Handmade Christmas Gifts

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  Our end-of-week was packed, and we're not done yet!  But now that most of the gifts have been opened, I can show you some of the things I made. 

Shamrock Fingerless Gloves
Last December, I decided that I was not going to let another Christmas go by without making something for my sister-in-law.  She's always there when I need her, she's intelligent and funny, and one of the best friends I have.  Being part Irish, she likes all things Irish.  In February I spotted this pattern on Ravelry, I knew I wanted to make these for her.  I was hoping to get them done by March 17th but being a new knitter, that was laughable; I had never done color work.  That didn't stop me from trying, though.  Luckily I bumped into Marly several times while I was working on these and she gave me some pointers.  Having just fallen in love with my own fingerless gloves, I decided to make these fingerless as well.  So here they are:

Pattern:  Heather's Mittens by SpillyJane

Yarn:  Knit Picks Palette Yarn (recommended on pattern) in Bittersweet Heather, and Clover
More details on Ravelry here (you need a Rav membership to view).   

The major modification I made was drawing up a new color chart so that the vines fade out into the background.  I made one glove the "right" way and it was too small.  At that point, I considered other colors since I was going to have to make two more; there are several great color combinations on Ravelry that have nothing to do with green.  Eventually I decided I did want green, though, so I went back to the colors I started with. 

This sister-in-law just started knitting but fortunately she did not have a Ravelry page yet, (but now she should get one!), and she liked them.

Cabled Socks

I love the photo-to-yarn-dye process on Knitting on Impulse.  When my mom asked for more socks for Christmas, I had a great excuse to buy some.  My mom likes blue so I got this Lupin color in superwash merino and silk.  I've had this yarn for a couple of months but other things kept taking up my time and I didn't get a chance to start this project until we were already into December.  I also had a hard time picking a pattern.  In the end, I made up my own.  I had to try them on (to make sure they fit, and for pictures; you know!) and think I'll make myself a pair.  I'm glad I took good notes.  I finished these on Tuesday!  My mom loved them.

I have a couple of other gifts to show, including a felted hat, but I think that may have to wait.  I received some yarn shop gift cards from more than one person and they're burning a hole in my pocket!  Plus, LOADS of laundry to catch up on, trash to pick up, kids to feed.  I'll be back in a day or two!

Happy end-of-the-year.