Children in Common socks

This December I knit five pair of small children sized socks for the Children in Common group that sends wooly socks to orphanages in Russia and eastern Europe. Four pair were knit in honor of my two sisters Nancy and Peggy and I sent them cards and photos in their Christmas boxes (this year was the year we selected gifts for each other that begin with the letter C and the "C" connection for the socks was that they went to a Charity named Children in Common). Then while my Dad was visiting I made the green pair from bamboo wool left over from the tea cozy I made for daughter Kate. I mailed the socks to the collector on Thursday and hope, in their small way, the socks will keep some little toesies warm this winter. These socks knit up so quickly and are a great way to use up leftover wool yarn.

Tea Cozy for Kate

Our younger daughter Kate, a graduate student in geography at East Carolina University, has recently begun drinking tea, and had a tea pot on her wish list. Well ... I couldn't give her just the tea pot, so I found the pattern for the tea cozy in "One Skein Wonders" and some Moda Dea Bamboo Wool in her favorite color - green. The cozy was fun, and quick, to knit, and she loves it! The double layers will definitely keep the tea pot warm. I may have to make one for myself.

Earthy Socks and Broken Needles

Earthy socks are finished. The pattern is Lichen Ribbed Socks from "Knitting Vintage Socks" by Nancy Bush. The yarn is a Regia 4-ply designed by Kaffe Fassett, and the colors look to me like the land forms on earth look from space, hence the name.

Most of the knitting was done on a circular needle using the Magic Loop method, my favorite. But when doing the toes I switched to dpns because of the stitch count for the star toe. My 2.25mm Brittany dpns must have dried out since three of the five needles snapped while completing the toes, and I did have to finish using the circular needle.

Monday and Tuesday I had to attend a tax refresher course to maintain my CPA license, even though I am "retired" at this point in time. So I had lots of good knitting time - completed these socks, started another pair, and finished the back panel of the Klaralund sweater.

Arrival in Anchorage

On December 1st our son-in-law Jason returned to Anchorage from a fourteen month deployment to Iraq. He and Rebecca look so happy now!

Declared Top Ten "Stash Buster" Projects

I just joined the "Top 10 Stash Project Knit A Long." The idea of the KAL is to knit from stash during December-March and complete works in progress. This is a great idea, akin to what we do in my quilt guild for quilting projects! Here are my Top 10 Stash Buster Projects:

1. Snowflake Medallion Sweater - Reynolds Lopi Lite - knitting completed, needs seaming
2. Earthy Socks - Regia Kaffe Kassett - in progress
3. Bayerische socks - Meilenweit blue - yarn in stash for 3 years
4. Sea Mist Gansey pullover - soft green Harrisville Orchid
5. Multidirection short row scarf - Red Heart yarn - to try a new technique
6. Canal du Midi socks - orange Tess' super sock
7. I Love Gansey socks - brown Tess' super sock
8. Baby Blanket - using yarn purchased in Damascus,Syria in 1986
9. First toe-up socks - Fortissima 6 ply
10. Amble socks - mossy green Tess' super sock.

I reserve the right to change this list, but will stay with stash yarn throughout the ten projects!