A Knitter's Thingiemas

I was a very happy knitter this year. All the little Santa's in my life came through with some really great gifts for a hard knitting gal like me.

First, was Jen and her annual "I-get-you-the-stuff-you-really-want-off-your-Amazon-wishlist" gifts. This and that book were very high on my list of things I wanted, so thank you so much!

In addition to the PJs, silver and diamond earrings, and the much needed clothes, Sly came through with this! He also came through with some totally great yarn!


The one on the left is Hedwig from Sunshine Yarns and the one on the right is Scottish Highlands from Blue Moon Fiber Arts.

Michelle, the DD, came through with the Amy Sedaris entertaining book I Like You: Entertaining Under the Influence. It is very funny, but a serious entertaining book at the same time. I can't wait to throw my next Yarn Ho party.

My son, who knows how much I like to watch TV when I knit gave me something pretty to look at, Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean on DVD.

There was the funniest bummper sticker with my Blue Moon yarn:

While I am going to be sharing a lot about my WIPs in the next post (it has to do with my knitting resoulutions), I don't want everyone to think I am back in the "I-don't-post-about-knitting-on-my-knitting-blog!" pattern of the past few months.

Pattern: Cozy
Yarn: Philosopher's Wool
Needles: 24 inch size 8

I have picked up Cozy again after not touching it for several months. I kept getting the stitch pattern off, which screws up the whole mess. The week off, and the 007 days of Christmas on Spike TV have really given me the chance to make some real progess on this lovely shawl. The pictures don't do it justice, really.

Pattern: Just the basic sock that I knit over and over and over because I know it will fit me with a short row heel.
Yarn: Regia Bamboo Color
Needles: size 2 Addi circs

It is the return of the computer sock. I keep a sock in my Piddleloop pouch for taking with me, and a sock by the computer for those wait times. With all the giftmas knitting, I haven't had time for a computer sock and a carry with me sock. They are both back now!

Happy Knitting!

Happy Holidays!

Pattern: Flowers on a Grave
Yarn: Galway (hat) Red Heart (flowers)
Needles: size 10.5

I had a nice Christmas, and I hope that Santa brought you all the yarn you could ever want!

Happy Knitting!

A really honest to goodness update on my knitting post!

I know, you are all in total shock. I am posting. There are pictures of knitting. I bet you thought that I just stopped knitting, and this blog was just a sham. You thought that I just went on and on about grad school as a way of deflecting the focus from the lack of actual knitting content. The lame Internet quizzes, the "I am too busy to post" post, and the endless MEMEs were all part of a plot to make everyone BELIEVE I was a real life knitting blogger when in fact I was just a poser. Well, you were wrong. I do actually knit.

Pattern: Sweet Mary Janes
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes
Needle: size 7 dpns

Here are some finished Sweet Mary Janes. They are all done, and Sly is bundling them off to work to give as gifts as I type this.

And here is the Sweet Mary Jane carnage! Don't look at the poor, tragic, unfinished little dears. Mommy will take care of them!

Pattern: We Call Them Pirates (Lesa's worsted version)
Yarn: Lamb's Pride
Needles: size 9 16' circs

I did another "my version" of this hat for Sly since he liked Randy's so much.

Pattern: I just made it up
Yarn: Lamb's Pride Bulky
Needles: size 7 dpns

Here is a lonely mitten I made for Michelle for Christmas. Since Michelle has two hands, I need to make another one soon.


Last, but not least, my loot from the 2nd annual Yarn Ho Christmas party. I just love all my gifts, and thank you so much to all the givers!

I hope you all get your Christmas knitting done on time!

I am 1 year today!

The Molly Knits Sweaters blog is one year old today!

I just wanted to get that out of my system first.

weird meme

“THE RULES:Each player of this game starts with the ‘6 weird things about you.’ People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says ‘you are tagged’ in their comments and tell them to read your blog.”

1. I am a nerd. Granted, if you have been reading this blog for the past year, you know that I love all things nerdy. I am a fan of Mythbusters, James Bond, Monty Python, Star Trek, Harry Potter and other completely nerdy forms of entertainment. The sad part is, I have actually been to not just one, but THREE Star Trek conventions! The name of this blog is inspired by Harry Potter, and to date, I have done THREE school projects (two in graduate school) on Harry Potter (2 on Star Trek I have even done a presentation deconstructing Star Wars with video clips)!
2. I am a karaoke diva. I used to go to karaoke bars at least twice a week. I own a karaoke machine.
3. I can recite the famous "two all beef patties special sauce.... yadda yadda yadda" Mc Donald's commercial backwards.
4. I was a Girl Scout for seven years.
5. When all my friends in school took ballet and tap dancing lessons, I took 2 years of belly dancing lessons.
6. My grandmother named me after Lisa Marie Presley. When asked by my husband when I was 29 if she really named me after Lisa Marie, my grandmother answered "No, that is just where I got the idea."

My mom is the one who spelled "Lisa" wrong on my birth certificate. To this day (38.5 years latter) she insist that L-E-S-A is the correct way to spell my name and every other woman in the world with my name is spelling it wrong.

true to the terms of the meme, this is the part where i tag people. I'm not gonna. If you want to steal this meme, just leave a comment so we can find out about your 6 weird things.

That last second scarf pattern we all need

Here is the perfect thing to knit up at the last second when you need a gift. This can be knitted in the car on the drive to grandma's house. It is a one-skein-less-than-five-hours kind of pattern that we all need. I suggest using the nicest bulky weight yarn you can. I used Misti-Alpaca Chunky so this is very soft and warm.

Materials
1 100 gr ball, hank, or skein of luxury bulky weight yarn (if you have more time or want a longer scarf, you can use two)
size 13 needles

Finished Measurements
About 6'x45'

CO 17

Row 1 K1 P1 across row
Row 2 K

Repeat rows one and two until you run out of yarn.

End with Row 1 BO

FOs!

Okay, so I know all of you out there believe that I haven't been knitting anything at all. You think that because there are no pictures I have just been sitting on my hands all this time. Well, you are all wrong! I even have the photos to prove that I have been knitting.

Pattern: Irish Hiking Scarf
Yarn: Philosopher's Wool (2 hanks)
Needles: Size 7

Here is the Irish Hiking Scarf. While I got tons of practice making cables, I have to say, I really don't like making scarves. They just take too long and are too boring. I thought the cables in this scarf would make it more interesting, but they didn't.

Pattern: We Call Them Pirates (Lesa' worsted weight version)
Yarn: Lamb's Pride (about half of the silver and 1/4 of the red)
Needles: size 9 16' circs

I changed up pattern from Hello Yarn to make the hat in a worsted version for my DD's boyfriend. Worsted is just so much faster, and I had this in my stash. Sly loved the hat so much that I have to make another for him.

Pattern: something I am going to call the last minuet gift scarf
Yarn: Misti Alpaca chunky (Every bit of one skein)
Needles: size 13

Okay, he is a great last second gift (you can make this in less than 5 hours). The trick with this one is to use a VERY nice yarn. This scarf is all about the quality of the yarn and the knitting. I'll post the pattern latter, but it is a broken rib stitch.

Latter this week you will get to see all those Sweet Mary Janes I have been knitting. Seriously, I think I have about 6 pairs in various stages of done, and many more on the way.

Happy Knitting!

I'll do a real knitting post tomorrow

I am just too sleepy now. I swear, there is TONS of knitting to show off, but for now, a little MEME to keep you all entertained.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Both are nice. Hot chocolate has chocolate going for it, and egg nog can be spiked with rum, so I would say it depends.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Wrapped

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
The past few years it has been white. But I would love to find those old-fashioned color lights from when I was a kid. Those rock!

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Used to, but it is poisonous and we have several animals.

5. When do you put up your decorations?
When I have the time. This year we are just using a table top artificial tree, so it is up now.

6. What is your favorite Christmas meal include?
mmmm, I make a mean ham dinner. Then there is potato soup and bean soup for a week afterwards.

7. Favorite Holiday Christmas memory as a child?
A boyfriend of my aunt's (long since for gotten as this memory is about 33 years ago) dressed up as Santa for his family. My aunt convinced him to drive by my grandparents house to play Santa for me and my sister too.

I was really messed up by that. Everybody said it was my dad, grandfather, or uncle, but as they were all in the room (and none of them would EVER dress up as Santa), I really really believed for years and years.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
What truth about Santa?

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Yes.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
Well, we put hooks in the ornaments and hang them on the tree. Is there another way?

.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
I don't mind looking at it.

12. Can you ice skate?
Never tried. I used to roller skate a lot. But it was the 70's and everybody roller skated..

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
I got a telescope one year. I thought that was cool as hell. Then there was the year my dad bought me a racecar set because I don't have any brothers and he always wanted one. I would get boy toys every now and then.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays Christmas for you?
family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Christmas Dessert?
My mom's fudge

16. What is your favorite Holiday Christmas tradition?
There was that year that New Buffalo was snowed in. My parents walked about nine blocks to the only store that was open and bought all our presents. We sat at home and played games for three days and had a big meal. We didn't get out to see family until New Year's Day. But, I would have to say my first Christmas in Florida was cool. My grandparents came down to visit. We didn't get a tree until Christmas eve that year. It was crazy. The guy said "hey, here is a great tree" and half the needles dropped off just then. Everybody laughed and he sold it to us for $5. It was a nice tree.

17. What tops your tree?
The dog keeps knocking our trees down and breaking the top. I am going to knit something this year. Any ideas?

18. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
"Here we go a Wassailing among the leaves so green"