For lack of a better title. . . Post #70!!!

Yes, it's true! I haven't posted in almost a month because I'm a bad, bad blogger. But, good news -- I'm getting close to my 100th post! Super exciting. Sort of. Okay, not really at all. Work with me here!

I've been crafting up a storm in anticipation of the pending holiday doom, and am proud to say that I *think* I might actually have all of my gifts finished in time for giving. No Hanukkah sweaters in April this year! The worst part of it is that I can't post most of what I'm working on, as the intended recipients are probably reading!

First, gifts for me. . . Textured Knits and Vintage Knits, both filled with WIMs for next year. All for me, me, me! Of the two, Vintage Knits is by far my favorite. The designs are beautiful, and of the 30 included I would actually make 27. Not bad, not bad! I'm especially excited about all of the bobbles and girly, flowery sweaters. Textured Knits is also very good, but the patterns aren't quite as inviting. The one pictured on the cover is one of the best. What it really has going for it is that I can imagine all of the knits in multiple yarns, and it'll be a great book for de-stashing a little.

Hannah's gifts are also finished (yes, you're getting something besides money this year!), and include a groovy hat with matching mittens, all striped using the jogless jog method. It keeps the rounds nicely lined up, but does create an oh-so-slightlynoticeable diagonal impression. You can see what I mean in the hat, but the mittens are clean side up. Now, lest you demand to know why I'm revealing these gifts so far in advance, it's because she already knows they're coming (okay, the hat was a surprise. SURPRISE!)The mittens were requested many months ago, and are finally finished and ready for wearing. The Necessary Details are as follows:
Pattern: Easy Striped Mittens Flier from Knit Simple
Yarn: Cascade 220 in Pear and Celery Heathers
Needles: Sizes 5 and 6 double points
Time: Each mitten took a day, the hat two days. Plus frogging! Gotta make those stripes perfect!

My entrelac scarf is also finally finished, received by Jessica, and post-able in all of its glory! I really loved working on it, and am really pleased with how it turned out. I decided to go ahead and block the scarf so that it would lie a little flatter and look wider, and it did just what I'd hoped for. Admire it here! Just to review, I totally stole the idea from the ever talented AJ. The pattern is Knitty's Danica, and the yarn Patons Soy Wool Stripes in Natural Earth. It didn't take more than about 2 weeks of working on it between other projects, and the pattern was incredibly easy to remember. If you've been contemplating entrelac, just try it! Jen's mom did!