She can't take much more Captain...

I'm reminded of Scotty screaming this to Captain Kirk in old Star Trek reruns as I slog through the days leading up to Christmas. No, I'm not going to "lose it". I've taken some wonderful advice from friends both online and "real", I stepped back and reassessed things, and I stopped letting work and volunteer obligations have get the best of me.

What I can't take much more of is holding myself back from 1.) holiday goodies and as a result my diet is suffering and 2.) turning into a total butt slug of an employee because I'm incapable of focusing on work. It happens every year - same bat time, same bat channel. I did better this year that I have in past years. Maybe one day, I'll grow up (yeah right)and be more responsible.

Okay, I promised pictures and pictures you shall have! Here's my little holiday fashion show...

First on the runway, little miss "Moon Over the Blueridge"


This fluffy, soft young lady is approximately four feet long and two feet wide. She was knit flat on size 11 Denise needles using a modified feather and fan pattern. Her yarns (1 skein each of) are Patons Divine Mohair blend in pale blue and variagated midnight blue, Lion Brand Incredible ribbon in blue and TLC variagated blue. She is destined to be a lap blanket for GMA once I finish her fringe.

Next up is "Dreams of Indigo"...


This is a coordinated, felted tam and mitten set. The pattern for the tam is from HeartStrings fiber arts. I modified the "Knit One Felt Two" felted mitten pattern and added a strand of loopy mohair for 12 rows to make the cuff. Both were knit with size 11 double point needles. Her yarns are Cascade 220 in Indigo blue and Ironstone Yarns Loopy mohair in variagated blue. I used 1 1/2 skeins for the tam. The mittens used 1 skein of Cascade and 1/2 skein of the Ironstone. This sassy little number is also destined for GMa.

For the little people we have "Target Practice"...



This knit will eventually be a hat and fingerless glove set for my 16 month old nephew. I used a basic childs hat pattern, knit on size 4 double points. The yarns are red and white (my brother's fraternity colors) Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. I hate how the edge curls and yet I didn't want ribbing. I may hem the edge and add earflaps. In addition, I knit the fingerless gloves before I'd mastered the pattern so they will likely be frogged and re-knit. Finally, why the name "Target Practice"?



Need I say more?

DH, Thing 1 and Thing 2 are still laughing about this hat. I'm not amused and yet why didn't I think about the pattern before I used these colors? *Sigh*

Our next model is is "Da Hound"...




This knit is a Houndstooth pattern felted tote bag with a flap. This stranded project from Hell - er, project knit with love - was knit in the round using size 13 Denise needles using the pattern from the Knit A Day calendar. Again, Cascade 220 yarns were used in off white (number 8010 is the one that felts, the other white will not) and black (two skeins of each). Approximately 9" x 7", Da Hound will be capable of toting practically anything McGuyver Mom can chuck into it. Its sturdy handle has yet to be attached. If time permits, I'm going to make matching felted mittens.

Our final FO is "Cable Gal"...




Our lovely model (moi) is showing off the cabled goodness of a fingerless glove/wrist warmer. I modified the Irish Hiking Wrist Warmer pattern that Delia -Thanks! - created so that I could knit them in the round (I hate seaming) using size 9 double points. The yarn used was some leftover sportweight Araucania Nature Wool in variagated red. I'm guessing that I used about 120 yards of the stuff for the pair but honestly have no idea. I also don't know who to give these to but I'll be making more since its a fun quick knit. I will add my modified pattern to the blog in a separate post.

I have two UFO's that are almost finished. The Irish Hiking Scarf for dad...



Its knit with Cascade Tweed 128 in grey. The yarn is super squishy and soft and should look great with his black wool overcoat. This is a very quick knit! DH is coveting it daily. I'll have to knit him one next.

And a pair of felted mittens for my great aunt in Maroon Cascade 220 and Lion Brand Moonlight mohair. This one is unfelted.




I also cast on for the multidirectional diagonal scarf (I've been dying to try this one). I'm dying some pink Cascade 220 to make it black AND pink so that I can knit Thing 1 some wrist warmers (pink and black are his favorite colors). The swatch that I dyed and knit looked like pink camo - too cool!

Whew! That's a lot of catching up and I didn't even show you the yarn that I've spun. I'll save that for another day. I leave you with a shot that just melts my heart - Thing 2 knitting his little heart out :)



**Sorry that that it has taken me so long to post. Between upgrading to MSN for Verizon, the typical Blogger issues and not having a camera, I couldn't post pictures until today.