rock, and some yummy Green & Blacks chocolate with hazelnuts and raisins. All fantastically colour co-ordinated. Thank you secret pal, I love it all!
Now onto the Christmas knitting... socks for Tony in Regia Silk from Web of Wool.
I'm doing these toe up, using this pattern. As toe up is all a bit new to me I have been making Tony try these on just to make sure they fit ok, as his last socks are a bit baggy.
I have also been working away on other Christmas present, most are secrets, but I can show you this scarf for Tony's mum. I don't usually agree with novelty yarn, but this is so soft and is a great colour as it isn't too bright so seems perfect for a scarf and is a very quick knit. It is Patons Softy, knitted on 8mm needles in garter stitch. And finally, some vintage knitting patterns arrived from ebay this week. Three baby pattern books, they have some fantastic patterns in them. I love the blue cardigan on the front of the bottom book
And this matinee jacket.
There are also some hilarious patterns in there, which I will share in another post!