Here we go Swatch again

Despite my crazy schedule I have been a busy little knitter lately. Before I went to the retreat I wanted to make a cute little felted purse. It took me less than 2 days to knit this:

with some pretty stash yarn in a sort of heathery purpley red.

Then I felted it down to this:

It's pictured with the same water bottle so you can see how much the size changed. I just love felting. It's like magic!

I also have been working off and on on the yarn that matches my gorgeous clapotis from earlier this year. I want a matching set. So, here are the texting mittens I'm working on. (This pattern looks like a weird little design but if you can, read about them, they are awesome! I can't wait for them to be finished.)


But, Mittens won't keep your head warm right? So, I'm also knitting a cute beret to match as well.

Please ignore the fact that it looks like nothing yet. I can guarantee that this yarn is more beautiful in person than it is in these pictures. I had to use flash because it's so grey and drizzly today but it washes out the color so much.

But that's not all! I'm actually working hard on my Nightingale socks and hoping to finish them soon so I can participate in NaKniSweMo with some ladies from my knitting group and I was nicely enabled by a knitting friend the other day at the yarn store to get this:

A huge skein of Legacy Lace from Brown Sheep (on the right) in Sassy Sage. It says it's 75% Washable wool and 25% Nylon and 1500 yards! Plus, two skeins of Misti Alpaca 100% baby alpaca Handpainted Lace, 874 yards each. I'm going to hold the two strands together to knit the Featherweight Cardigan. I'm swatching already, I'm actually pretty proud of myself for planning ahead.

By the way, if you are thinking about doing this, please think of your poor winding arm. 1500 yards! Killer.

Return to the Real World

I attended a ladies retreat this last weekend and spent a lot of time knitting. It means I managed to finish knitting the scarf for my mom for Christmas and I managed to work on my travelling socks a little bit as well. I don't have any pictures to show you but I have been so brain-fried after the long weekend that I have spent a lot of time knitting.

I'm past the heel turn on the second Nightingale sock. It's coming along but taking its time, just like the other one.
I dragged out my Labyrinth Carpet Bag and I'm working on that again as well. I don't seem to have ever posted pictures of it. I'll link to my Ravelry Project page. That has a picture. Otherwise I've been just sitting and staring into space at the TV. I'm telling you, I'm totally brain-fried. I've got to get it together pretty quick though, lots to do in the next couple of weeks.

Actual Finished Objects

You may recall that before I went to Wisconsin I had a goal of finally finished my poor languishing February Lady Sweater. I dug it out, refreshed myself with the pattern and got to work. I had finished one sleeve and had the second to do plus finishing the body. My goal was to make it as long as possible with the amount of yarn I had.

I did manage to finish it, in the van on the way to Wisconsin. Nobody said I had to have it done before I left right?
I made the sleeves about elbow length, maybe a tiny bit more:

and made a tab so they would have a little interest.

Here it is still unblocked and without buttons. I'm not quite sure if I will add buttons or not. I'm not sure I can actually see myself buttoning it up. I also changed my mind and didn't make it as long as possible. I was pretty sick of the pattern. (Simple enough to memorize, easy enough to drive you crazy.) and I thought the length looked really good so I started the edging.

This picture has the most accurate color.

I really don't like it but hubby took it and I promised I would post it. Please be kind.

I also realized that I never took pictures and posted them of my completed Bombadil Tam that I was lucky enough to test-knit.

Here is the beautiful colorwork.



A closeup of the twisted stitches.


The final product in all its glory. I absolutely love it. If you have the chance, Knit this hat!

I found the 3-color colorwork challenging but not overly so an the twisted stitches were also a challenge but well worth the work they took!

With these beautiful projects off the needles you may be asking what's on them.

At least pretend that's what you're asking.
This is the September Merino of the Month club Braid of fiber from Gritty Knits.

I spun it and 3-plied it into a beautiful sock yarn. I loved it so much that I couldn't resist. I wound it up and started knitting. I decided a good old plain sock would be the best to show off the gorgeous colors in this yarn.

It may be going pretty well.

As a matter of fact, it's going so well that WoolPrincess (Ravelry name) is trying to convince me that she needs these for Christmas.
What do you think, is she handspun worthy?

We'll talk about what else is on my needles another day.