I finally have photos of the scarf I made as a gift for my friend Kate! The pattern was even written by a craftster, kjtendyke. Yay!

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The yarn is Knitpicks Andean Silk, the color is Bluebell. I used a little more than six balls (such a deal at $3.29 a ball!) and I made it shorter than the pattern - the pattern has each tube knit to 90" for a six foot long scarf. I knit mine to 75" and the scarf is a little over five feet long.

I used Knitpicks options needles in size 4 and 6 with a 40" cable, using the magic loop technique. This is a great project for learning that technique - it's a whole lotta circular knitting!

Huge, huge success! It's surprisingly fun to knit, and I looked forward to my subway ride every day when I would listen to knitting podcasts and work on the scarf!

No, really, that's the name of a new show on the Style Network!

Check it out - http://www.stylenetwork.com/ssms-site/style.do?showId=6194&showFeatureId=d9e82755d185645251672e5bafc425&contentItemId=homeContentItem_d9e82755d185645251672e5bafc425

Ridiculously long URL, but the show looks like it could be......fun. It's described as "artsy armageddon" in the ads!

[fifth]

I'm late on the bandwagon for this one, but I'm trying to get started on the Audrey sweater, from Rowan magazine using Rowan Calmer yarn. Tricky stuff, I'm finding! It's quite elastic so they recommend size 8 needles to achieve gauge of 21 stitches and 30 rows. So my first attempt at gauge was way off - 18 stitches and 26 rows. I kept on trying, going down a needle size each time, and on my fifth attempt I finally got perfect gauge - using size 5 needles! This freaks me out a bit, as I always thought I was a fairly tight knitter and would have to go to bigger needles, not smaller. I have read through the Audrey knitalong blog, so I know that gauge troubles are not uncommon with this yarn. I just want a little reassurance that I should plunge in using the 5s. This is a very fitted sweater, so gauge is really important and I wanted this project to be my lesson in gauge and fit and sizing. 

Any advice? Thanks!

The one on the right is mine, made by my grandmother 30-something years ago. My mom's is like mine, and my dad and brother have stockings shaped more like socks.

The one on the left I made for my new niece Katie! I love family heirlooms.

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This is my sister-in-law's Christmas present, though I really want to keep it for myself  

The picture is a little dark, unfortunately. Here's the details: basic Sophie pattern knitted in Cascade 220. The color is a sort of denim blue. I added a crocheted loop before felting for a closure. I needle felted the stems - they wrap around to the back and end in leaves. Then I added flower-shaped mother-of-pearl buttons. I would have loved to find slightly bigger buttons, but it took me forever to find these as it was!

I hope she likes it!

Hand knit and beaded - will be pins and barrettes.