KnittyOtter

Monkey Muffins and George in a Charity Hat

I can't believe I  haven't posted recently. It's been pretty busy over here since... oh a while now. But I truly thought I'd have more time to post than I have. Granted this weekend I wasn't posting due to a yarn crawl with MonkeySocks. Yarn was had. *GRIN* But that's not what I'm here to talk to you about today. Hell I said I'd post about my travels in my next post, which would be this one and that's not going to happen either.

The intentions I have, the promises I make, my failings are all heavy hearted within myself. It kinda stops me, keeps me silent, when I can't follow through on the things I wish to do. So if you haven't been getting your emails returned as timely and whatnot it's because I am feeling silent within myself. This too shall pass and until it does it's nothing personal. Though I do feel like a right crappy friend. I recently had a friend thank me for being a good friend. I feel bad though, cause I certainly have not earned that.

I have a lot of black cloud musings I could bore you with but I'm here to talk to you about Monkey Muffins.

A few weeks ago my friend Monkey Socks made some Pineapple Upside Down Muffins. They were VERY Yummy. The sorta thing you wish you had more of. With an added bonus of being something not entirely awful for you. There's enough personal guilt inside me to deal with without adding muffin guilt to it to ya know. Heh.

This past Thursday I got it suddenly and without warning into my head to make this fabulous muffins. All I new about her yummy baked creation was that it had pineapple, a cup of grated carrot, raisins and nuts... and flour and those basic baking things cause it is a muffin afterall.

Taking that knowledge mixed with a basic carrot muffin recipe, my pineapple upside down cake recipe and my own twisted ideas about what a might go into a tasty muffin created what I like to call Monkey Muffins. Not only as a homage to the one and only Monkey Socks, but because they have Banana and other yummy things in there that any lucky monkey would be happy to nosh on.

So without further adieu here are the Monkey Muffins.    (All Photos Clickety Biggety)

Just ignore the fact there are only 10 muffins shown in the photo. They were so yummy I forgot to take a picture until they had been sampled. :P And yes these are Honey Approved Monkey Muffins.

Monkey Muffin Recipe:

Preheat Oven to 400°F

Monkey Muffin Pineapple & Pecan Topping

1/4 Cup Pack Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Chopped Pecans
10 oz Pineapple Slices - drained and cut into sixths (Use one 20 oz can, just set the other half aside for the next part)
1/4 Butter - melted

Place a teaspoon of Butter in each muffin cup of your Muffin/cupcake pan. Then sprinkle in equally the nuts & Brown sugar. Finally place 2 to 3 segments of pineapple into each cup, so that it comes out about equal depending on the size of your pieces. I didn't cut that uniformly, so smaller pieces got 3 to a cup. It should look like the image below when you are done.

Monkey Muffins

1 Cup King Arthur Wheat Flour
1 Cup King Arthur All Purpose Flour
2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda - For the photo below I put the Baking Powder & Soda together in the same dish to save room... ran out of little bowls. :P
1/2 Teaspoon Sea Salt - regular "salt" grind, not the big flakey stuff

Mix flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking powder & baking soda & salt together in a bowl.

In a different & larger bowl mix together the following ingredients.

2 Eggs
3/4 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Safflower Oil or regular Vegetable Oil
2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
10 oz Pineapple Slices - drained and chopped into small pieces
1 Cup Finely Grated Carrot - Do not use Baby Carrots for this as it takes so much longer than normal carrots. If you can find normal old fashioned sized carrots that is. I did not, so I used the Babies. Took ages.
3/4 Cup Rough Chopped Banana
3/4 Cup Trader Joe's Golden Berry Blend Dried Fruit - Blend of Golden Raisins, Cherries, Cranberries & Blueberries
4 Tablespoons Ground Flaxseed - I use Nature's Path Flaxseed Meal
2 Tablespoons Chopped Pecans

Once you have gently mixed together the second bowl of ingredients you can start adding the first bowl of dry ingredients into this bowl. (Which is why it will need to be larger.)

After the ingredients are gently folded together evenly spoon the muffin mixture into the prepared muffin pan.

Bake for 20 to 25 Minutes or until Golden Brown and you can cleanly insert a butter knife. You may need to run a butter knife around the edges to loosen the muffins from the pan before turning them over onto a cookie sheet.

These Monkey Muffins were Super Yummy and will be made again soon. I was going to mail some out, but the Honey really liked them and before I could wrap some up to freeze for travel he devoured them. :D Which is fine cause I like it when he enjoys the stuff I make. I'll just have to make more. Maybe a double batch next time. ;^)

In other news I have been knitting. I have several finished projects I need to photograph and post. For now here is a Hat I made for the Charity Box at my Favorite Local Yarn Store, Deluxe Yarns. Later this month we are going to get together and hand things out to people who need them at a shelter. :D Should be very interesting seeing people get my Charity Knitting in person.  I need to get on it and knit a bunch more for the box. :D

George and The Local Charity Hat

George always looks so enthusiastic about whatever he happens to be modeling. He even wore this hat to a Halloween Party we attended last week. Yes, I took him as my guest. :P

What you don't take your Zombie for Outings? Weirdos.

;^)

Red Scarf Project, George and TKK Oh My!

I finished my Scarf for this years Red Scarf Project. Well this Autumn's Red Scarf Project as it's not really 2008 yet. Either way it's fantabulous and benefits the Orphan Foundation of America. :D

Just think some College kid will receive my handknit scarf as modeled by the lovely George here. George is as high fashion as it gets, Baby! Clickety Biggety!

George was petting TKK when I took this photo. (Yes, the scarf was washed after it touched the kitty.) TKK said she wanted to be in the photo, but you know how models and their egos can be. So we had to take another photo of her without George or the scarf to show off just how vivacious and fuzzy she is. Truly the cutest kitty ever.

She knows how to work the camera. That and she was trying to lick it. :P

Some details on the scarf:

Cast On: August 17, 2007
Cast Off: September 21, 2007
Pattern: My Own "Not a Real Pattern Pattern" - Simple Alternating sections of Garter, Seed & Basket Weave
Yarn: Universal Yarn from the Moods line color 1505 - It's a Worsted Weight Wool/Acrylic blend that has colors that blend between Red and Black. - I had two balls of the yarn when I started and I still have 3/4 of one of them. I'll use that to make Hats for the Charity Box at Deluxe Yarns for the local homeless & needy.
Yardage: 247 yards
Yarn Source: Deluxe Yarns
Needles: Clover Takumi -  US 10.5 / 6.5mm 16" Circular
Again? YES! It was a fun easy knit and the honey liked it so he'll likely get one in the Blue and Black Colorway. :D Nothing like some mindless knitting to make you all nice and relaxed when things are kinda stressy.

Notes: This was my first Completed Scarf using Garter Stitch as more than a border. *L* The scarf is 6 feet long and 5.5 inches wide. This scarf was started with some friends when I was too brain dead to knit on the socks I had with me at the time. It's been knit on in four states and through several drinks and travels. Heh.

Random Observation: It just occurred to me that George kinda looks like Jerri Blank's Father, Guy.

George on the left, Guy on the right

Twins Separated at Birth! o.0

I'm glad I finished the scarf in time. Now I just need to get a gift certificate, write a note and care instructions and mail it off.

In other news I finished another pair of socks... *happy dance*

Eye Candy Friday: In the Garden & Ten for Dulaan

This year the honey and I are trying to start a garden. Again. I think y'all remember the sun fried pumpkin patch of last year. o.0

In all honesty the honey is doing most of the work. He asks me what I want and then surprises me with stuff he'll think I like and a few times a week take me on a "tour" of our garden. Sometimes I have helpful advice and sometimes I just ooo and ah over how cool it is. When I was out of town he planted some mini old fashioned roses in my favorite pinky coral color. Such a thoughtful sweetiehead! :D I don't have a picture of that to show you just yet.

What I do have is a photo of Pumpkin Patch 2007. (Clickety Biggety: All Photos in this post)

The sun is taking it's toll on a few of the leaves already. I'm thinking we'll have to put some kind of sun shade over the poor things. It almost feels like one of those storm watch things when the news/weather people get so excited they almost wet themselves. *L* Maybe we'll have Pumpkins this year and maybe we won't. Stay Tuned to find out!

Those are just some of the pumpkins. They are sharing the planter box that self waters with some green/yellow pepper thingies. You can eat them when they are green, or wait until they are yellow and a bit sweeter. The honey picked those out for me, even though he's not a huge fan of pepper thingies. That's love. ♥

While I was out there yesterday enjoying the afternoon breezes with the honey in the garden/backyard I did a little knitting. Still working on the honey socks. But I'm already thinking of all the other socks I wanna knit SOON. That darn Cookie has been talking up Kew to me for a while now and yesterday seeing her progress kicked my sock fever into over drive. So I went ahead and picked out the yarn I'm going to use for those socks too. I love me a lacy sock and that one looks uber fun. :D

Dave Cabin Cove Mercantile Yarn in Tencel & Merino for Kew: So Soft, Glossy and Wonderful!!

I think a cool refreshing pair of green socks is just what this already hot summer needs... well to wear when it gets cooler. But still knitting them will be like a cool drink of water in the shade. :D

Now I just need to knit more and dream about future socks less. I blame Cookie. Just Say'n. :P

TKK wanted her own picture taken after I took the Dave Yarn away. She loves her some Dave yarn. I'd need some attention too if someone took away my Dave yarn. o.0

You can almost see in her eyes that she wants that yarn back. I'm not kidding when I say she loves Dave Yarn. *L*

And finally several weeks ago before I went out of town I sent off my Dulaan Box. (Many Thanks to Cookie for keeping me up on the deadline to mail. *hugs*)

I had pledged to knit 5 pieces and managed to knit 10. :D

*Super Happy Otter Dance*

Here's George showing off The Ten Pieces/Sets for Dulaan.

From the top, left to right we have The Patons SWS Fuzzy Kiddie Scarf, My First Sweater Ever, Toddler Scarf & Hat Set, The Double Knit Stripe Hat, My First Attempt at Fair Isle, Candy Hat, Mohair Monstrosity, My First Socks , My First Hat and the Magic 28 Socks.

That's a lot of firsts in there for me. :D I have REALLY enjoyed knitting all of these for Dulaan. It's also helped me try things sooner than I might have. I dunno. It's different when you're knitting for someone in need than for yourself or friends/family. It's pure. No strings, no history. Just helping.

That's not to say I don't have plenty of people I could knit for. Though recently someone who obviously doesn't know me very well suggested that I knit for charity because I don't have anyone to knit for. As if knitting for charity was the only way I could knit for others and that it must be nice to have people to knit for because of this. *L* Well I doubt that person will be getting a handknit anytime soon. Not a knitter, btw. Not a charity helper either. Just plain ol' clueless. I could spend all my time knitting for people I love and still not have time to get to them all the way I'd like. Like I said, knitting for charity makes me feel good. I guess you gotta be happy to spread happy though. Miserable people who can't see past the gloom on their nose wouldn't understand that.

I don't know if they are going to do Dulaan again this year or not. I hope so, but if not I'm sure I can find a lot of other charities to participate in. Such as the upcoming Red Scarf Project 2008. The deadline is a bit earlier this year and the standards & practices have changed a bit for anyone interested. Looks to be lots of fun again. :D

Alrighty then, well tomorrow I head off on an adventure with some friends. It should be fun and fiberlicious. Details if we make it and return. You never know about these things. *L* It feels kinda like we are going off on some hobbiting adventure with a precarious chance of making it back. If we make it back I'll have to pull a Bilbo and write the tale. But I promise not to have Leonard Nimoy sing about the adventure. I don't think they even make those kind of drugs anymore.

To top it all off, like some sort of fabulous cherry on a sundae I've been promised a pair of Prized Squishy Balls!!! My Precious, Precioussssss Squishy Balls.....

Otter's First Sweater!!

Last Friday I finally took the time to weave in my ends and wash all the items I made for Dulaan.

This is my Tenth Dulaan Project!! I am SO HAPPY WITH IT!!! :D

Though I must say I really don't care for weaving in ends. It's so slow and tedious. *zombie face*

I've decided I'll weave in my ends to all future sweaters as I knit along. Though I've yet to actually put that into action on the Coral Pink sweater for myself since declaring that. Heh.

Here is the first sweater I ever knit inside. The photo is kinda dark, but the color is most accurate in this image.

I took the next photo outside. It's way too bright. And yes that is George's hand in the photo. heh. Clickety Biggty!

Sweater Details:

Pattern: Knitting Pure & Simple Children's Neck Down Pullover # 9730 Largest Size 10 to 12

Yarn: Heirloom Easy Care - In Dark Green #793 & Navy Blue #787

... er out of time. I need to run off to beddie bye land now since I have to wake up at 3:10 tomorrow morning. Flight leaves crazy early. Fun!

I'll just say that knitting this sweater was a wonderful experience and I love sweater knitting muchly. :D

I'll be taking the new Dave Socks, yet to be cast onto and my sweater for my travel knitting. Plus a book my friend Florrie lent me. It's about a yarn shop. Heh. ;^)

I loves me some time in a yarn shop.

See y'all next week.

And go Poke Cookie extra much since I won't be able to.

Blah. I wish I was home already.

ECF: Pink Edition - Dulaan #9 & Sweater Progress

This is a rushed post, but I wanted to update before I ran out the door.

I've been knitting so much blue this year that I HAD to go pink in order to save my sanity. It was just too much blue. So here are some of the recent pink things I've been knitting on. :D

I have finished washing and blocking all my Dulaan stuffs. More of the big picture laters. Today I want to show you a Toddler Scarf & Hat set I made for the Dulaan Project. These would be completed objects #9. :D

These were super easy knits and took one night for the hat and scarf. LOVE!

It also represents my first Garter Stitch scarf and first time putting fringe on something. *L*

I'm also going to post a peek of my yummy Coral Cotton sweater. It's for ME!

It's kinda hard to see what's what. There was too much light. *L*

o.0 No Really.

I am loving knitting this sweater for myself, although working with cotton is a bit different than wool.

Well no more time to  update. Gotta run out and get some champaign for a celebration laters.

Resolution # 10, after a harsh long month of no attention I am coming for YOU Baby!

*GRIN*

Also many kudos to the lovely and talented Cookie on her one year Blogoversary. You am Faboo, Honey!! :D

Magic 28 Socks & Half a Sweater...

Holy Fuck. o.0 I just typed up a wonderfully insightful post with lots of links and pictures and it was damn long.

Then I hit submit.

The page that appeared said server wouldn't load... and the post was GONE forever in a little poof.

DAMNIT. That pisses me off so much. PLUS I normally save draft as I go along. BUT NO. I didn't do that. Grrrrr.

Someone left the post out in the rain and I don't think that I can take it, cause it took so long to make it and I'll never have that much functioning brain again OHHHHHHHH NOOOOOOO!!

My head hurts now. That is just shitty. Thank you Typepad. Blah. *POUTY LIP OUT*

Fine. So now I'll try this again. Or whine and just post the stuff. Bleh. That just takes the wind out of my sails. I need a drink. Or Coffee. Hmmm I wonder what MonkeySocks is up to. *L*

So anyway as I previously and with more grace said before, I completed my first pair of Magic 28 socks. (I had written out all kinds of facts n' shit before, with links even!)

Without any grace and a great deal of whining here are the socks.

They were knit with some seriously overpriced and not the softest yarn of the basic worsted weight wools, Lion Brand Wool. I used half the skein. I'll use the rest to make a matching kid sized hat. After that I will never waste my money on this yarn again. Why bother when Paton's and Cascade are better for the price and quality.

This is going into the Dulaan Box. 8 items so far on my way to 10!

Next up is some sweater progress.

I wrote a bunch of stuff about the sweater and what I did Saturday and Sunday. But now I'm too irritated to write it all out again.

So anyway that's what I've been up to. *falls over*

Margarita Chicken Soup & an Almost Sweater!

... *sneaks back in*

It always feels weird to make a blog post after an absence of posts. I don't know what to say, while at the same time having WAY too much to say.

Or it could be a symptom of life and all the stuff I'm dealing with right now. Some things you can talk about and some you can't.

Been busy, but before I get into all that I'd like to announce the name of my recent unnamed soup. The lovely and talented (and glowing and recently married, complete with three heart beats on her person right now!! OMG go check out her blog and her wedding photos AND news of the people inside her!!!) Rachel came up with the winning name. The others were very good also, but the soup didn't cure me a bit. (Still coughing, but MUCH better) It also wasn't as spicy as you'd think. It was more tangy than anything. So the name Rachel came up with fit the bill and is something I love.

The name you ask? Margarita Chicken Soup

In addition to the prize she will get that will be selected just for her amusement, I will also make a batch of it up for some upcoming and not too distant get together type thing. (If A is there I'll mix up a batch of the Margarita Vegetable Soup as well.) :D

It's soup AND it ties in with Resolution #10. Perfect! *L*

On the knitting front I am doing well. I am In LOVE with sweater knitting. *giddy laugh*

Oh knitting, my fibery true love, how you keep me enchanted. My passion for you never wans and even during stressful times I come back to you, like lovers parted but never unhearted. *makes sloppy wet kissy noises*

Hi, Still Weird! :P

So the sweater I'm making  for Dulaan is coming along well. I started it last Tuesday (5/8/07) and I'm certain I will finish well before the deadline. :D

Here's a progress shot with George trying it on.

I'm really enjoying the repetitive and simple knitting in the round on this. Plus it's worsted weight yarn on size 10.5 needles. (Larger needles, cause my gauge seems to be extra tight these days. Thanks stress love you too! *pokes stress in the eye* Bitch.)

It's funny how many half finished projects I have going right now. I barely have enough Know Knit, GoKnit Pouches from Scout to hold them all. *L* (Love them, highly recommend them!)

Now I could finish up some of my current projects as soon as this sweater is done... OR I could cast on for my own sweater.

We'll see. Maybe I'll finish this project and knock out two more. Then I could start another project relatively guilt free.

It will be interesting to see which projects are selected to be finished. I've got my own pile/island of misfit knits going on over here. *L*

Otter Update & a little Sock

So I bit the bullet and went to a doctor type place Tuesday afternoon. I had called my gal pal Florrie to find out if she knew of a good doctor. After getting some info and her suggestion to hit one of those new fangled urgent care places as the wait to get into a regular office could be up to two weeks... well that's what I ended up doing. Glad I did now. So I have made progress on resolution #7. I have Tonsillitis. And knowing is half the battle. heh. The doctor lady, after looking at my throat almost a full second, prescribed me an antibiotic and said if it didn't clear up yatta yatta come back and they'll rip 'em out. (she said it with a slight bit more finesse than that.)

This was after she told me that she didn't know what to do and that for real results I needed to see a nose, throat and ear specialists. I must be pretty fucking special don'tcha think.

I feel different than I felt at the start of the week. Better is debatable, at least I could still breathe on Monday. The fever is gone, but now I can't stop coughing and my nose hurts like a motherfucker. The skin, it is dead. Dead dead dead, just as we will all be someday, as the seconds turn to minutes and then hours leading us towards the final curtain call of this thing we call life... Sorry I  had a Strindberg moment there. *L*

Been a bit loopy too, though recently some friends, possibly of the fair weather variety suggested to me that I was always this way. Humph. See if I'll share my Dayquil with them.

Actually I'm not on anything except the antibiotics the doctor lady gave me.

I hate being sick. I'll trade anyone some sock yarn if they take this from me RIGHT now. /whine

No takers? Bunch of meanies. :P

In other news I have put most of my projects in the naughty corner and have decided to do some soul cleansing charity kinitting. I just can't think about the honey socks or the ducky hat right now.

So I'm knitting Magic 28 Socks, baby! :D

Y'all can blame Cookie. I saw her uber cute tiny socks and followed the link to Norma's page. Should have known it was a Norma Flavored Project. Mmmmm Norma...

I finished my first sock in one night, which is really awesome considering I was mostly dead.

I did this Tuesday and started the second sock a little bit ago. No real knitting last night. Worked on a bit of hat at the shop seeing as it was Florrie's Birthday and her store's One Year Anniversary at the present location. :D Happy Birthday, Sweetums!

Working on that little sock made me feel better than anything has so far. When I'm cold I have a lot of choices on how to deal with it. But this little sock is going to some little person in Mongolia who is a lot colder and has a lot fewer choices. This sock may go to some little kid who doesn't even own shoes and who knows what else is going on in their little life. Very humbling. I'm glad I can do something, even if it's just a little wool sock.

I need to gather up my Dulaan knits and get going on whatever else I'm going to be sending along for the upcoming deadline.

I have high hopes I can start and finish my first sweater to send along for the upcoming deadline. :D

Best of all it's finally almost Friday. This has been one long ass week.

Holy Crap, I just looked back, the last tie I had photo knitting content was March 30. That's crazy! I need to get my mind back into focus so I can knit and make some noticeable progress. That or knit Magic 28 socks every now and then so I feel like I can finish something.  *L*

Cabin Cove KAL & Red Scarf Finale!

Do you have some of Dave's Cabin Cove Mercantile Yarn stashed away?

Did you join one of those new fangled knit only from your stash KAL's, yet you can still buy sock yarn or yarn for another KAL?

Do you love beautifully hand painted yarn?

Have you ever wanted to join a KAL but want something low key, no pressure with no stressful deadlines?

If so we've got the Knit Along for you! :D

Cookie is hosting this ultra fantabulous Cabin Cove KAL over at Shut Up and Knit Your Cabin Cove.

So what are you waiting for? Shut up, and go knit your Cabin Cove yarn! *L*

I'm going to finish up my Pink Dream Hourglass Socks, start my Eunny Jang Anemoi Mittens and TRY to start some lace (I saw that Dave :P) in a color that is super flattering to my skin tone All with Dave's kick ass yarn! *happy otter dance*

In other news I finally finished off that dreaded Noro Scarf Saturday afternoon. I took Duckie Hat breaks in between so I would have the strength to go on. By the time I was to the end I was so antsy I cast off way too tight so I had to redo that part Sunday morning. I washed it yesterday and boy did that thing soften up. All kinds of weird stuff came out when I hand washed it, so I'm thinking maybe that yarn should be washed before it's knit with. o.0

It's really soft and lovely now. All that negative feelings I had when knitting it are gone now. I can even see why people like it. I may even knit with it again someday... maybe... we'll see. :P

I hope my second Red Scarf Person like it.

Here it is without further adieu my second Red Scarf Project Scarf as modeled by George. ;^)

It's Noro Silk Garden, not sure of the color number or where I got this yarn. It's purple/green/brown/blue and some fuchsia. I don't think it's enough fuchsia to be outside the bounds of the unisex scarf though. Oh and the pattern is a simple mistake rib scarf. I saw the pattern listed on this post of Cookie's. I'd make this again. Looks neat and is more open than a regular rib scarf. :D

Here are the goodie boxes with the scarves all packed up. I got some satin photo/memory boxes at Micheal's. (pretty cheap 2 for $5 I think it was) I put into each box the scarf, a Valentines day Hershey Chocolate Bar, Conversation Hearts, a Borders gift card and a Pirate Valentine. That's right Pirate Valentines Cards. Arrrrrrrrr! *GRIN*

Clickety Biggety:

So anyway there's the boxes. I have pretty pink and brown Valentines XOXO ribbon to box it all up with too. This has been a really fun project. I'm so glad The Norma threatened my life** unless I knit two scarves for this. ;^)

Alrighty Folks, I gotta go do some stuff. Tune in Tomorrow for late breaking Otter News!!! *Seriously Over the Top Happy Otter Dance*

**Silly things, of course The Norma didn't threaten my life. She just told everyone how cool this project was. :D

The Final 2006 FO's - Hat & Scarf

Due to my previous lack of whack I had failed to post my last two completed projects of 2006.

This first one was one of my Dulaan hats knit during Knit Unto Others. I finished it on the last day and it was briefly shown on the post I made that day.  It was also made for my participation in JoFrog's Double Knit Along. I was going to make a kitty blankey, but got distracted. Now I'm rethinking the kitty blankey. This doesn't mean I don't love my wittle bundle of furry joy though. Just that she has to keep using her crochet pink blankey. ;)

Side one:

Side Two:

Pattern: No real pattern. Just started knitting in the round, then doubled my stitches and periodically switched the yarns to make stripes. Needed another needle, like a cable needle to move stuff around to do the decreases at the top.

Yarn: Lambs Pride - Worsted - 85% Wool & 15 % Mohair. Still don't care for mohair, btw. It gets in my eyes and I inhale it. The stuff floats around everywhere. Not fun. Plus it's hell on black clothes. *L* Although I do think this yarn is pretty and not as bad as most mohair. I'd use it again. The colors are Clematis (purple) and Kiwi (green)

Yardage: Not sure. I have enough of both yarns to make some matching mittens or another hat. :D

Needles: Who can remember? *L*

Notes: Started on November 9th and completed on December 2nd. It was a fun hat to knit up. The hat is SUPER warm and perfect for the dangerously cold weather over in Mongolia. It's like you're wearing two hats. *L*

This next project was the lacy Double Eyelet Rib Scarf that I made for my SIL.

Full View as it's blocking:

Close Up:

I completely forgot to take a picture of this after it was done. Plus I was rushing around. It came out really well. Love! I am so making a scarf for myself in this pattern.

Pattern: Double Eyelet Rib Scarf from The Little Box of Scarves

Yarn: Blue Sky Alpaca - Alpaca & Silk - Sport weight -  in the color Sapphire

Yardage: 290 yards or so - almost two skeins

Needles: That was last year I can't remember :P

Notes: I started this scarf on November 14th and finished it on December 7th. I washed and blocked it in a hotel room. I packed along in my checked luggage some wool wash and T-Pins to block it with. This was a fun knit and I will be making more stuff like this in the future. :D

Mods:  I added an extra pattern repeat to the scarf and I used sport weight silk & alpaca instead of the recommended worsted cotton. I like mine better than the picture on the pattern card. Heh.

My SIL seemed to really like it. She's a really great person and a pleasure to gift to. I think I only ever want to knit gifties for people who are awesome and worth my time. She fits the bill. ;^)

So that concludes my 2006 knitting. I know I only just started knitting at the end of march, but damn this is so fun and rewarding. I can't imagine my life without it now. Or you'se peoples.

*OtterHuggles*