Monday, January 17, 2011

Warm Woolies

January is prime knitting time.  What better way to spend cold days than with needles and yarn, or wearing something cozy!  Whipped up a new hat for Youngest (and I mean whipped up since it only took one evening to make!)  He has such a big noggin, I should've made the large size so there would've been a bit of growing room.  But the medium fits perfectly, and since it was such a fast knit, it won't be a problem at all to whip him up another one :)


Thorpe by Kirsten Kapur
freebie pattern here
size: medium
yarn:  Stitch Nation Full 'O Sheep,
color #2010 black sheep and #2640 thyme
1 skein each: 100g/155yds
needles:  size 9dpn's and 16" circular
size G crochet hook

Hubby wears his knit socks a lot during the winter months, so I've added a new pair to his drawer.


40st basic worsted weight hiking boot socks
size:  men's medium
yarn:  100g worsted weight superwash wool
needles:  size 8dpn's

And hubby wears his balaclava as much as he wears his handknit socks.  The very first one I knit him 15 years ago (the brown one.)  And believe me, it looks a lot better in the pic than in real life.  I pretty much had to hide it out of sight when I gave him the new one (the gray one.)  In case you're wondering, the gray one looks pretty lumpy because I didn't bother to block it (the brown one had just been washed and blocked so I could hide it in the back of his drawer.)


Quick and Easy Balaclava
by Helen Fleischer
from the book Homespun Handknit
yarn:  150g worsted weight wool
needles:  size 9-16" circular, size 8dpn's and 16" circular
size H crochet hook
modifications:  bottom before face opening 12 inches

Coffee cup cozies for Michele:


Happy Monday!  I hope your week is off to a fantastic start!

22 comments:

Nicky said...

Hi Staci, love your little hat, too cute. Bet your hubby finds the old balaclava again too!

JelliDonut said...

That hat is adorable!

Annie said...

Looks like it will be a warm, snuggly January at your house. Love that hat... it's nice to the ears covered in cold weather!

WendyJo said...

some fantastic knitting there Staci! Love the new balaclava, new hat for your son and Michele will LOVE those cozies!!!

Siobhán said...

Great job on all the knitting, Staci! My son wears a hat like that--and he's 16. I thought he was kind of goofy wearing it, but maybe I'm the one who's goofy--it must be in style! LOL Anyway, fantastic job, as always!

Anonymous said...

What a lovely and colourful array of cozies!! Someone sure likes her coffee... LOL!!
Brrr, if the weather here would dictate a balaclava, I would be staying inside... there are limits! You are very clever and sweet though, for knitting your sweethearts some winter warmth!

Bekca said...

Wow, great knitting there. I love the hat for your youngest, it's so cool!

kathy b said...

Love your cup cozies! So colorful and cute.

Your hat is wonderful!

Virginia G said...

Ah, the Thorpe. I'll have to knit one, one of these days, just to see what all the fuss is about. :)

And my husband definitely wants a balaclava thingy. He saw a picture of one of the helmet liners I'm planning on knitting for the military and went insane for one of his own.

valerie said...

Great knits Staci! I had to google balaclava...never heard of it before. I'm sure it keeps your hubby warm.

Anonymous said...

I love your son's new hat. Looks like you take keeping your family warm and stylish VERY seriously.

Judy S. said...

I have that pattern somewhere....I love the way you incorporated a second color; it almost looks embroidered! What size needle did you use on the socks?

Melanie said...

Such great stuff!!!! :)

Julie said...

Two lovely warm and snuggly hats, they will be nice and cosy on cold winter days

Mary said...

I always love seeing pictures of your knitting. The cozies are so colorful!

Tanya Willis Anderson said...

Love all of it!! That hat is too cool.

Tanya

Delusional Knitter said...

Nice hat, love the colors. The coffee cup cozies are awesome!

Crazee4books said...

Hi Staci,

Wow!! What a colorful blog you
have here! Love the cheery,
cherry background and then throw
in the pictures of those cute
coffee cup cozies and the muffin/
cupcake liners in their new jar
and this blog of yours glows!

It's a welcome burst of color
for those of us who are sun
and summer starved while plodding
through the dull grays and browns
of winter. At least a full moon
at night has the snow glowing
like magic ... if you're up to
see it late at night.

As usual your needles have been
busy and your family have been
the lucky recipients of your
industrious preoccupation.
Your son's new hat looks nice
and cozy, warm ... as does the
new balaclava that your DH now
has to give his old brown one a
break. How's that working out
by the way??

Your Target stores (well, their
owners actually) have bought up
a chain of stores up here called
Zellers. I wonder if that means
we'll be seeing some of the same
wonderful stuff that you seem to
have in your stores down there.
We have a Zellers store in our
little Georgetown mall but the
Walmart that's also in our mall
is always way, way busier all
the time.

That shawlette that you made
really is a lovely creation
and the intricate lacy trim
on it is beautiful. To me it
looks like a pretty complicated
piece of work but then you tend
to make your knitting projects
appear to be so easy to make.
I'd love to see a picture of
you wearing this shawlette.
Hint, hint.

Love that pile of threads that
you chose to get with your gift
certificate and now I'm wonder-
ing what you plan to use them
for??

Cheers!

Brigitte said...

I can see why Jnauary is a knitting mon th for you. You've had some veeeery cold days lately, so the socks, the balaclava and the little hat must have come very handy. Great knitting!

Yesteryear Embroideries said...

Such a cute hat! There is nothing better than hand knitted socks........so pretty! blessings,Kathleen

jill said...

Staci - I love your blog so much and everything you post is wonderful .... am currently in love with all you Valentine goodies in the sidebar ... can you give sources for any of those cross titch charts? Jill

The Hobbit said...

Hat pattern is just what I have been looking for........Always find something when I stop by.