Christmas Knitting Loot!

Knitting loot! I know I've raised my children right when they indulge me with gifts of yarn! Sock yarn at that!
The kids' gift to me is a sock yarn sampler from Knit Picks, Neutral Colors. I am in love with all the yarn, and will locate my #0 needles later today so I can start a pair this evening.
The sampler has yarn for 6 pairs of socks, plus a skein of Tofutsies that Diametrag added to the package.
I am torn between the self-striping Felici Pebble, and Essential Flint Tweed. I like the little flecks of colors in the blue/gray, but the brown self striping is so pretty!
J ordered two books for me, Vogue's Ultimate Sock Book and A Gathering of Lace. I've looked over GOL in the bookstore, but never bought it. I love this book, the pictures are luscious! I especially like Frost Flowers & Leaves. That is now on my Maybe-Someday List.
Thanks, Family, for indulging my knitting addiction! When I'm done cleaning, nothing will stop me from casting on socks for ME, ME, ME!

Newborn Hat, Knitted Catnip Mousies

I finished 2 mice and a little hat for a baby boy. My Christmas knitting was almost done until I decided I needed to knit for some little ones.

The mice are from left-over sock yarn, and I will give them to the cats that own my children. I'm not happy with these mice, the nose isn't right. I couldn't find the pattern I've used before, and used Esther's pattern for a catnip mouse here. Several years ago, I knit a very nice mouse that ended with knitting the bottom together with the top after you turned the nose. This pattern sews a seam, and I don't like the nose at all.

I am pleased with the hat, however. I used Opal Sock yarn, #2s and #3s. Cast on 96 stitches, (24 sts each needle) and k2p2 rib for 2" with #2s, then 4" k2p2 rib for 4". (total 6"). I used to have a problem when decreasing on a k2p2 rib hat; recently I found a method that works well. The trick is to k2tog with one knit st and one purl stitch. The purl stitch disappears, leaving you with a smooth transition to stockinette. To begin decreases, move your stitches so each needle begins with 2 purl sts.

Rnd 1: *p1, k2tog, k1* Rnd 2 &3: *p1, k2* Rnd 4: *k2tog, k1* Rnd 5: *k* Rnd 6: *k4, k2tog* Rnd 7: *k3, k2tog* Rnd 8: *k2, k2tog* Rnd 9: *k1, k2tog* Rnd 10 *k2tog* 8 sts left, finish as usual.

The hat used about 24 grams of yarn, so I should be able to get 2 hats and 4 baby sockies from a 100 gram skein. Bean and his cousin will be warm this winter!

The hoyas all have new growth, nice shiny leaves. I had a hard time deciding which to keep and which to give. If they were bigger, I'd take cuttings.

More Slippers for Christmas

Last night I finished the second pair and started a third pair of slippers. Now both my sons will have warm feet, and I have plans to knit more.
My mom and dad liked the slippers I made several years ago. When they came north for the summer, my dad forgot his. By the end of September he wished he had them.
Mom put in a special request for more slippers, and I'm happy to oblige. They will probably leave one pair in the house and one pair in the motor home. It would be wonderful if I could finish them before Christmas, but I'm not sure if I can do it.
I found my notes from the previous years, and have good sizes for everyone's feet. Hands and heads are next. At our Christmas celebration, I plan to trace everyone's hand so I can knit gloves or mittens next year.