Lots done, plus a Cardigan for Merry

So January has been a good month. I blocked the Checkers bag (see previous post) and I love it. I’m contemplating lining it but who knows when that will happen given my lack of time and iffy sewing skills, although Grumperina is an inspiration there.

I have finished the Anemoi mittens. Thanks to Eunny for such a beautiful & thorough pattern. I’m inspired to attempt them again – but not just yet, as my attention has already been attracted by something else. I had just a little bit left of the sock wool, so I thought I’d make baby socks. Half the knitters I know are pregnant, along with a few other friends. I finished one pair & had enough left over for a second pair.

Oh, and here’s a picture of the scarf that I finished some time in December and only recently gave away as a Christmas gift. It’s a Travelling Roses Lace Scarf scarf and I found the pattern at To Knit is Divine – Leanne is another Ottawa area knitter. I was attracted by the pattern & when I saw it took only 1 skein of Misti Alpaca, well, that was it.

Oh, and my new inspiration? I’d been eyeing Kate Gilbert’s gorgeous Cardigan for Arwen in the Winter 2006 Interweave Knits. Knitting it for myself just didn’t seem practical somehow. Then along comes the Yarn Harlot with a belated link to Anny’s adaptation of the cardigan for a child. Perfect. I’m on my way.

I dug in the stash & found that I seemed to have enough in a light blue wool that I bought on super sale ages ago at Michaels. Although I’m not actually participating actively in any of the finish works in progress or knit from your stash things going on, I think it’s a great goal to decrease my stash. I whipped through the back (nothing other than raglan shaping) and I’m now about 1/2 done the fronts (although I took the picture below yesterday). Yes, I’m doing the fronts at the same time, and I’ll do that with the sleeves as well to try to avoid really wild gauge issues. So far so good.