Step 2

So I'm on to the second step in my recovery, actually posting knitting content. I was so proud of myself at Christmas. I actually sewed or knit everyone's gift this year! Well, I got my dad a book, but that doesn't count 'cause he always says I'm not supposed to get him anything. I made fleece blankets for the men and my cousin Cassie, and then the rest goes like this:
Grandma- a shawl out of Cascade 220
Sister- a chenille blanket
Mom- homespun sock yarn! (yep, I spun sock yarn and it was perfect!)
Sis-in-law 1- cabled scarf
Sis-in-law 2- fetching mitts
Aunt- chenille backed quilt
The best part was that everyone was super happy with their gifts! Even my brother who never even says thank you! I mean, he still didn't say thank you, but I caught him showing off his blanket to his wife. Of course I'd had much bigger plans, but I ran out of time. That's where the fleece blankets came in. They are super fast and always useful and appreciated. I just finish off the edges on the serger, and voila!, they're ready. I've been hand embroidering lately, so I might try a real blanket stitch on the next one.
Okay, enough about 2 mos. ago, here's what I've been up to lately. That's Starsky, Jr. from the
winter Knitty. It was Abbey's birthday sweater.
And despite the look on her face in that picture, she really likes it. The night I brought it home after finishing it, she wanted to wear it to bed. In fact, I caught her with it on after The Man had gone to work and she was supposed to be sleeping. Crazy kid!

I feel like I have been super productive lately. I finished a fleece jacket that The Man wanted me to make for him. And when the guy at work saw it, he said I had some "mad sewing skills". Ha, ha! Me, the one that had never sewn until a few years ago. Well, he is a man, and he doesn't sew, but I'll take the compliment anyway. I'm also almost done with a pair of socks for The Man that I started right before Valentine's Day. I'm using KnitPicks Gloss. I kinda like it. I think I might order some more and make myself a pair of socks. The shine it has adds a little something to the plain color.

I also got a new toy. It's an Ashford drop spindle and that's my first spindled skein. It's different, but kinda fun. I've also tried my first boucle, no pictures of that, sorry. It looks okay, but I haven't quite figured out how to lock down the loops with my second sewing thread. My spinning lady said it looked good for having taught myself. Is that a compliment? I keep pestering her about classes. She's really into needle felting right now, but she said she does have a lot of new spinners out there. Hopefully she'll have one soon.

Well, I've gotta boogie. Work beckons.