Mer Knits!

I enjoyed coming across Lolly's post and flickr group about handknits being worn in real life, so I wanted to contribute a few pictures of my own.  I also wanted to make mine pictures where I'm not just wearing the knit for documentation purposes (like most of my pictures on this blog tend to be), but of the knits in action.  So here we go:

The Clapotis visits Scotland.

The Clapotis again (pre-blocked, I might add) at Stonehenge.

The Apricot Jacket in action in my parents' basement.

 I think one of the reasons I liked this idea so much is that I'm really a practical girl at heart--I don't buy a lot I don't need (usually), and I like knitting items that I (or the recipient) will actually use.  I feel guilty if I make or buy something and then don't use it.  Luckily I've been pretty happy with my finished knits, and a few of the things that I haven't worn have been frogged or are in line for frogging.  Hooray for practicality! ;)

We finally have a somewhat-sunny day here in Houston after more than a week of chilly, rainy days.  Just in time to show off my finished Swallowtail Shawl!

Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl from Interweave Knits Fall 2006
Yarn: Elann's Peruvian Collection Baby Silk, almost 4 balls on size 4 needles
Time to knit: December 27, 2006 to January 20, 2007
Notes: I love the way that this turned out.  I omitted the last two rows of the Peaked Edging because I thought that I might run out of yarn.  I wouldn't have, but it doesn't change the look of the FO.  The yarn is great too--soft, light, and warm.  I won't lie to you, the nupps were not fun, but they sure look cool:

But unfortunately I don't have a very good picture of it.

Pattern: Apple Hat in smallest size
Yarn: Dale of Norway Svale and other scraps
Time to knit: January 4-January 5, 2007
Notes: Awww.  I don't get the chance to knit many baby items (I don't know many babies) so I jumped at the chance to knit something for a friend's baby shower.  There were many compliments on the hat once the ladies found out it was handmade--always nice!

We're back from our trip to Illinois to visit family.  As usual, it went much too quickly!  I'll share a few of my favorite photos from the holidays:

On a walk in the park near my parents' house.

My sister and I with some guy who was hanging around the shopping center.

The nephews try out their new Krazy Kar. :)

I caught a nasty cold while we were up there but managed to survive the plane ride home on Saturday.  Mister's band had a show New Year's Eve and I just barely made it until midnight.  I'm finally feeling better today though, and I have a few more days to recover before I'm going back to work.

On the knitting front, vacation time allowed me to finish a few things:

Pattern: None, just a basic hat
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool
Time to knit: December 22 - December 24, 2006
Notes: Simple hat in U of I colors for my dad.  The yarn is nice once it's knit up, but it really has no give to it at all which made it difficult for me to knit with at first.  Finished just in time to wrap and give to him Christmas morning!

Pattern: Fetching
Yarn: Gedifra Living
Time to knit: December 21 - December 26, 2006
Notes: I didn't do the picot bind off, but otherwise I knit the pattern as written.  Modeled by and gifted to my sister.

And hop on over to my SIL's blog to see the wonderful swift built for me by my brother-in-law!  Yes, that's right, he built it!  How cool is that?