Christmas in July

Every self-respecting knitter knows that it's time to start those Christmas gifts you want to give, even though it is 100 plus degrees outside. Time to knit scarves, socks, sweaters, mittens, hats, and (if you're into that kind of thing) Christmas ornaments.

Meaner (aka, Karen) has been busy knitting for her great-grandbabies, Abigail and Stephen (aka, Canonball, Chunky Monkey, or Paddy). Here are two precious tam and sweater sets for these lucky kids.


The pattern is from Lion Brand's humongous free pattern catalog. Karen used a Red Heart Eco-Ways recycled blend yarn in a yummy melon color. This size is for 0-6 months and took just over one skein for the sweater.

I'm not sure of the name of the pattern used, but Karen calls it "Conner's Bad Word Prayer Pattern" for all the times she had to start the feather and fan pattern over again before she got it right. I don't know why Conner (her other great-grandboy) got his name in the mix, but knowing Conner and his precocious nature, I'm sure he tried to lend Karen a hand at some point, resulting in bad words and prayers.



This adorable cardigan and tam set is knit using Vanna's Choice yarn in the really handsome barley color. I love this yarn. I've used it myself on several projects. The cardigan is from a Debby Bliss book of baby patterns. The tam is the same pattern Meaner used for Abigail's tam, but without the feather and fan going through it. Karen is handy as a pocket on a shirt when it comes to adjusting patterns for her use.

In the next blog entry, I hope to post some photos of a couple of sweaters Yolie is finishing up. She sent me photos, but they haven't been blocked and need buttons, so I'm going to wait on the finished product. Trust me, they are beautiful!

More to be revealed! Keep on knitting.

Orphan Trudgers

Taking a concept I got from the ABC's of Creative Pursuits, I decided to use remnants of sock yarn to make my grandson, Mason (aka Mayhem) a pair of socks. They are not at all practical since Mason eshews footwear of any kind whenever possible to go barefoot through the world, but they are, as my son would say, hella cute.



The "orphan" part of the name comes from the use of sock yarn remnants; the "trudgers" part of the name comes from my other blog, Trudger, meaning to walk with purpose.

The pattern is your basic sock pattern. I knit both socks at the same time on two size three cable needles, using the short row method for the heel. It's the first time I've used that method, and it was a bit tricky doing both socks at the same time, but it is doable. I like the way the heels look using the short row method and will probably use it again and, hopefully, get better at it.