the blue blog archives: knit-along news

With all these impromptu projects like vests and chemo caps, I'm falling behind on my fall knitalongs! Indecision and more new catalogs have so far kept me from starting my fall Phildar sweater. But fear not, Phildar fillies, yarn is on its way from France and I'll be off to the races soon after it arrives. The cardi raye and Leigh's sweater are on hold for now, as I have got to take a break from stripes for a while! Solid colors or variegated yarns will be my friends for the next few months. My Phildar fall will now look more like this or this.

My hand pain from last month led me to postpone teddy, the tiny-gauged winter cardigan (yes, the striped one!) I had planned to make for Curls and Purls' fun Fall/Winter Knitalong. All those Rowanette/Elfin knitters are crusing along and I haven't even swatched yet! The yarn I've picked out to use is the most wonderful alpaca yarn ever. Sooo warm and so soft, but also oh so fine (3mm needles!). This is going to be a huge project. But there's no way I can start it until after Christmas (make frowny face now) because I've got to get cracking on my holiday gifties.

And the knit-alongs just keep on coming. If you haven't noticed it in the sidebar, there's a new knit-along in town. Yup, I've started a holiday gift-along in hopes of finding motivation to get through all those knitted gifties I'm supposed to knit. I'm so excited about all the others who have joined. Some of you have so many gifts planned. Amber - 31?! I like Claudia's modest goal of making two presents. That's the way to do it. In that vein, I'm slowly knitting my way through my husband's family. I started with the babies last year and am now up to those my age this year. That means three hats for three sibs-in-law. Then there are a few striped scarves for friends. First up: a Calmer lace cap.

Let me know what you're knitting this season! And if you're gifting-along, send me an email as you finish your projects, so I can update the list and we can celebrate! Go you generous knit-gifters!

posted by alison at 8:30 am | in a christmas story , phildar filly

Comments

Everyone in my family is getting Booga Bags! Well, the women are. My dad's getting socks and my SO is the only one getting a sweater -- Jade Starmore's Maximilian.

And they're all done, done, done!!!!

Posted by: Wendy at November 14, 2003 8:57 AM

Well Alison. My sister knits (obviously) so why would I make her anything (although I have in the past...such craziness!) My mom knits AND lives in CA where wooliness is only intermittently appreciated. DH loves polar fleece and is picky (shhh!). My MIL knits. And no-one familial really *has the appreciation* if you know what I mean.

Rationalization for why its all about me, baby!

Posted by: claudia at November 14, 2003 9:07 AM

Don't know if I qualify for the giftie knit-along. I started my Christmas knitting in the summer and have completed four Eros-style scarves, one Deco ribbon purse and three throw pillows. I have another purse to do IF my nephew is still with his fiancee at Christmas. However, from conversations at his birthday dinner this week (which she didn't attend), I think that relationship is about over. The rest of the family doesn't like knitted gifts so I think I'm off the hook on gifties. I do have to finish a pair of booties for a baby shower and a teddy bear for a Guild project. Also want to make some hats with leftover yarn for Guild's Hats for Kids project and knit a Chemo cap as well as finish my Sonnet from Knitty.

Posted by: Charlotte at November 14, 2003 10:11 AM

Great work, Wendy and Charlotte! Way to be done with Christmas knitting in November. Booga Bags are a terrific gift idea. And the Eros scarves were a bit hit last Christmastime at knitting group. Definitely a cool Christmas project. Rock on, you two!

Posted by: alison at November 14, 2003 10:30 AM

Well, count me into the giftalong - three Zara hats and a mohair scarf; I'm 0 for 4 and six weeks to go! Sigh...

Posted by: Donna at November 14, 2003 10:31 AM

hee hee--I like Dava's number!

Count me in for 1 gift--a pair of socks for my dear mom-in-law...only for her would I actually finish a pair of socks! (I need a deadline to do it too.)

Posted by: Leigh at November 14, 2003 11:06 AM

Posted by: Maggi at November 14, 2003 11:23 AM

Well, I am planning on 3 gifts that are hand made. 2 bags and 1 jacket. The good news is the jacket only has 8 more rows to go on the collar and the seaming then it will be sent off to Oregon.

I am also trying to focus on the knit-alongs. Don't feel bad my elfin is only up to the ribbing on the back ;) However, if I counted all of the swatching and ripping I would probably have an entire sweater. Also, still waiting on the yarn for the fall Phildar filly.

Posted by: Tiffany at November 14, 2003 1:25 PM

Three gifts here! One for my sister, one for a dear friend and one for my niece. I'll only handknit for people I know will appreciate the thought and work behind it. I'm also knitting things for my husband and my son this winter. They appreciate it but I don't really count them as gifts. Maybe I should? :-)

Posted by: Becky at November 14, 2003 2:34 PM

I made one Booga bag and now have to do at least 2 more as gifts. They are my kind of project! So one for my daughter, one for mom and one for my best friend. My Best Friend Jacket was going to be for me but now it's for my sister, who is close enough to a best friend I suppose. Then I have socks for my 6 brothers. Thank goodness I started the gifts early, the only ones to still make are the 2 Booga bags. Of course come the week before Christmas I will just HAVE to make something else... what would it be without that last minute rush.

Posted by: KeLee at November 14, 2003 5:09 PM

Oh Tiffany, I'm so glad I'm not the only one behind on the Curls and Purls knit-along. I see that you all have have had it rough with all the gauge issues with Elfin. I have no such excuses though. Just fickleness!

Love all these gift ideas: hat-scarf sets, socks, actual sweaters, wow! What a generous bunch.

Posted by: alison at November 14, 2003 5:11 PM

I'm dying to join the poncho knit-along, but I can't figure out who designed the poncho you have pictured -- the great burgundy one. It's gorgeous, and I like it better than any of the poncho patterns I have. Could you tell me where the picture/design is from? Thanks! And thanks for keeping all the knit-along links -- I love seeing what everyone's working on.

Posted by: Andrea at November 14, 2003 6:18 PM

Hi Alison! I'd love to join the gift along!
My tally is Socks for dad, niece, nephew, brother, nephew, friend, other friend...booga bag for sis-in-law...shawl for mom...slippers for friend...11 gifts, 8 finished, 3 to go! (3 pairs of socks) Thanx for hosting for *crunch* time :)

Posted by: Debi at November 14, 2003 11:47 PM

I may not have time for my own blog (sad sigh), but I made 7-8 Fuzzy Feet as Xmas gifts, as well as 2 Booga Bags and 2 scarves. Working on my 3rd scarf (alpaca & Montera Classic Elete) for my husband. Thanks for the inspiration.

Posted by: Colleen at November 15, 2003 12:46 AM

I'll sign on for the gift-along! At this moment, I'm planning on 3 Booga Bags for my staff, a sweater and scarf for my niece, and a sweater for my sister-in-law. Everything's done except 2 Booga bags (the handle isn't in the completed one yet, but that's no biggie). I guess I'm officially 3/6 right now. Of course, the family picks for a gift exchange on Thanksgiving, so there may be one more!

Posted by: Lee Ann at November 15, 2003 12:47 AM

Me again! Almost forgot, also made 6 mini-socks as Xmas tree ornaments for family members.

Posted by: Colleen at November 15, 2003 12:47 AM

Christmas tree ornaments--that's a cool idea! I am happy to say that I have 1 bear hat (my washing machine has super hot water, so I was able to shrink it down from grown-up to kid size) and 1 pair of mittens done. Phew!

Posted by: Dava at November 15, 2003 8:42 AM

Wow, Colleen, no wonder you don't have time to blog! You've put your time to better use. And Christmas ornaments are an awesome idea.

So Dava, that makes 2 of "arrrgh!", right?! ;0)

Posted by: alison at November 15, 2003 10:30 AM

Hi Alison! I keep meaning to join your knit-a-longs since I love seeing what everyone is making, but I always hesitate in case I dont go through with a project. I am knitting phildar right now but it is the "lil beck", and a poncho is it too late to join?

Posted by: Amy at November 15, 2003 12:26 PM

What a nice idea! :-) I'd love to join the gift-along! I 've planned two pair of socks, mittens, a cap, a felted bag and a knitted little basked for bath implements. The mittens and one pair of socks are done - so thats 2 of 6. :)

Posted by: Melanie at November 15, 2003 12:39 PM

Here you all are at a gift along and I am only just finished with my poncho from the poncho along back in Sept. The good news is that I have a new job where they think it is really cool that I knit at staff meetings, which is about the only time I have to knit right now. Lots of poncho happened at a retreat. I want to thank you for having the poncho along or I would never have started, it was great incentive, especially seeing all the cool ponchos already done. Happy gift knitting everyone.

Posted by: Loren at November 19, 2003 12:00 AM