Alexander's Mittens

P1010561, originally uploaded by loveofwool.

So I am finally getting around to posting about my final Christmas present! Here are the mittens I made for my BIL. They are the first mittens I have lined with fleece and they turned out excellent! I will be doing this again for mittens!

Last Knitpicks Order and Stash Down Update

P1010553, originally uploaded by cindyv19.

So I am getting closer to getting my Emma's mittens done. I am on the second mitten now and I have modified them to be fingerless mittens so they no longer apply for the 11 mittens in 2011 but I will end up wearing them more! I haven't started my charity project yet but hope to soon!

On the bright side I am getting closer to having Abalone done. I only have the main edging to do! Both arms are done.

I am also being tested by Cookie A's new book Knit. Sock. Love. I have joined the knit.sock.love. group on Ravelry and really want to cast on for the first KAL for Hedera. I am thinking of using some of the Stroll Tonal I just got in yesterday.

Oh yeah here is my last order of 2010! It just took awhile to come in. Isn't the new Chroma gorgeous! The one on the left is prism and the rigth is pool party.

Emma's Mittens Started!

I finished up my BIL's mittens and started Emma's Mittens for my Stashdown 2011 challenge.  I still have quite a few other projects to finish up so hopefully I have time to get those done too!  I better get working.

I lined my first pair of mittens!  My BIL's mittens.  It gets pretty cold in Yellowknife!  I used Techknitters guide and they turned out awesome.  Now my hubby wants a pair!

My Emma's mittens are turning out great!  I love Cascade Eco for mittens.  It end up being surprisingly soft.  It washes and wears well too!

I want to finish up my Abalone soon as well so that I can start wearing it.  I spilled some Bailey's on it and it had to take a bath!  I am just doing the arm holes right now.  So just that and the edging left.  The yarn is turning out really nicely as well!

So many things, so little time!

The snow is really flying here today so I predict a night of knitting ahead of me!

Happy Knitting!

New Year . . . . New Challenge

Tomorrow is the official start to my stash down challenge!  I probably wont be able to start them tomorrow :( I really want to finish some mittens for my BIL.  They were for Christmas I just haven't been motivated to start them!

So here it is my finally selection for January with yarn choices!

Emma's mittens with Cascade Eco in a light brown (I love this yarn for mittens) - Mitten pair #1

Inside out Cowl with Paton's Classic Wool in Deep Olive - this one is for Charity

Happy Knitting!

All my Christmas Knitting was a hit!

Everyone loved their Christmas gifts!  I wish I could have gotten pictures of them with the gifts but most were far away and I got to see them open the gifts over Skype.  Future SIL loved the cowl I made her, FIL loved the hat, and MIL loved the hemlock ring blanket I made her!  My sister loved her fingerless mittens.  I still have a few that I need to gift.  I have to find buttons for my mom's cowl and finish up my BIL's mittens.  The other cowl for my other BIL was wet still when he was leaving so I will need to give him that as well.

Right now I am finishing up my UFO's getting ready for the Stashdown!

How was your Christmas?

Mine was really great!  My husband spoiled me!  I got a really awesome Knit Happy project caddy, sheep tape measure (cute!), Vogue Knitting lace stitchionary, Knit Happy post-it kit, Jaquard Dye kit, and a Size 1 nickel plated fixed circular.

He did a great job in picking things that I would really love!  

I also got a really awesome tea set from my sister and brother.  It is a cast iron set lined with ceramic!  It is super elegant and I love it.  I also got a lasagna pan from my mom that has three compartments to make different kinds of lasagna and a knife with cutting board attached.  Super awesome!

I can't wait to use them all!

The Stash Down Rules

So I have finally decided to set my stash down rules.  Better get it done now before the Christmas and New Years rush starts.

1) Must start and finish 1 regular project and 1 charity project a month.

2) Blog the progress of the projects and finished object.

3) Must choose the pattern and yarn one month in advance.

4) No new yarn for at least 3 months . . . . unless gifted ;)

5) Use only yarn from current stash.

6) Incorporate the 11 pairs of mittens in 2011.

So those are the rules!  January 1, 2011 I will be starting this challenge and finishing December 31, 2011 with a lot less stash.

My first projects will be Emma's Mittens (#1 of 11) and Inside Out Cowl for charity!  I will be posting about the start of the projects on January 1st!