Done At Last!!

Okay, I'm finally finished a few things.

I finished both pairs of mittens that I did for the kids. I used Lamb's Pride from the Brown Sheep company (worsted weight) with sz 6 needles for the ribbing and switching to sz 8's for the rest. they came out pretty good. I used a pattern that I got off of About.com. they have some great patterns.

Then I made my mom's Christmas present. More on that after Christmas just in case she reads this.

Then I finished my ballerina jacket. I just have to block the pieces and sew them together. Just in time for Disney. I wanted to make me a shrug with some leftover yarn from another project but I'm not sure if it's going to make it intime for Disney. I heard we can bring knitting needles on a plane again so maybe I can start it and then finish it on the plane. If I make it with an acrylic, I won't have to block it.

Of course I started on a sock. I've started this sock about 4 times. It's not my fault though. The first time, I got the yarn twisted because I had never knitted with dp's and had no idea what I was doing.

The second time, I didn't have the right size dp's and figured I could just wing it and see how it came out. You know a practice sock.

The third time,I actually bought a sock book,("Knit Socks", Betsy Lee McCarthy) and started over again with the wrong sz dp's.

This time, I went out and bought the right size dp's (I bought 4 sizes, just in case) and started over. Right size needles and the right gauge, not twisted and looking well thanks to the practice of knitting with dp's from the mittens.

Any way now that I have all that out the way, my only other knitting obligation, (i.e. what I really HAVE to finish) is a scarf for my chef. After I finish that, only then will I allow my self to pick out my yarn for the Aran sweater I want to start.

I'm a little nervous because I've never followed a chart although I've done cables and twists plenty in other things. I'm using Janet Szabo's pattern on Big Sky Knitting Designs web site. It's a Follow the Leader Aran Knitalong (FLAK-). It started January 1st of this year but I just found it a few weeks ago.

I've always loved Aran sweaters and the pattern is super easy to follow. I always try to picture the pattern in my head as I read it and this one seemed easy to imagine. You sew the whole thing up as you do it and it's knit from the top down. I can't remember the name of the yarn I'm looking at in the yarn store by my house but I think it was a wool/alpaca blend worsted weight and super soft. I was going to do a natural color to be traditional, but maybe a dark jewel tone would be pretty.

I'll keep you posted.