So many finished things!

I finished so many things this weekend!!

First, I finished the swingy tank top. It's knit from Patons Grace in Azure. (And yes, that's me in the photo.)

I also finished a pair of handwarmers. You may recognize the yarn - it's Premier Yarns Wool-Free Sock in Vegas Lights, the same yarn I used for socks for my sister and nieces. 

I finished Wendy's baby blanket, made from Bernat Mirage in Regal Blue. I know I said I wasn't going to post it until after the shower, but it's this Friday, and I don't think she reads this, and I'm impatient! So here it is!

Finally, I finished the baby blanket for Andrew and Hayley. It's knit from Bernat Pipsqueak in Baby Baby print. 

In other knitting, I'm still working on Jonathan's socks:

I cast on a pair of socks for me, my Dirty NOLA socks:

Finally, I cast on a birthday present for my mum. It's a pattern called "Sunlight for Sad People" that I found on Ravelry:

I'm knitting this one on the new needles that my beau bought for me. Wasn't that sweet of him?

I've been listening to a ton of podcasts lately, especially knitting ones! If you haven't watched her yet, Steph of the Knitting Samurai Plus 1 podcast is awesome! I also adore listening to Karen and Maggie (and sometimes Lauren) of Knit 1, Geek 2. I've been catching up on old episodes of both of these, and I should be current by the end of the month... Which means I'll have to find more to listen to! Suggestions are welcome :)

A whirlwind tour

I spent this past weekend with Karen and her family in Canada, and it was wonderful! My parents and her in-laws were there, too, so it was a full house. 

I usually like to use my vacations to relax and knit, but this time, we had lots of things scheduled, and my only knitting time was on the plane. 

I finished the pair of hand-warmers that was on my needles last week, and I managed to finish another pair during my travels - and it was a pair I'd been working on for far too long. I tend not to follow yarn/needle size recommendations for adult-sized hand-warmer patterns, because I have tiny hands. No, really. When I go to a store to buy gloves or mittens, I have to buy children's gloves. Instead of using standard worsted weight yarn, I usually use sock yarn and smaller needles. 

The warmers I finished, from a pattern in Mollie Makes magazine, were so cute! They've got an owl motif, and I really wanted them, but I went too small in my yarn/needle combination. I suppose I could have just ripped out the first one when I realized it was too small, but I hate doing that. Instead, I made the second one and gave them to my niece!

But I don't have photos yet. Good news, though, Karen lives with her kid, and can totally post photos for me! (Hint, hint.) The owl hand-warmers are knit from PureLuxury Organic Peruvian Alpaca in colour 5, a dark grey colour. 

Of course, with one project done, another begins: more hand-warmers, this time from Bernat Bamboo in Rain Garden. Photos will follow when complete! 

On my needles

A quick post today, as it is nearly tomorrow! Oops. I'll work on this whole being-on-time thing. 

Tonight, I'm working on a pair of handwarmers. I've made lots of these over the past year. I've got a vascular condition, and my doctor basically told me that I can either wear gloves or mittens all the time to keep my hands warm, or I can start taking blood thinners and be on them for the rest of my life. I chose gloves. 

So here is the pair in progress: 

They're made from Austermann Seta yarn, a 100% natural mulberry silk yarn made in Romania. It's so silky and soft! If it weren't so darn expensive, I'd totally use it for a sweater. For now, I'll just be happy with my gloves.