Christmas Revealed

I am so happy now that all gifts have been received (except for Adam's but let's not get into that) and I can finally share them with blogland.  First up is the Cedar Leaf Shawlette knit for my sister-in-law Erin.

I am in love with this pattern and yarn (in case you couldn't tell). While it's a pretty simple pattern using short row shaping and the knitted on leaf border, if packs a pretty big punch. The color of Malabrigo Silky Merino I used this time is Topaz. I originally bought this yarn at the beginning of the year with the intentions of making something for myself. This is such a rich and vibrant color, how can you not like it? My sister-in-law loved it (score!) and that makes me very happy. I guess I'll just have to buy more for myself.

Pattern: Cedar Leaf Shawlette by Alana Dakos

Yarn: Malabrigo Silky Merino in Topaz, 1.5 skeins

Needles: #7

Began: December13

Completed: December 18

Mods: Like the last one I knit, I took out a few short row repeats and knit the leaves using a #6.

Ravelry Link

The most wonderfully awesome gift I made this year (at least I think so) is the Brother's Sweater!

 

My brother received this yesterday and had been instructed to call me immediately upon its arrival. This led to him calling and me downloading Skype in order to see him try it on. And guess what? It looks GREAT. It actually fits (which may be what I'm even more amazed by)! He said it was super warm and definitely woolly (although he also added that he didn't mind the wooliness). He sent me a text later saying "I actually really like it. Thank you." Which in little brother language means, "You're the best big sister in the entire world. I can't believe you're kind and gracious enough to knit me an entire sweater. I love you!"  Or something like that.

 

As I was gushing about it over dinner last night and exclaiming, "I can't believe how great it looks!" Adam said, "I know, I saw it." Kind of like, ok, ok, I got it. I had to explain to him that while I've knit other sweaters before (all from patterns including the one I'm working on for him) I knit this one using my brother's measurements, my wicked math skills, and pure knitting mojo all from 2,500 miles away. It was like a knitted Christmas miracle.

 

Pattern: My own genius and some help from Elizabeth Zimermann (Knitting Without Tears)

Yarn: Lion Bran Fisherman's Wool (about 2.3 skeins) in Nature's Brown

Needles: #7

Began: September 30

Completed: December 11

The only thing I might do differently if I were to make another is to knit a longer collar (maybe 5-6") and fold it over and sew down in order to make a higher/thicker collar.

Ravelry Link