Stockpile 2010

The Malabrigo Junkies group on Ravelry is having a group of contests under the label of Stockpile 2010.  The basic purpose of this is to knit as many small projects as you can in order to get ready for Christmas.  Projects have to be knit with Malabrigo yarn and cast-on after 12:01 a.m. on October 1, and cast-off by midnight on October 31.  It has been more fun that I ever imagined, and has encouraged me to do a lot more knitting than usual.  To date, I've knit 10 projects: 4 Owlie Sleep Sacks, 4 matching hats, and two adult hats.  Mine aren't necessarily geared towards Christmas, but now that I'm on a roll, I may just keep on with this and knit hats for everyone for the holidays.  Or at least everyone whom I think will enjoy and wear a hand knit hat.

I had Sarah model the Tuscan Leaves Hat and she looks great in it.  She hinted that she wanted it, so I may just save it for her.  I had intended to knit it for myself but I don't look very good in it.  It would look great with a scarf knit out of the same yarn, Mal worsted in Lettuce.

Jeff was at the house the day before yesterday and saw it and said, I wish I had a hat.  Hint,  hint.  So I asked him what he wanted and he said something wild.  I took him in my yarn room and showed him a beautiful Mal Rios in Archangel and he liked it, so that's what I used.  This is what I came up with.

I finished it tonight, just minutes before he and his girlfriend came over to meet Jack to go to the basketball game.  He was thrilled with it.   I need to make a hat for Jack, but think it will be something a bit more conservative.

After they left I cast on the Star Crossed Slouchy Beret in Stonehenge.  This is a hat that I've made twice before and one of my favorites.  Maybe I'll knit another one out of Lettuce and keep that one for myself.

I also need to make some helmet liners for Karen's project.  Am halfway finished with one.   And then there are the scarves for the homeless that we knit for the church.  I guess I'll never run out of projects to knit.

Tuscan Leaves Hat

Just finished the Tuscan Leaves Hat, a new pattern designed by a fellow Malabrigo Junkie, Nina Machlin Dayton.  I was surprised at how easy it was to knit, probably because her pattern was so well written.

It's perfect knitting weather today.  There's a cool breeze that sounds wonderful and competes with the sound of the waterfall.

I'm getting ready to cast on my fifth Owlie Sleep Sack and Hat.  A friend of Sarah's had a baby boy last night so I'm going to knit this one out of Malabrigo Worsted in Blue Surf, a sweet light blue color.  I love these sleep sacks for quick baby gifts.

The other four sets that I have knit still need to be blocked.  And I must get a picture of one with an itty bitty baby in it.  That's a job for Sarah.