I’ve been getting projects done. It helps to have some extra knitting time and small, manageable projects.

Malabrigo Chunky in “Blue Lime” Size 9 needles Started 12/31/10 - Finished 1/10/11

This was the first of the 12 accessories for 2011. I’m counting it, even though I started it on New Year’s Eve. My mom had asked for a hat when she saw the one I made my sister’s boyfriend at Christmas. It was a good chance to get some more bulky yarn. The Malabrigo is plied, and very soft. I didn’t use a pattern, just cast on enough stitches and worked 2x2 ribbing until it was tall enough. This used up nearly the whole ball of yarn.

I also finished the Tweed Baby Blanket. What a great pattern! I also really love the yarn. I used the yarn as in the pattern, and I had enough of both colors, especially the border color. I just barely started the last ball, but better too much than not enough! I had difficulty picking up the border stitches, but that simply came down to not being able to count properly. I managed by using lots of stitch markers and counting on basically every round.

Knit Picks City Tweed in Orca and Lemon Curd Size 8 and 9 needles Started 11/8/10 - Finished 1/9/11

I really love the border.

Using the momentum of some finished projects, I’ve started some plain gloves for Walker with some old, old, old stash yarn. I’ve been planning on making these gloves for at least 4 years! I’m using the great resource A Knitter’s Book of Handy Patterns. This was one of the first knitting books I ever got, and I go back to it for basic shaped items, such as hats and mittens for people of different sizes.

I was given some Peaches & Creme Cotton by my ”secret Santa “at work, and it’s great colors for baby stuff. Naturally, I turned to Mason-Dixon Knitting and the Baby Bib of Love (ravelry link). I’m combining the basic shaped bib with the Baby Genius Burp cloth (ravelry link again) stitch pattern for a more interesting texture.

I’ll make a few of these with my stash of cotton yarns. I even have some orange and black for our little soon-to-be Giants fan.