I'm developing quite a tradition of finishing warm, cozy sweaters just as the temperature gets warm enough to not need a warm, cozy sweater. Behold:



The Tilted Duster from Fall 2007 Interweave.



Knit in the called for Berroco Peruvia (which I found to be nice and sproingy, but a little splitty and weak, since it's single-ply). I'm actually really pleased with the fit. I was worried that this was going to be a sweater that might only look good on those with skinny hips and flat stomachs, but I think it's a pretty flattering sweater for us curvier girls, too.



Now, on to springier endeavors!

Seems I chose the worst winter in years and years to leave California and move back to the Midwest. Now that the weather seems to be making a change for the warmer and the snow is finally melted away, I present the winter accessories I knit this year:

Gretel in Manos del Uraguay





Endpaper Mitts in some random wool and wool/silk sock yarn (great first colorwork project, by the way)



A hat for my husband, roughly based on Elizebeth Zimmerman's Very Warm Hat in RYC Cashsoft DK (I want to save up all my Cashsoft yarn scraps and in 20 or so years, build myself a nest out of it- love that stuff)



It's reversible!





Kim's Hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts (with tassels! 'Cause we all know that knitting is really all about tassels and pom-poms, right?) and some largely improvised mittens out of some more Manos



All that and I was still cold all winter. Good thing it's finally spring!

This is driving me nuts: recently I stumbled upon (I believe it was on a blog) photos of a quilt (or perhaps a pillow?) that was quilted in a wood grain pattern. The quilter did a fantastic job and I'd really like to have another look, but I've totally forgotten where I saw it. I've tried searching and found a couple of examples, but none quite as nice as the one I'm looking for. Has anyone else seen what I'm looking for?
Thanks!!!!

I never used to understand why anyone would knit for babies. I mean, they'll fit into a handknit for all of five minutes. That is, if they can manage to not spit up on the cashmerino. But, my mom asked me to knit a baby gift for one of her friends after she had crocheted me the most amazing ripple afghan, so I couldn't say no.

Now I know. Knitting for babies is awesome. It goes so fast. A cabled sweater in two weeks (less the six it spent waiting for a zipper)? No problem. It's not much of a commitment. It only takes a couple skeins of yarn.

The product:





I'm calling it the Teensie Cabled Sweater. I took the measurements and inspiration from Knitty's Daisy, but the pattern was largely improvised. It took two skeins of Kraemer Yarns Little Lehigh, which is a kid friendly cotton-acrylic blend.

Behold my zipper sewing prowess:



(I've never sewn a zipper in to a knit before and I'm disproportionately excited about my success.)

I knit this Clapotis to give to my husband's grandmother for Christmas. I Kool Aid dyed the yarn (Knitpicks bare worsted superwash) and knit it up. Just one problem... it turned out kinda ugly. I'm determined to salvage by overdying, so I knitted up some swatches and overdyed away:



Left to right: Lemonade, Strawberry, Grape, Tamarind, and Blue Raspberry. Help me decide!!!

Here's the finished (but unblocked) Clapotis fug:



Detailed pictures of each color here.

***UPDATE***
Thanks for all the feedback! I'm going to tally up all the suggestions and dye accordingly. I'll post another update when I'm done!

Also more info:
The pattern is, of course, Kate Gilbert's Clapotis. Awesome scarf/shawl. Easy and fast to knit up. I use the first one I knit up all the time.

Kool-Aid dying is really fun. As long as you use 100% wool, it does not run (it does smell like Kool-Aid for a while which I consider a plus). Knitty.com also has some great articles on dyeing with Kool-Aid.

***UPDATE AGAIN***
Thanks again to everyone who helped me decide! If this had been for me, I would have picked the tamarind, but I think Granny will really like the... grape (which was the clear winner).



Full tallies and the story of the hole (%&^#!!!) here.

After my knit & felted iPod cozy got trashed, I decided to make a new one out of felt. Here's what I came up with:







Double layered wool felt with elastic and button closures (and a bottom "hatch" for charging). It's version 1.0 since I think I can do a better and neater job and I'd like to try it with thicker, industrial felt. I'm also not quite happy with the earbud pocket:



Anybody have any suggestions for earbud pockets that would actually protect the earbuds without being too bulky? Thanks!

***UPDATE***
While trying to improve my marginal design this weekend, I drafted a nice pattern and took some pictures. What to do with photos and a pattern? Try my hand at making a tutorial. It has 1.6 gazillion pictures, so I posted it here.

I wouldn't say I improved the cozy... but I did fully document it. Meh.

Long story short, I purchased the yarn and cast on for this scarf over 5 years and 2100 miles ago. I started over this past weekend and finally finished:



It's 3 balls of Cleckheaton Gusto 10, knit in plain ol' seed stitch on US17 needles. I put a "button hole" in the middle, so it fastens back on itself. No fuss.



The long version of the story is here, if you're interested.

I had such high hopes for this project.



I love the pattern and convinced myself that it would be flattering, but alas:





Le sigh. This sucker is definitely getting frogged. It is, of course, the Puff Sleeved Feminine Cardigan from Stefanie Japel's Fitted Knits (which, despite this sweater, I'm looking forward to knitting something else from). The yarn is KnitPicks Merino Style, which has to be just about the best yarn value out there.

Why did this sweater go so wrong? I searched my soul and came up with the following:
1. I screwed up the waist shaping (I made too many decreases on the back, and as I don't have back-boobs, it's a little wonky back there now).
2. My row gauge is off and the waist fell approximately three miles below my true waist.
3. I knit at a larger gauge than called for, compensating by knitting a smaller size. I 've learned that seed stitch is totally floptastic at this gauge, thus the collarectomy I performed during finishing.
4. Saggy armpits (on the sweater, not on me). I think this has to do both with my row gauge and the puff sleeves. Ugh.

Good thing the clapotis I'm working on now can't not fit, right?

For whatever reason, I have an awful time sewing and knitting things that fit and are flattering on me (I think I'm in denial about the size of my ass). That's why I'm so happy with this skirt:





It fits sooooo well. Like it was made for me...

(Forgive the wrinkles- the pictures were taken right after I sat down to eat breakfast.)

The pattern is Simplicity 4091 and the fabric is a herringbone denim. The bottom is edged with rickrack. 'Cause rickrack rocks. Rickrack rocks. Rickrack rocks. Rickrack rocks. Fun to say.

Little more about it here (if you're brave enough to wade through all the knitting content).

...'cause I'm not too excited about it.





I do, however really like the lining. Super pink and pockety.

It's inspired by the Stitch & Bitch Chinese Charm Bag, knit in Debbie Bliss Soho from my stash. Funny, I love the yarn on the skein, but didn't really like it for this. The rest will make a cut hat, though I think.