What to do when you're stuck...

...on working out a design?

Take a break with some pleasure knitting!



In my case, it's Melissa Wehrle's classic modern knit, the Urban Wrap (with a great kit available here). Although I do love the Lanas Puras Worsted (I used it for my Hexagon Bag pattern), I decided that I wanted to try a yarn I've been hearing a lot about, Dream in Color's Classy yarn. After seeing this beautiful Wisteria in the Black Parade colorway, I was struck with instant yarn lust. Luckily, the Spiders had given me a gift certificate to Knitty City for my birthday and they had tons of Classy in Black Parade in stock - enough skeins to let me choose the perfect ones with just the right amount of variation.

I've done two sleeves (one blocked) and the piece on the needles is the left front. I almost always do a swatch, but I find my tension often changes for a bigger fabric; so I usually block a sleeve or part of a front in order to recheck my gauge and make sure all is progressing as expected.

Last FO of the year

I eeked out a final FO in the form of a pair of baby socks for my husband's childhood friend's 4 day old baby. The pattern is Ann Budd's Better than Booties Socks. I forgot to continue the chevron lace pattern down the foot, but I think they still look okay. It was kind of hard to knit with the dark blue yarn and I only had my mother in law's mother's old 8 foot inch double pointed needles to work with (since I left my double points at home), but otherwise this was an enjoyable knit.

It's my first short row heel and toe and I'm hooked. I love the way it looks!

I hope everyone had a good holiday.