Post-Christmas tasks

Christmas was enjoyed by all at our house. We did the drive to Illinois Friday evening, then to Wisconsin Saturday morning, returning to Illinois on Monday, and then returning to Ohio on Wednesday. I got only a few knitting/spinning related gifts. My sister got me a "Sheep to Shoe" kit in the Valkerie colorway from Blue Moon and my mother got me a different lazy kate. I got to spend lots of time knitting on the Cherry Blossom Shawl, but I seem to be in the never-ending chart C. I got my Ravelry invite yesterday and have spent a little time on there, but will get more done later. First on the list is the kitchen floor. We moved out all of the appliances and will start the floor tile shortly, but first we need to play a little of the boy's PS2. (it was his big surprise present).

Snow finally

It finally decided to snow. This started as big snow flakes and then turned into rain. We still have some snow cover, but not enough for me.
I thought I would share what our Christmas tree looks like:
I spent most of this weekend inside knitting, spinning and making Christmas goodies. My family has a Swiss heritage, so we make lots of Swiss goodies. This weekend it was Bratzlies, English Toffee, St. Lucia bread, and some fruit cake. I hope to make some other goodies this week. Around all of this baking I finished my cardigan. It fits a little more snug that I hoped, but I think I can block it to be slightly bigger.
I also did lots of spinning. Here is one of the 2 bobbins of this pink mixed fiber I got at MS&W. I have no clue what I will knit out of it, but I am thinking something ballet related as the pink reminds me of that. I think there is some mohair or angora in this mix since it has a halo.
I may not post again before Christmas, so have a great holiday and I will return with pictures of the knitted presents that I can't share yet.

Second Sunday of Advent

I have no pictures of Christmas knitting, but I have a picture of what I bought with some Christmas money I received:


This is the Ashford Tensioned Lazy Kate. I got it at a cute little yarn and spinning shop in Nelsonville, OH called the Spinning Turtle. I have ordered the jumbo flyer and extra jumbo bobbins from her as well.

I finished the current SIP. These are for my son.

Yarn: Regia Nation Color
Needles: KnitPick dpn 2 mm
Pattern: Top down basic socks with a broken-rib type stitch.


I have been working away on my cardigan and I am now past where the sleeves join in. I haven't seamed the sleeves yet, but need to block them before doing that.
I have also been trying some of the many dish cloth patterns that exist in blog land. Here are 2,

Tis the first day of Advent...

and I have finished some Christmas knitting. I can show pictures of some since those people have already received the present or don't read the blog.These scarves are knit with Wool-Ease thick and quick on #13 needles. They are for 2 nephews.

This is a scarf and hat set for a big family christmas party. They are Wool-Ease and a basic pattern. I hope they are well liked.

Now for non-Christmas things. I have been working on a pair of socks for N using some Regia sock yarn I got on clearance. I think they will be a matching pair, but I am not certain yet.

Here is where I am on the Cherry Blossom shawl. I haven't work on it in a LONG time. I find it boring, but I do want to finish it as I haven't done a circular shawl yet.
I started on a basic cardigan after trying to follow a pattern that called for a Swiss Check pattern. With the color choice I had made (un-dyed for the main color, taupe and sky for the other colors), the sweater started to look like blue and tan stars. I ripped it out and started creating a pattern using the Handy Book of Sweaters as a guide. This is the KnitPicks Wool of the Andes bulky weight yarn.
I also found time to knit the first swatch on the Spring Shawl Suprice project. I am using KnitPicks bare laceweight and size 3.0mm needles.