Some Completed Projects

I've been spending lots of time knitting lately. Not because I'm trying to get Christmas presents done, but because I'm a obsessive/compulsive knitting addict and there's not much to do outside.

I found a really great website that has HUNDREDS of free patterns and they're all sorted by category, so if any of you knitters reading this blog are interested, check it out at

http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory.php.

You won't be disappointed! I've printed out probably 20 patterns already and will be knitting my fingers to stubs in the event that I ever try to complete them all.

Because I haven't posted any knitting projects lately, I thought you might enjoy seeing some pictures of completed projects.

Here are some dishcloths that will be going back to Robin (Bumblebee) in tomorrow's mail.

Poor Robin is a frustrated knitter. After reading her hilarious post about knitting lessons, I sent her a note saying I would be happy to knit her some dishcloths if she wanted to send me the yarn. A few weeks later, a package was delivered to me containing 3 balls of yarn plus a jar of Robin's homemade bread & butter pickles and a jar of her awesome wine jelly. I hope she likes these dishcloths.

Last spring my Mom asked for a new hat: maybe a nice white one she could wear to church and oh, could it have earflaps too? Here's Mom's new hat--this was another free pattern I downloaded. I had to revise the pattern to add the earflaps, but Mom really likes it. You can't see from the picture, but there's a fine, iridescent thread woven in with the yarn and it gives the hat a pretty sparkle.

Here's a really nice hat with cables all around. I saw this hat last week on Loribird's blog. She was kind enough to e-mail me the pattern. I really like the way this hat turned out! I think I'll give it to one of my nieces for Christmas.

Here's a little cabled half-mitt I downloaded from the knitty.com website archives. I really like this yarn, but I don't think I like this half-mitt very well. I don't like the way the top (around my fingers) has a tendency to curl back. I like mine to fit a little tighter around my fingers, so these half-mitts are going to be a Christmas gift to one of my co-workers, because one of the rooms we work in is kind of chilly all the time.

Here's a little red wool shawl I finished late last summer. It's been laying down in the laundry room waiting to be washed and blocked and I finally got around to that a couple weeks ago. I think this little shawl is quite pretty and it would be nice to wear during the holidays.

I've got bunches of UFOs (unfinished objects) still stashed all over the house, but so far this winter is shaping up to provide lots of quality knitting time in front of the fireplace, so I'm going to take advantage of that. Besides with all these new patterns to try and BINS of yarn stashed away.....well gosh, I'm actually looking forward to a nice long winter!

Live to Knit, Knit to Live!