around here

Happy first of Advent! The fourth Sunday before Christmas is the official beginning of the holiday season in Germany and I couldn't be more excited! Listening to Christmas music, lots of cookies, cozy afternoons at my parent's and making gifts. Of course I started doing most of that stuff weeks ago but it's official now.
My mom started decorating her house this weekend and we found some fun stuff. Aren't those Christmas hats fun? We bought them a couple years ago for a Christmas family portrait. The cat really seems to like his - he patiently waited until I had snapped a couple of pictures before he took it off. We also made some wreaths; The one in the picture is the raw version of the one we gave my grandma. Of course we decorated it before we gave it to her ;)
Unfortunately, mine was too big to transport it safely on my bike so it's still at my parent's. But I'll take some pictures as soon as I have it. Lina loves sitting at the open window watching what's going on outside. Temperatures below zero and snow on the windowsill don't seem to bother her at all. And she's very reluctant to understand that I don't enjoy low temperatures inside the apartment...

52 Knits // Christmas Socks

Pattern: My simple Sock pattern

Yarn Used: 90 grams of Trekking Tweed 6ply (75% superwash wool, 25% polyamide)

Needles: 3mm DPNs

Modifications: CO 52 stitches to get warm, big 'house socks' that can be worn over another pair of socks.

Note: Quick and fun knit. I love the yarn! It's like the perfect 'Christmas red'!

This is project #28 of 52

As part of my 2012 goals, I want to finish 52 knitted items this year. You can see all the items I knitted so far on my blog or on ravelry.

See knits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,  13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27

Baking Days

Here are some sneak peaks of some of the Christmas cookies I've baked with friends and family. Sheepish cookies, gingerbread, nice company, six cookie jars full of delicious things and a curious cat to keep us company. What else could you ask for?!

52 Knits // Vancouver Fog

Pattern: Vancouver Fog by Jen Balfour

Yarn Used: 60 grams of Berroco Ultra Alpaca

Needles: 4mm DPNs

Modifications: I mirrored the cables on the right glove following the instructions in the pattern. I also used 4mm needles instead of 4.5 because I didn't have time to go to the yarn store... aka I was too lazy. I knitted the chart twice before starting the directions for the thumb.

Note: Very simple yet cute pattern! I looove cables. They're seriously addictive and unlike lace patterns, they give you instant gratification ;) The mittens fit perfectly and I love the length - not too long yet warm.

Photos were taken by my mom on one of our thrift shopping adventures.

This is project #27 of 52

As part of my 2012 goals, I want to finish 52 knitted items this year. You can see all the items I knitted so far on my blog or on ravelry.

See knits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,  13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26

Around here

I recently switched to Christmas mode: reindeer sweaters, snow globes, Christmas decorations, making gifts, lots of tea and of course homemade cookies!

School is keeping me pretty busy but I have some finished objects to share. As soon as I get a chance to snap some pictures during daylight hours...

52 Knits // Candle Flame Cowl

Pattern: Candle Flame Cowl by Julia Allen

Yarn Used: 70 grams of Drops Alpaca Classic (100% Alpaca)

Needles: 4.5mm circular needles

Modifications: I knitted two repeats plus another 8 rows of the chart before I started the border.

Note: I love this cowl! The candle flame pattern is very easy to understand and it’s easy to see what comes next without looking at the pattern nonstop. I knitted most of this cowl in class… it’s the perfect mindless knit if you’re tired of knitting socks in class all the time ;)

The cowl weights exactly 70grams. I started with the garter stitch border, then knitted 2 repeats + another 8 rows and ended with the regular garter stitch border. It fits perfectly. Wide and stretchy enough to pull it over my head easily yet it’s snug enough around my neck to keep me warm. It’s perfect for bike rides because you can pull it up all the way to your nose and still wear a helmet.

My friends love it and several requested one already. Guess I’ll be making a couple more of these before Christmas…

ps: no animal was harmed in the making of these pictures.

This is project #26 of 52

As part of my 2012 goals, I want to finish 52 knitted items this year. You can see all the items I knitted so far on my blog or on ravelry.

See knits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,  13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25

52 Knits // owl dishcloth

Pattern: Owl Dishcloth  by Mamafari

Yarn Used: 34 grams of a yarn (100% cotton) I found in my mom's stash

Needles: 3.5mm DPNs

Modifications: added 4 rows of garter stitch to the bottom and top, added 4 garter stitches to the beginning and end of each row.

Note: The very first dishcloth I knitted. Quick just for fun project and great to use up some of the cotton yarn that has been in my stash for years. It's pretty cliché to knit a dishcloth but oh well, I wanted to get rid off some of my cotton stash. Turns out crochet flowers aren't very good 'stash busters'!

Photographing this was quite a challenge but I hope you can see that there's an owl sitting on a branch and the moon and a couple of stars? It's easier to see in 'real life' ;) 

This is project #25 of 52

As part of my 2012 goals, I want to finish 52 knitted items this year. You can see all the items I knitted so far on my blog or on ravelry.

See knits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,  13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24