Friday 6 January 2012

Finished Friday Reveals

Well, I can finally reveal some of the projects I was working on before Christmas... Well, I could if I had managed to take photos of all of them *rolls eyes at self* I do have some though, so here goes:

The first one wasn't a secret project, it was the scarf I was knitting for mum that I have blogged about before. I didn't expect to finish it in time before heading off to meet mum and brother for Christmas, but I actually managed to get it done that morning *grins*


Yarn: Colinette Art in Lagoon
Pattern: A Little Bit Bohemian
Thoughts: A lovely easy pattern, really enjoyed knitting it and the yarn was really nice to work with too. If I made it again I would make it longer, but it's actually quite a nice length with just one ball. I wish I'd taken a picture of mum wearing it though.

Second reveal is one that I sneakily mentioned a few weeks ago, with a teaser shot. My brother's Christmas present was this pair of handknit socks:


Brother had asked for handknit socks for Christmas, to wear with boots, so I made him a cosy pair in DK weight. As explained in my previous post about these, I dyed some stash yarn to make them and I love the way the yarn came out *smiles* You may have noticed the uneven number of red stripes on the tops of the socks - well, he has feet that are slightly different sizes and as he was having custom made socks he asked for this to be accomadated. So, the 3-stripe sock is marginally longer than the 2-stripe *laughs*

The biggest present I worked on is the one I stupidly forgot to get a picture of. I made a cardigan for my mum. I do have a very crappy picture of the pattern:


Yarn: Stylecraft Brushstrokes Chunky (in a White and grey colourway rather than the one on the pattern)
Pattern: Entirely in 2x2 rib. The whole thing. It felt like it went on forever! Also, I used the Eastern European method (wrapping the yarn clockwise on the purl stitches) to make a tidier rib, so the entire thing was done in a completely different technique to the one I am used to.Mum chose the pattern, as it seemed like a bad idea to spend ages knitting a gift if I didn't know that she would want it!
Thoughts: Didn't love making it if I'm honest, but I still knitted every stitch with love as it was a gift for mum. It's quite a lot of knitting, even if I did make it a few inches shorter than the pattern (by request - I didn't just get sick of it!)

And I posted about the dishcloths for my granddad - thank you for all the lovely comments about them. I really wasn't sure what his reaction would be but he seemed to really appreciate them. He looked at all the different stitch patterns and then said "But I can't polish brass with them". When I asked if brass didn't react well to cotton, he said "No, it's not that, they're just too nice" *grins*

I told him I expect to see them filthy and ragged next time I visit, and that I can make him more so he mustn't save them for best ;)

So, it doesn't seem like a lot, but it certainly felt like it *laughs* I enjoyed giving the gifts and they were all well received. Mum has worn her cardigan out a few times and had some lovely comments from other people, which makes me very happy.

Anyway, that's it from me today, it turned into quite a long wrap up in the end! But you know where to go for more: TamiNatural SuburbiaWisdom Begins in Wonder

35 comments:

  1. Great gifts! I love how the socks have different stripes. Tehehe, now he can tell his left from his right foot ;-) I love how you told your grandpa to have those dishcloths dirty. I think people get gifted dishcloths but are afraid to use them. Oh, I use and abuse mine because they are AWESOME!

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  2. I know what you mean about the pictures. I forgot to take pics of half of the presents I made...I love that sweater pattern though! It looks so warm!

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  3. Excellent gifts! I love the socks. Has your brother asked for another pair? I'm sure he will:)

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  4. Wow, that cardi was certainly a labour of love. It's amazing that you were doing all that AS WELL as all the bits and pieces you were blogging about at the time - seriously prolific! Well done.

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  5. How wonderful! So cute about the socks!! The scarf is gorgeous and I really like the colorway! Very impressive cardigan too - you were very busy!

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  6. These all look lovely! you've been busy1

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  7. Love that scarf!

    And the socks are SUCH a thoughtful gift! You have a very lucky brother :)

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  8. All the gifts look fantastic! Even better you have people that greatly appreciate beautifully handmade items! They're all very lucky to have you make things for them!

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  9. What great projects! Such thoughtful gifts, I really like the scarf, the colours are so pretty. Love the socks too--great idea with the stripes.

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  10. Very lovely gifts for your family. The shawl is beautiful and I love the colors.

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  11. That scarf is so pretty. I want to knit one now.

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  12. I love that you customized the socks, and color coded them great idea! You knitted up some awesome, those are wonderful gifts!

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  13. a 2x2 rib cardi? That is a lot :)

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  14. Great gifts and cute story about your grandpa :)
    Nothing better than a well loved/used gift.

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  15. Looks and sounds very successful to me too! As I look through my project pages on Ravelry I'm always disappointed by how many I wrapped and gave away before photographing. Must be that last minute finish thing!

    I think the striping code for left and right feet is very clever. And after all, handmade should accommodate the uniqueness of the intended feet! Well done!

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  16. That's brilliant...about the socks! Love the scarf! And yes our things are meant to be used!

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  17. I love the scarf...great colors!
    You must get your mom to photograph herself in the new cardigan and share it with us. It looks smashing!!

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  18. 2x2 rib over a whole cardigan? You are one brave lady! So glad your mum loved it; that was really a labor of love.

    Congrats on finishing so many projects. Your brother's socks are so neat and one-of-a-kind! And the scarf's colors are beautiful.

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  19. That sweater knitting means you qualify for sainthood!! I am sure it is lovely. The socks rock and the wrap is so pretty.

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  20. I love seeing everyone's posts at the moment - everyone's been so productive! These all look great.

    I can only hope that my scarf comes out looking half as good as yours. My tension seems to have loosened as I've gone on, so I'm hoping it's not going to look too weird! The colours of your yarn are fabulous - Colinette yarn is so stunning.

    Love the socks! The idea of custom-made ones is genius, and it must be really nice for him to have socks that actually fit for once.

    Hope you can get a picture of your mum's cardigan at some point, because the picture looks really good. That's a heckuva lot of ribbing, though - glad it was worth it :)

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  21. I love the colour of the scarf that you have made for your mum, it looks lovely! And the socks are awesome he he :)

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  22. Hooray for successful gift giving! I'm hoping my mom is wearing her shawl and that she's not saving it for a "special" occasion.

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  23. All of your projects look amazing! But your dye job for the socks is my favorite, they look wonderful. I'm sure your brother will love them!

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  24. Wow - lucky recipients to have been given those!!! The socks are completely charming with the custom stripes - brilliantly crazy idea - I love it!

    I think we need a pic of your mum in the cardi, don't we? After all that ribbing. Now THAT's a sign of love!!!

    Have a great weekend
    x

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  25. That's a really clever idea to distinguish between the socks. He'll never want to wear shop bought socks again now those. And your mums scarf is gorgeous, that yarn and pattern go together perfectly

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  26. Lovely projects. One of the great things about knitting is that you can make changes to get the perfect end result, like your brother's socks and you mum's cardigan. They are very lucky people :)

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  27. Also, because I forgot in the first post, the colours on your scarf are gorgeous!

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  28. Love the scarf and socks, and your conversation with your granddad was very sweet.

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  29. The scarf came out beautifully. What a lucky Mum you have.

    I love your granddad's comments about the washcloths too, mine would say the same.

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  30. Wow! Great gifts, I especially love the scarf and I bet the cardigan looks stunning on your Mum. Well done!

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  31. It's obvious from your post that all the gifts you gave carried a lot of love. That's a great idea about the stripes on the socks and they look great.

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  32. Great color for the scarf! I forget to take pictures too, so I ended up taking them after they were opened!

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  33. I have to agree on the socks... I noticed the stripes were different and thought that was a great idea. I love things that go together, but don't exactly match. Then I loved the idea even more when I read there was a purpose for it. Form and Function! Love it!!

    Of course, I agree with everyone else... this was more than a little you have completed. :-)

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  34. the scarf is gorgeous!!you've made such lovely presents.isn't it just wonderful that handmade gifts are so well appreciated ?!

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  35. Love it all! Hope you're not sick to death of the needles after the 'forever' cardigan... ;)

    Blessings, Debbie

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