recent projects

I was rather hurried the other day when I posted my yarn along picture. (Hence the not so great photo quality... well especially not so great as the lighting in my house, not to mention the state of the carpet, leaves a bit to be desired.) So I wanted to write a longer post about my recent knitting projects. First of all I organised my stash, such as it is. I've only been knitting for about a year and don't have much of a stash to speak of. Everything I do have was purchased with a specific project or person in mind and it's just been finding enough time to get it all made. My poor mother hasn't received anything except a little crocheted snowflake. Anyway, as my local stitch 'n bitch group (I kind of hate that name) had a yarn swap in December and I came away with some lovely things I decided it was time to get organised. So here is my stash:

Open basket for the prettier skeins. Current project bag holding the lovely Ishbel. Medium sized covered basket for notions and doodads such as baby shampoo for wool washing.

Large covered basket for large and not quite as pretty skeins. Small covered basked for all the little ends of skeins I can't quite bare to get rid of. I'm sure they'll come in useful for little bits of colour work and/or granny squares at some point.

And there they all are by my pretty little fire place. Again, please don't mind the horrid state of the carpet. My needles are on the mantle above which really deserves it's own post as it is, in my own humble opinion, quite lovely.

Now, on to the actual knitting projects. Just a couple presents I've made recently.

Two more little mice. I called this pair Emil and Lucinda. As Lucinda was taken to show and tell by the little girl she was made for I think they were a hit. Still have plenty of yarn to make a couple for myself at some point. Just too cute!

And here are my latest attempts at the Tea Leaves Cardigan. The grey blue was my sister Lacy's birthday present. She specified the extra long sleeves. Knit with Berrocco Vintage which I love! The attempt below was for another sister Emily's birthday. It was knit with Donegal Aran Tweed which is a lovely yarn as well. Despite knitting a gauge swatch it came out too big and I had to shrink it. I was so nervous and definitely erred on the side of caution. Unfortunately there is an ocean dividing Emily and myself and I do not have her measurements. So I sent it on with careful instructions of how to shrink it further if needed. I have this yarn to make a Tea Leaves for myself and am now a bit nervous to start. I'll go down another needle size or two and hope for the best. It's a lovely shade of red and I will love it, if it comes out...

PS, tinking is a term I just learned this week. It's knitting backwards. Literally. Isn't that clever!