Way late, Christmas knitting

For some reason, late this winter I got inspired to do a bunch of gift knitting for the holidays.  I don't always do this, but I got a couple of ideas this winter that seemed like a good idea at the time.  The failed rangoli hat was obviously not such a good choice, but I did finish a second version of it in Malabrigo worsted, color "China," that I also forgot to photograph.

For my sister and my mother, I made something like this:

It's hard to tell, no?  It's a smoke ring--a lacy tube that can be worn as a cowl, or more or less as a hood (though I think I made them a little on the short side for a true hood), for extra warmth.  This is my sister's, and my mother's was the same pattern in a pale grey.  I used llama lace yarn from Americo Original, a relatively big needle for the yarn thickness, and the stitch pattern from the pomatomus socks.  Doing it that way emphasizes the laciness of that pattern, which isn't usually all that apparent in socks.  I've been sort of interested in that pattern for ages, but never quite made up my mind to make the socks.  I may like the pattern done this way even better.

For my great aunt, I made this:

It's ladylungdoctor's "speedy yet effective" variation on cosmicpluto's "simple yet effective" shawl.  It's in the multi-brown alpaca that I have been trying to figure out how to use for... years, now.  It figured in my abortive attempt to knit the union square pullover before I remembered that I prefer cardigans.  It's the same kind of yarn in the unsuccessful rangoli hat.  But this has made me realize that what it really wants to be, most likely, is something soft and a little floaty, like this.  In fact, I like how this came out so much that I'm making another one for me.

Finally, I knit these for my dad.

 

Smooshy socks, in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport, colorway "camouflage."  I wanted to knit them to his feet, so I wrapped the yarn with a picture suggesting it could be made into either socks or gloves.  He picked socks, and I was amazed to be able to finish them before I left.  I sort of mentally classify my dad's feet as, well, big.  And they are, but using this slightly heavier than normal (for socks) yarn, and size 2 (or 3?  I can't remember what I used) needles, they actually went really quickly.  I did a simple 4x2 ribbed pattern to give them some interest and give, and think they came out really rather nicely.  They're lounging around socks, not wear under dress shoes socks, but hopefully they'll keep his feet warm.  (I also used reinforcing thread in the heels [which are afterthought heels] and toes, fyi.)

Now I'll probably regress to my normal selfish knitting mode.  But hopefully, and considering that it's turning into quite a winter again, all these things will be cozy for the next little while.

Comments

[RosieO]

Very cozy indeed!!