It's a Wrap

Today is my birthday, and I'm surrounded by gifts, but none of them are for me!

I'll be going home to Ireland on Wednesday, and I'm wrapping up all the gifts I've made for my family. 

Just one sock and one pair of gloves left to knit before Christmas. I think I'll make it!

Gift Knitting So Far

Just under three weeks until Christmas is here. Nineteen days until Christmas eve. I have one and a half pairs of socks and a pair of gloves left to knit.

I think I have enough time.

Here's what I have finished (though weaving in ends and blocking remains to be done):

1. A miniature pair of socks for the little girl I mind. These took two or three evenings to knit. They are a merino-bamboo-nylon self-striping by Online Yarns, and the toes, heels and cuffs are knit in some sock wool from Lidl which is nowhere near as soft as the other wool. This is because I want enough of the stripy yarn left over for a pair of socks for myself. (Even in my gift knitting I'm selfish!)

2. Something secret

3. A convertible cowl/hat. This is the clever Howlcat pattern by Alexandra Tinsley.

And I have a feeling I'll be binding off on this pair of socks later on today!

Speedy Socks

A few weeks ago, I posted about my fastest pair of socks ever. That pair took a week to knit.

Today, I am posting about a pair that seems to be flying along even faster. I started this pair at the weekend, and got the first sock knit in two days. Part of the reason is that I had a lot of knitting time, another part is that they're only 60 stitches around. I did my normal 64 stitches on 2.25 mm needles and found them far too baggy, so I decreased and kept going. This is my progress as of this morning:

I do a lot of travelling on public transport during the day, usually about two hours, so I might even get this pair finished today. Maybe I should pack some extra yarn?