Since I’ve been on a bit of a colorwork streak lately why not a pair of  skully socks?  The pattern I used was Toxic Socks by Camille Chang.  I fell in love with a sugar skulls bag by The Silver Pumpkin (Go ahead and sign up to be notified when the shop reopens…you won’t regret it)  and just had to knit a pair of socks to match.  I have this thing with matching my socks to my project bag. Don’t ask me how many project bags I have…it’s a bit of a sore subject.  The main color yarn was Dragonfly Fibers Djinni Sock in Espresso, and the contrast color yarn was The Sanguine Gryphon Skinny Bugga in Two Butterflies Went out At Noon. Even though the yarn is from 2 different companies the base is the same. This base has such a luscious softness with a tight twist, and in my book that is the perfect storm!

I can’t get this love for the combination of blue and brown out of my system, but maybe this is another step in that direction. Then again maybe not!

The Hazel Knits group on ravelry was hosting a mitten, glove, fingerless glove KAL for the holidays.  I picked a lovely colorwork fingerless glove pattern by Tanis Lavallée called Adelia. I had some Hazel Knits Entice in Serenity, and Fudge languishing in the stash so that’s what I knit with. (Ok I might have ordered the Fudge to go along with the Serenity, but that’s just between us, k!)

I knit the medium size which fit perfectly although, I could have used a little more length in the thumb gusset. The heart makes up for the gusset issues!

After knitting the fingerless gloves with the luscious HK entice I could not resist making the matching cowl. JO and JY informed me that I looked like a robber with the cowl covering my face.  Silly boys, how many robbers do you know that wear hearts on their merino cashmere nylon blend hand knit cowls?  I cannot tell you how soft and cozy this set is, and I’m kind of getting addicted to colorwork!  The pattern was very well written and I’m so in love with the result, and it’s all mine! (yes I’m a selfish knitter, especially when it comes to cashmere)

While doing the photoshoot, I decided that we needed a Christmas card photo. The photo that I chose was very similar to this, but had a slightly better composition. Oh well, you get the idea!  Hope you had a lovely Holiday Season, and made some memories with family and friends!

So let’s just pick up where we left off, shall we?!  And pretend like it’s hasn’t been a whole month since I blogged last, or that I’m a month behind in my blog reading. Anyway, blah blah blah I have a hundred excuses, but look a pretty Christmas star.

I’ve been doing some Christmas knitting, and I went a little crazy. I decided at the last minute to make 2 stripey stocking caps for my nieces, and then I decided I had to finish a WIP of a shawl that’s been languishing and gift it to my Sis-in-law (hopefully she’s not reading). All this in addition to the stockings I had planned on knitting.  Of course,  I didn’t start all these projects until beginning to mid December. So, yes I went a little crazy and fell off the grid, but I’m attempting to get back on track. Ooooh look I made pom poms!

Look what arrived on my doorstep…the last shipment of Hazel Knit sock club as we know it. Flicker, is a warm orange with yellow undertones.

I don’t know how Wendee does it, but Blue Spruce is the perfect representation of my favorite tree in the whole wide world.

Yes, back on track so finished knits will be appearing shortly.

I forgot all about my finished mystery socks until I was asked if they could be featured on a blog post over on the Hazel Knits blog.  Along with several other pairs of finished mystery socks, of course.  This pattern by Verybusymonkey contained a new to me technique, bobbles.  I knit   these with Hazel Knits Piquant lite in orchid.

This was my first time using Piquant lite and It’s a dream to knit with! I love the way it makes those cables, and bobbles pop.   This pattern called for a star toe which I think was the perfect ending to a very interesting knit!

JO is an awesome helper, and he patiently held the socks on blockers while I climbed up on the rock in our yard. Notice JY riding his bike in the background…he couldn’t be bothered to help out

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I have a vision of a certain project and how I want it to fit when it’s finished.  When the project that you started takes quite a bit of modification it is often worrisome that it will turn out the way you wanted.  I started this cowl neck sleeveless top called Heliosphere Tank by Rosemary Hill back in May.  I substituted yarn and used Cascade Yarns Venezia Worsted which is 70% merino 30% silk.  I wanted my tank to be a little more body skimming with closer fitting sleeves. To achieve the closer fitting sleeves I added 3 short rows to the bottom 1/3rd of the trim on the arm holes.

I envisioned this tank worn under a fitted jacket hence the closer fitting body. I also added about 4 inches to the length to compensate for the rolling that happens with stockinette stitch.

It was necessary to add some waist shaping, because I have wider hips and a smaller bust.

The racerback tank draws attention to the shoulders. I don’t know about you, but when that project turns out exactly the way you had envisioned it….makes you feel like a super knitter. Now all I need is a cape, and as my friend Christy pointed out, a mask!

Hope you had a fun and safe Halloween!

JY was a white ninja.

JO was a black ninja.

And they had a blast!

There are so many things I should be workin’ on right now, but I just can’t put my Toxic Socks down.  It doesn’t hurt that I’m knitting them with Skinny Bugga in Two Butterflies Went Out At Noon, and Djinni Sock in Espresso.  I just love those mcn bases!

So what about you…what’cha workin’ on?

Jy turned 5 on the 21st of September, and what better present for a little man than a hand knit cardigan.  He found the dinosaur buttons at JoAnn Fabric a long time ago, and wanted me to knit him a cardigan so he could use them.  Jy’s  a bit dinosaur obsessed!

The yarn I used was Cascade 220 superwash which is perfect for little boys. He was not in the mood to have photos taken today so I had to bribe him with some hot cocoa.

He’s such a funny boy with a huge imagination, and the vocabulary this one knows!  Definitely watch what you say around him because he’s sure to repeat it.    He told me he wants to wear his sweater to Bible Study and Church…all the coolest places  Makes a knitters heart smile!

I made these awesome cupcakes with a pirate theme to go with his decorations. A little time consuming because you have to make the cookie dough and freeze it before baking the cupcakes. I bought the frosting instead of making it to even the playing field. Those are skeleton rings on the top of the cupcakes…they’re kind of hard to see.

And a photoshoot is not complete without silly faces!

I’ve been working on a mystery sock by verybusymonkey over on the Hazel Knits board at Ravelry.  All the clues have been released, but I’m slow so I’m only on clue 2 of 3.  The yarn I decided on was Hazel Knits Piquant Lite in Orchid.  I love a good mystery sock…and this one has bobbles.  I have bobble envy, because my bobbles seem to have little holes before them.  Don’t worry I tightened those bobbles right up, because the only thing worse than bobble envy is saggy bobbles.  Soooo what are you working on?

So I’m sure you all know how much I love Hazel Knits yarn…I mean that’s kind of like saying Whale’s like water.  Sorry I’ve been watching too much Animal Planet lately.  There was an update a couple weeks ago on the Hazel Knits website which included the new fall colors.  I may have ordered a skein or 2…or 5.

From top left we have Arroyo, Indigo, Jam Session, and Pink Pearl. On the bottom is Bronze Age, and they are all Piquant Lite except Pink Pearl which is Artisan sock. Did you see those mugs though…best mugs ever!!! You can get yours here.

They are handmade by Brad Henry Potter, and they make your coffee(or tea) taste 10 times better I swear! I need a yarn bowl!