Ice Gnomes Marching

When J saw my Knubbelchen, she commented on how well it would look as a tomten. Then the Knit Picks catalog arrived and I saw this kit, which seemed like the perfect addition, and my Christmas plans were set.

Tomten

Yarn: Fingering weight leftovers, probably KnitPicks Stroll
Needles: 2.5 mm dpns
Pattern: pezi888’s delightful Knubbelchen
Mods: none

Tomten Pillow

Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted in Coal, Cranberry, White, and Oyster Heather
Needles: US 6 (4.00 mm)
Pattern: Kathy Lewinski's Santa Pillow
Mods: I followed the advice to carry the Coal and Oyster Heather up the side instead of cutting and restarting, and finished with this much Oyster Heather remaining:

9 yards left

I had my doubts about it fitting a 20" square pillow, but it was no problem after blocking.

I used the whole project as an exercise in Color Dominance and was really pleased with the results.

Week 12 Progress Report, Sweater 2

This is nice. There's only one problem. One being the operative word.

The Six Swans comes to mind, although my version is found in Andrew Lang's Yellow Fairy Book.

Week 11 Progress Report, Sweater 2

Shoulders:

And collar:

Onward to sleeves!

Week 11, Progress Report, Sweater 1

С криком ура!

Once I find the right buttons, I will have to pry it off her to attach them. Otherwise, it is complete.

Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm), US 4 (3.50 mm), US 6 (4.00 mm)

Yarn: Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Sport in Picante, Army Green, Westpoint Blue Heather, and Colonial Blue Heather

Pattern: alfa knits' 3 in 1 -- I cannot say enough about how well this fairly complicated pattern is written. Everything is broken down into manageable steps, the illustrations are clear, the sizing is color-coded.

Mods:

• the recipient preferred a solid blue yoke instead of continuing the stripes.

• I got stitch gauge right off, but got 28 rows instead of 35 rows to 4". I also needed to shorten it quite a bit for the recipient. I dropped rows 3-12 in the front placket, and another 10 rows at the end of the yoke. That meant I had to adjust the buttonholes, but I had planned to do that anyway because I didn't like the two so close together at the top.

I learned several new techniques -- or brushed up on old ones -- to make the details as nice as possible:

• jogless stripes
• binding off in the middle of a fabric, beginning and end
• a better SSK
• a better p2tog
• better shoulder shaping

Pretty much whenever I wanted a better way of doing something, I checked Techknitter to see if there was one, and was never disappointed.

Week 10 Progress Report, Sweater 2

The back is done to the beginning of the armhole. I've begun to think about sleeve decreases.

Week 10 Progress Report, Sweater 1 - All Over But the Shouting

Or the "collars," as the case may be.

Week 9 Progress Report, Sweater 2

I have made a good start on the back. There is no shaping at all to contend with, just steady row-counting, so I hope to be ready for shoulders next week!

Week 9 Progress Report, Sweater 1

With both sleeves finished, everything finally wound up on one needle. Now the yoke-work begins!