Here are the Snowflake fingerless gloves from Carol Rasmussen Noble's Knitting Fair Isle Mittens and Gloves done in some old Alice Starmore Campion from the stash. I think I went up to size 1 needles because they were turning out a big tight. I didn't realize until I took the photos that the ribbing is longer on one glove but no worries - they are for me to wear while knitting on cold nights. I'm quite fond of the book and plan to make many more of her designs. I think I'm getting the flu so I'm off to sleep.

I was reading Chris' blog about her experiments with stranding and weaving while knitting with colors and her Easter sweater. I am a strander - generally any float 5 stitches or more gets stranded. I've never done the Philosopher's Wool method of weaving each color with each stitch but I did receive some socks done with this method in an exchange. They were quite sturdy - the fabric is more like woven fabric than knitted fabric - and the second color does occasionally peek through to the front side.



I still sometimes have tension problems - check this out.









This is the bunnies and carrots hat from Naked Sheep done in Nature Spun worsted. You can see that between each bunny there is a tension problem and no amount of blocking would fix it. I learned that if I have to do really long floats I'm better off not weaving them in at all and then going back and tacking the floats down on the back of the work with a needle and thread. Learning how to knit with both hands really helped improve my tension as well as my knitting speed.

Sirdal Cardigan

Here's the finished Sirdal with the braid finally sewn on. The pattern specifies large and small buttons and braids (the small is only for the split buttoned cuff) but I'm glad I went with the small buttons and braids for the whole sweater.



And here is a close-up:



I think the Regia Jacquard gloves are going to be fingerless. I'm not sure who they are for yet.

I haven't worked on Trondheim in a few days. Here's a photo of the beginning of the sleeve so you can see the blue and green Emu Superwash DK I chose.









I've also given up chocolate along with the moratorium on buying anything knitting-related. I am a severe chocoholic and I figure if I go without for 40 days it will help replenish the world's supply. Lent is always a valuable time for me as I am impatient and want everything now.



I'm starting to see why folks like self-patterning yarns as I am working on the Regia gloves. (Thanks for the yarn Jeanette!) It is easy to use the color changes as a way to measure your progress. And they are going quite quickly in size 2 needles.



My friend Joelle will be over Friday night. I've been meaning to knit her a pair of mittens for horseback riding and even have some red and black alpaca yarn chosen for the project. I briefly considered trying to go wild and finish them in less than 2 days but decided that was just plain nuts. I probably would have gone for it if I had an extra day.

I was using Rauma Gammelserie for the Norwegian gloves and was not enjoying the process. I'm sure they would wear like steel but it felt like knitting with steel unfortunately. Anyway, the Norwegian gloves are now history although they'll come back with a softer yarn at a later date.



Instead I've cast on the Regia self-patterning Jacquard yarn to make a pair of basic gloves as I seem to need a more mindless pattern these days. I'm going to be a good girl and stick to a maximum of four projects on the needles at all times.





I am FINALLY on the last pattern repeat for the back piece of St. Enda. This sweater is going to be huge! Perfect for outerwear for me or DH for playing in the snow.



Speaking of snow, here are some cross-country ski socks I made for DH out of naturally colored handspun wool yarn purchased on Ebay. I made up the pattern as I went - using patterns from an Elizabeth Zimmerman book and decreasing down the back of each leg.

I've decided to go on a knitting fast (i.e., no more purchasing knitting supplies) for Lent and probably longer. I'd been meaning to try to reduce my stash. I've always secretly wondered just how low I can get my stash before I start shaking violently and speaking incoherently so maybe this is my big opportunity. Actually patterns, magazines, and books are my weakness but I'm pretty well caught up on all the current books I want.



Besides my four current WIPs (Norwegian gloves, stash Spontaneous Scarf, St. Enda, Trondheim) I have the yarn for some projects waiting in the wings including the Hebridean yarn for the Alice Starmore Celtic Keynot Cushion.







And here is some merino I dyed with Kool Aid then spun and plyed. I'm going to add some undyed merino and make the Spin-Off Entrelac socks.











I'm also thinking of making the Nova Scotia or Cape Cod sweater from Alice Starmore's Fishermen's Sweaters in dark green Nylamb from the stash and if I ever spin up all this alpaca I should have enough for an afghan. I have the Tiur to make the Dale of Norway Kashmir sweater and I have enough colors of Wildfoote to make the Spring socks with all the embroidery from Socks, Socks, Socks. I have some red and black alpaca for some mittens for my friend Joelle and I also plan some fast and easy gloves in Regia fair isle yarn. I have already separated oddball skeins of yarn to make about 3 or 4 more Spontaneous Scarves.

Peruvian Hat

This is the Peruvian hat from the little Vogue Knitting hat book done in stash yarn - mainly old Lamb's Pride. I sent it to Afghans for Afghans.

Ever since I joined Productive Spinners I've been thinking about ways to accomplish more. I read Wendy's blog daily and wish I had the knitting stamina she has. I imagine my closet stuffed with billions of beautiful sweaters the way hers must look.

I can really get off-track and have to figure out how to stick with something. I've noticed that I am not alone in this problem on the Productive Spinners list. Others also like to start new projects and ignore their three listed projects. But having to list my progress to the list every two weeks usually helps get me back on track. Since I've joined I think I've done much more than usual.

Today I'm hoping to finish the first Trondheim sleeve. I'm enjoying the Emu yarn less and less (it is starting to pill) and am rethinking my desire to add more to my stash. I've started to daydream about working on the Dale Kashmir sweater in Tiur yarn. I've heard others rave about working with Tiur (a shiny wool/mohair blend) and can't wait. I have to finish either Trondheim or St. Enda first because more than 2 sweaters on the needles is too many for me.

I cancelled my order for the Addi Natura and bamboo circular needles because I ordered them three weeks ago and hadn't heard anything back from the vendor. After my cancellation the online needle vendor emailed and said they're swamped with orders. I may just stick with Addi Turbos anyway.