On the fifth day of Christmas...

Okay, so technically it's not really the fifth day of Christmas. But it is the fifth day of December and I'm off to a roaring start on my baby sock advent calendar: 5 socks in 5 days! Yay!


Okay, so while I started one a day...none of these were finished on the day it was started. So it's not so much a sock a day. More of a two half-socks a day ;0) But I'm not behind,yet!

Here are the deets...


Brown and white polka dot socks (pattern from 50 Baby Bootees to Knit) knit from Knit Picks Swish DK in 'cinnamon' and 'white' (left overs from Julian's stuffed owl). I knit the pattern as written using the DK yarn and ended up with about a 12 month size - just right for Lolo! December 1 & 2: check!

Next up a pair of stripy picot edge socks for my Jujube knit from leftover Peruvian Highland Wool (to match his mittens). I totally winged this one: 32 sts, worsted weight yarn, 4 stitch deep picot edge, 2 row jogless stripes, and an afterthought heel ;0) December 3rd and 4th: check!

The fancy green one in the top photo is my own design (I'll right it up and share it with you next time) and is today's sock. So fun ;0)

Plus, now that today's sock is done, I can get started on making the boys their Christmas sweaters tonight. Also on my Christmas knit list: Joseph, and 4 pairs of mittens! Though I'm starting to think that I may not make it...but I sure am going to give it and honest try ;0)

And finally, in honour of the 50 feet of snow that has been falling on us these past few days, some pics of Julian making a snow toddler. I could barely keep it together when I saw him get up close and personal in our snow toddler's face and take a bite out of his carrot nose! "Mommy, his nose, it's a snack!" he exclaimed as he ran off with it munching away. Too funny!

Happy knitting everyone!

Can I knit 12 pairs of baby and toddler socks by yesterday?

I mean...realistically speaking? Because I just came across this via Whip up and I must make 24 socks by yesterday!

Martha's version...be still my heart ;0)

It's just 24 socks. Okay, I know I can't make them by yesterday but I think I can knit one a day between now and Christmas and thus counting up to it (besides, Julian is too little to understand the advent calendar thing and if there was a treat in each one I think even he would be unable to resist the urge to pillage through them right away ;0). Come Christmas eve, Stephen and I can fill them for the boys to discover on Christmas morning. It'll be like their mini-stockings!

Plus if I knit them in Jujube and Lolo's sizes they'll each have 6 pairs of festive socks by Christmas. Doesn't that sound really nice? Plus I have the perfect place to hang them ;0)

That's it! I'm going stash diving for all the red, green and cream yarn I can find...

Thumpety thump thump, thumpety thump thump...look at mommy go...

{2 hrs later, edited to add...}

Turns out my stash is bursting at the seams with just the right stuff for this project. Yay, stash!


And since it was still technically December 1st when I started it...here's the first almost sock in the series! It might be the late hour, or it might be the Timbits, but I am giggling like a schoolgirl at this sight next to me in bed...


Is it not the funniest in-progress sock pic ever! Poor Lolo. If he was a wake, we'd all be in serious trouble. Teehee!

Alright, time to make some zzz's as Julian would say and rest up for another sock tomorrow ;0)

No kidding!

I'm working on another sweater for my spring collection and thought I'd try out O-Wool Classic which I got from Ariadne Knits. The stuff is not all that exciting to knit with but what happens when you block it is pure magic!


See for yourself in the photo below: on the left is a swatch after a nice relaxing soak in a Eucalan bath for about 15 minutes. On the right, two sad little sleevies awaiting their turn in the sink ;0)


Not impessive enough? Check out what happens to the cables below. Can you guess which was soaked?

Nice, eh? I'm totally enamoured with this yarn. Plus it's organic and the 100% merino content is oh so soft. Double plus, the yardage is amazing! Can't wait to get my hands on some more. I have a feeling this one is about to become a staple around here. Here's a preview of my latest design using less than two skeins of this wonderful yarn.


Its another lap-shouldered sweater (because I think that's just the cleverest idea I've ever had!) with a quirky modern aran touch. I call it Get Ziggy. He's getting the spa treatment right now but I'm hoping to show it to you in all its (hopeful glory) next time.

But now, time for the final installment of my holiday gift idea meme: Dada's favourite things! If you are shopping for an almost 30, absolutely loveable, and self-admittedly geeky gamer, here's a list for you ;0)


Top row: The West Wing Complete Series DVD Collection ( we both loved this really smart show plus it has sentimental value for us since before we were married and living together, Stephen would drive up to my apartment to watch it with me on Wednesday nights...good times ;0), the Squirrel and Oak mittens I knit for him (they made his top 9 gifts of all time list! Oh, how I heart that man!), and lastly, the Nintendo Wii (I don't think I have to qualify that one -- it's a Nintendo people!).

Middle row: The Orange Box (you'll have to excuse me because I'm not a gamer so I don't know why it's sooo cool but apparently it is!), Old Navy performance fleece sweaters (they rock and he's always snuggled up in one which usually means I'm snuggled up with him too because I can't resist my warm and cozy man!), and finally the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy.

Bottom row: Zelda Twilight Princess game for Wii (he really enjoyed this one and I got to knit a lot while watching him play. Bonus, the music is cute ;0), Office Space (a classic for anyone who's ever worked in a cube farm like us), and lastly tunes in general but he and the Barenaked Ladies go way back!

So that's it for my family's favourite things. Hope it gave you a few ideas ;0) Wanna play holiday gift idea meme? Just write about your family's tried and tested favourite things and let me know if you do so I can get some ideas too!

Cheers!

My favourite things...

...and a sneak preview of what I've been working on for my first line of knitting patterns for wee ones set to debut this Spring over at Jujube & Lolo.


I couldn't figure out what to name this one but inspiration struck dada over lunch this weekend and it became Hickory Dickory Dot (oh that clever, clever man ;0). I wanted to come up with a design that featured lap shoulders. I've never seen a knitting pattern with lap shoulders before but seeing as they work wonderfully for baby onesies, I figured why not work them on knits too? And so I did ;0) I love the little polka dot pocket too. It's so much fun and then to top it all off, a knitted toy mouse because what baby wouldn't love to wear a sweater with built-in toy?

The pattern will be available from Jujube & Lolo on March 1st but if any of you would like to knit one of these puppies now, I am looking for 5 or 6 test knitters. Just send me an email at annypurls{at}hotmail{dot}com if you are interested and let me know what size you'd like to test. I'm planning on writing up the pattern in sizes 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months. {Thanks for your enthusiastic response! I already have all the test knitters I need for this one. Cheers!}

And now for my favourite knitting things as part of my holiday gift idea meme.

Top row: Knitting project and notion bags from Piddleloop (it's made for sock knitting but I find it to be just the right size for holding a baby project in progress. It has a clever rivet on one side through which you can feed your working yarn to keep the ball safe from baby hands - love that!), MeiMei bamboo knitting needles which you can get for a steal on ebay (I got a set of 40" circs in every size for about $30!!! They are made of bamboo and the 'wires' are clear plastic tubes which are very flexible. I've been using these exclusively for months and even got a set of DPNs to match because I love them so much), Victorinox Swiss Army card which is not made specifically for knitters but might as well be! Useful knitter on the go features include a ruler in both centimeters and inches, a nail file, scissors, a pen, and more! Keep one in your wallet and you always have some emergency notions on hand ;0)

Middle row: Clover knitting notions (I love the spring loaded measuring tape, locking stitch markers, kacha kacha counter and chibi bent tapestry needles), The Best of Vogue Knitting book which brings together 25 years of magazine articles from legends like EZ and Meg Swansen covering everything from techniques to literature, to types of sleeves and yarn info. Each article is short and sweet and makes perfect bedside reading ;0), the Chart Keeper from KnitPicks is pure genius. It's magenetic! You just place your chart on it using the magnets provided and use one of the long magnets to mark the row your on. Need to put it away quick? Just close it and put it in your knitting bag until you are ready to pick it up again and you'll never lose your place again - love!)

Bottom row: Knit Stick Sack (great way to organize all your circular needles and extra bonus: the pick one helps raise funds for breast cancer research), ipod nano (need I say more? it fits in your notions bag and provides tunes or knitting podcasts to enjoy while you knit ;0), stretch markers from Orinda5 (made with superthin elastic these will mark your place without stretching out your stitches the way metal or plastic markers can - brilliant!).

Wanna play the holiday gift idea meme? Just write about your family's favourite things and indicate the person's age. Tell me about it if you do as I am always looking for nifty gift ideas ;0)

Happy knitting!