Plugging Along

I've just cast on with this yarn for Ornamental Socks.  I love this color (it's a bit lighter in person) and I've been wanting to do the pattern since it came out.

I made this last night from the free skein of Knit Picks Biggo I got.  Just a basic seed stitch cowl (the Luxus Cowl), it knit up really fast, though I did run out of yarn so it's a bit shorter than the pattern called for.

The yarn is gorgeous and squishy and soft.  I'll definitely get some again the next time I need a bulky yarn.

My mom's Christmas gift is done. :)  I'm afraid they're a bit small for her, but I hope it'll be okay.  Mine are a bit small length-wise and fit well, so I'm hoping that'll be the case for mom's too.

I'm still working on my dad's hat.  I just... don't care for it so it's hard to want to do.  But it will get done.  But no more hats...  I don't really care for them.  I'm still sewing in ends on Josh's sweater, and it's taking a while and is tedious...  I have a lot of socks in the pipeline (I have a bit of a sock yarn problem...  I need to actually make some of them!), and another cowl, so I want to finish some things up before starting more.  Luckily most of the knitting's been going really fast, so I should get a few pair out before the end of the year.

Getting There

I've been working on Christmas gifts lately, but also a few other things.  Pardon all the phone photos!

A bag for my grandma:

Mitts for my sister:

A scarf for my aunt:

I'm also working on a hat for my dad, but I don't have any photos of it yet.  It's the same pattern as the next one, but in black and red to match a scarf I made him a few years ago.  There will also be socks for my mom, but those haven't even been started yet.

My friend requested a hat.  It's a bit big, but he likes it.  He also is a great hat model, lol:

I'm also nearly done (finally!) with Josh's sweater.  Since these two pictures, I've done the collar and have started sewing in all the ends.  The sleeve cuffs are a bit big and might get ripped out and decreased more; Josh isn't sure yet though.  I still have the zipper band and will have to sew in a zipper.

I've also been making little things for a gift exchange online.  I'm using these wonderful little Lion Brand Bonbons.  They're really great to work with and the colors are great.  They have a few other packs, but I like these colors the best:

 

I've been reading a lot lately too, which I've missed.  I've been reading all year, but sometimes it's harder than others and I'm finally enjoying it again.  I read three books last week alone and am blowing through the current one. :)

I also won a giveaway on Dull-Roar for the "Ghosts" ebook and I can't wait to read it and make some things from it. :)

 Projects on Ravelry: Cat Bag, Mitts, Scarf, Hat, Josh's sweater.