It's that time of year...

Hello Dear Friends!  It's that time of year already, the time when gift-making is underway in my little world.  The days seem to pass extra fast, bringing the holidays ever-quicker.  Does it feel that way to you too?  I love making gifts.  I love the "slowness" of it in our hurry-scurry world.  But, admittedly, there is a ticking timeline that adds some pressure to the process.  So I've decided to pare down my annual Handmade-Holiday-Gift-List this year.

Waffle Knit Dishcloths

by Homespun Living

Peaches and Cream in ecru and red

sz 7 needles

The mitts I made for the teachers a few years ago were such a big hit, that I decided to make a pair for Youngest's teacher this year...

Those Mitts

by A Friend to Knit With

Alpaca Natural Blends by Bernat in Wheat

sz 7 needles

(cast on 36st instead of 40)

Well that does it for me today.  Thanks for stopping by and for your sweet comments.  Sending you all a little Colorado Sunshine!

Midsomer Mitts; the pattern

MIDSOMER MITTS
by Staci~~snippetsandstash.blogspot.com

Materials:
~420 yds/100 gms fingering weight yarn

(sample knit with Heart & Sole by Red Heart, color # 3955 Mellow Stripe, 213yds/50gms, 2 balls)
~4 size 2 double pointed needles (or size needed to achieve correct gauge)
~12 inch length contrasting color waste yarn
~tapestry needle

Gauge: 7 1/2 stitches=1 inch in stockinette stitch

Measurements: 10 1/2 inches long and 7 inches (unstretched) around


Cast on 64 stitches. Divide 20 st on 1st needle, 24 st on 2nd needle and 20 st on 3rd needle. Join for knitting in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.

Round 1: *K3, P1*; repeat from * to end. Repeat rib for 8 inches.

Thumb opening: Next round; with a 12 inch length of contrasting waste yarn, *K3, P1* over 8 stitches. Slip these 8 stitches back onto left hand needle one at a time. Continue in *K3, P1* ribbing until hand measures 2 1/2 inches, or until mitt measures 10 1/2 inches from cast on edge. Bind off loosely.

Thumb: Pick out the thumb stitches from waste yarn and place these stitches on 2 double pointed needles. You will have 15 stitches total (8 on the bottom needle closest to cuff, 7 on top needle closest to fingertips.) Hold mitt with cuff closest to you and joining new yarn, *K3, P1* to end of needle #1 (8 st). Pick up 4 stitches along side of thumb opening and work in *K3, P1*. K3, P1 from top needle onto needle #2 (8 st). K3 from remaining needle and pick up 5 stitches along remaining side of thumb opening. Work last 5 stitches as *P1, K3, P1* (8 st on needle #3). Join in the round, 24 stitches total for thumb. Work in *K3, P1*; repeat from * for 10 rounds. Bind off loosely.

Weave in all ends.

Repeat for second mitt.


Copyright 2009 by staci @ snippetsandstash
All Rights Reserved

Midsomer Mitts

I was so inspired by Lucy's post and immediately raided my yarn stash and set out to make some mitts of my own. (Kudos to Sadie for guessing I was knitting gloves, they're all in the same family right?)


I'm thrilled with the results! Warm and cozy, happy and colorful. And stripey! And so, so easy!!! These knit up quickly while watching those murderous Midsomer folk.


The pattern is mine. A first for me even though I've been knitting for a very long time. I've written it up, but admittedly, I'm pretty nervous. What if no one understands it? Or worse yet, what if no one even likes it...

Midsomer Mitts by

staci @ snippetsandstash

Yarn: Heart & Sole by Red Heart, color #3955 Mellow Stripe

Needles: size 2 dpn's

Happy Monday Everyone! Hope your week is off to a rousing start!

9 nine days!

OMGosh! There are only 9 days till Christmas! I swear the days leading up till Christmas get shorter and faster every year, unlike when I was a kid and the days seemed to drag so slowly!!!

I received this darling ornament yesterday from dear Harmien. She really is spoiling me isn't she??? Thank you so much Harmien, it's perfect in every way!!!

Joan is December's recipient for the Christmas Ornament Swap and she's received the one I made her...

Peace in 2008 by

Knotted Tree NeedleArt

JCS 2008

fabric: misc linen remnant

fibers: CC, WDW and DMC

The last set of mitts and Half Pipe Hat (Bernat Cashmere yarn in Rain.) I still need to sew a piece of plastic canvas in the brim, but that requires a trip to Hobby Lobby since I'm out of plastic canvas :)

This morning I baked 9 dozen sugar cookies with white chocolate chips, chopped walnuts and dried cranberries. So this is how the rest of my morning is going to look in between loads of laundry :)

Tomorrow I'll be making a couple of batches of no-bake cookies and a whole bunch of Rolo Turtles that I found on Brenda's blog (anybody who knows me, knows this a recipe right up my alley~~3 ingredients!)

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and for all of your wonderful comments...hope you have a terrific day!!!

Wow!

I'm totally blown away by how many of you popped in here and left a sweet comment...thank you! Congratulations Sharon!!! (Sharon's Cross Stitch Obsession) I'm sending you an email for your address so I can get your ornie in the mail! I have a lot of fun with these little giveaways, so look for more in the coming year!

Here's a Half-Pipe Hat and Mitts for Oldest......this time in Cascade 220 (color #8401, from the stash.) I have one more set of these to make (for a present) and then I'm going to swear off of them for a while :)

And today's Christmas decor pic is of the very Seuss-like stockings I knit for the kiddos a few years ago. I did them out of desperation since the boys had been using "Baby's First Christmas" stockings well past babyhood.

Oldest has a stitched stocking. And I can proudly say it was finished for her first Christmas. Hubby's stocking is stitched, but needs sewn up. It's been sitting in that state for, hmmm, maybe 10 years??? I have patterns all kitted up for the boys and me, and that's all the further those got. Pathetic, I know. But the kiddos love these; they're big and they have a LOT of stretch (the better for Santa to stuff more treasures into!)

Have a great night everyone, and thanks for dropping by!

Mitts in Triplicate

This elf has been hard at work.

Gifts for the boys' teachers: check.

This is such a great pattern.

Fast. Easy. Warm.

Those Mitts by

Leslie, freebie pattern found here

yarn: Patons Soy Wool Solids,

natural wood, natural snow, natural denim

needles: size 6 dpns.

(I cast on 36 stitches instead of 40)

Break time is over.

This elf is heading back to the workshop.

35 days till Christmas!!!

Trick or Treat...

Smell my feet.

Give me something good to eat!

56 st basic sock in 2x2 rib

size: women's sm/med

yarn: Supersocke 100 by Online

color, Sierra

needles: Boye sz 2 dpn's

Cowl (adjusted for my yarn/guage), from the book

Last Minute Knitted Gifts

yarn: Lion Wool by Lion Brand Yarns

color, Pumpkin

needles: Addi 16 inch circular sz 9 (I think)

Those Mitts, by

A Friend to Knit With, pattern found here

same yarn as above

needles: Crystal Palace sz 8 dpn's

I know what I'm wearing for Halloween.

Wonder what the kids are gonna wear :)

No tricks in my mailbox today,

just treats!

I won this adorable tag

from Annie.

Thanks Annie, I love it!!!