Nifty Knitty Gifts

Me with a fuzzy hat.  And E with a fuzzy face.

scarf for a penguin who joined a choir of nuns

To keep my cellphone warm?

Creating: As you may know, I am a nutty knitter.  I like to knit not only traditional items such as blankets, sweaters, scarves, hats, mittens, and socks, but I also love to make kind of quirky things, too.  Sometimes I have a pattern but often I do not.  Sometimes I give these as gifts to people I think will appreciate them.  One such project was a cell phone cozy that looks like a cat.  I made one for my sister (a fellow fan of orange cats) and then had to make one for myself too.  Unfortunately, I now have a smart phone and it is too big for the cozy.  Guess I will need to make a new one!





Are we the only people to top the Christmas tree with a hat?

I also like hats and have given many family members these over the years.  Some of my favorites are the cat hat (again for my sister), Vikings hat for E, and various hats inspired by Scandinavian patterns.  I even made a hat for our Christmas tree.  It didn't start out as a hat for a tree but that is another story...

I've gifted knitted baby hats for countless infants, fuzzy blankies for a couple, and a hooded sweater for a dear friend when she turned one.  I am inconsistent with acknowledging births with knitted gifts and know there are friend who are still "due" a knitty gift.  I am working on it!




Wrister for my sister

Recent knitty gifts for Christmas included fingerless gloves/wristers/wristlets for Mellie who is always cold lately and has been pulling her sleeves down over her wrists.  The yarn is a super soft bulky.  It looks a bit blue in the photo but is actually a purple named "grape".  We found the thumb hole a bit large on the first one so I made it smaller on the second one.



Stitch detail on infinity scarf - seed stitch

One way to wear the scarf

I also made my version of an infinity or circle scarf for an adorable twelve-year-old I know.  I am in the model in the photos, though.  I love the versatility of these scarves and this yarn is super soft (also bulky weight).  My sister-in-law saw the photos of this and immediately placed an order for one of her own.

infinity scarf, unwrapped



Until we knit again,
Hallie






Predictions for 2013

If you have been reading this blog for awhile, you may know that I make new year's predictions rather than resolutions.  If you did not know that or forgot, and want to know why, you can read about it here.  If you already know why, read on for this year's predictions.

Predictions for 2013:
Reading: I will read at least 2 books each month to include book club selections and a bunch of Newbery medal and honor books.

Eating: I will try at least one new recipe a month and blog about the recipe, good or bad.  Sources for trial recipes include back issues of magazines, Weight Watchers, Pintrest, and my recipe box.

Creating: I will knit a sweater.

I will learn to play the bass (holdover prediction from last year.  This time I mean it and am trimming my nails right away to show my commitment!)

I will scrapbook more, including family and friends in my scrapbooking time. 

I will write more often.  This will include at least 2 blog entries a month and perhaps one month-long daily challenge (A-Z or one of my own creation).  I will also do creative free-writing exercises at least once a week. 

Weeding: I will plan, plant, nurture and grow 2 vegetable raised beds again, and try new things to trouble-shoot the peppers.

I will get the "stump garden" hard scape in and at least move the plants that are there, if not get most/all the plants in place.

Travel : I will visit at least 2 national parks. 

I will spend several summer and fall nights in the camper.


Oh, and one more prediction:  I will look back at these predictions in 6 months and see how I am doing with them!

What are your predictions or resolutions this year?  How are they going so far?

Until we eat, read, create or weed again,
Hallie