Happy New Year!!

Sorry, about 5 days late, but I've been busy working away on the last 3 knitmas gifts!

I present the hat re-do...well, new-do??? First one was too small, so I made a new one for FIL out of LP bulky in oregano and the leftover sandy heather for the stripe. I used all the yarn, and that yarn was pretty good to knit with I must confess. I used my Denise's so sometimes it would split the yarn, but it mostly did pretty well. I also used my first plastic DPN's. Joanne's had a size US10 in the clearance area...and the US8's jumped in there too. They weren't too bad.

DH and his Irish Hiking Scarf...it was 3/4ths done for Christmas and given to him in a gift bag..he well, wasn't too amused..more like confused...But as you can see he likes it. Now if it will get cold enough for him to wear it. I made it in LB wool-ease wood. I probably will never use a variegated yarn again. As you can see it is hard to see the cables. In person you can. I learned how to cable and cable w/o a needle on this project. Woot! It did put me asleep many a night by totally relaxing me...how I don't know! It was a good, easy pattern from Hello Yarn.



















Finally, The Elizabeth Bag from Black Sheep Bags. It is the larger version of the Sophie Bag. It was an easy knit, especially since I had previously made a Sophie,and it is pretty much the same, but on a bigger scale. HOWEVER!!! That 9-stitch I-cord almost sent me over the edge. I am...well...a perfectionist, and I wanted to do this strap really bad. After a few emails with the designer, who was of great help and support, I tackled the beast. It really makes a thicker, stronger strap. I used Patons Classic Merino in Denim Marble, almost 3 skeins. Three trips though the front loader and you can see the results. I did line it, with a little difficulty in the size, but learned a lot of what to do in the future. It is for one of the Docs I work with who can be pretty demanding but is so generous to me that I had to make her a bag. She's leaving this summer, and I already have the yarn to make her a OSW and Cutaway sweater as going away gifts...good thing I have until early June!
Pre-felted, it was huge, covered one half of my blocking board.
Post felted and I added a snowflake pin for decoration. That's it for now! Had way too much trouble getting these pics on...gotta go sleep! :)