Casting off...

...always makes me squeeeeee!!

Ok, so these technically are grafted with kitchener stitch but there was still squee-ing :-P

Happily adding Hand Held Hearts to my FO pile, a really quick enjoyable knit which look fantastic IMHO  They'll definitely keep my hands warm this winter!

Hand Held Hearts Mitts

Following the return of my knitting mojo (yay!) I decided it was time to move to some seasonal knits, with the added bonus of stash busting my rather overflowing yarn boxes.  In the mood for some stranded/colourwork mitts, the Hand Held Hearts pattern by Mette Jin Mayland instantly grabbed me as perfect.  A bit of stash rummaging came up with a combination of the gorgeous cerise Cascade 220 yarn and Noro Kureyon 240...oh look, my favourite colour combination!

The pattern is fabulously quick (although knitting with DPN's whilst breastfeeding does result in the occasional boob stabbing!) It took a quick google to learn the technique for the Vikkel Braid (I used this youtube video) but this...

quickly (well, for me!) became this...

I'm a bit *meh* about the odd orangey pink flecks in the section of the Noro below the thumb but hey, that's Noro for you!   I'm just casting on the second mitt now but am also considering a matching slouch hat as I have more than enough yarn.  After that, I most definitely need a green shawl and have some gorgeous handspun yarn I *need* to knit up too... 

Finally...a FO

It would appear that having the smallest one has stolen my knitting mojo...as has having the husbeast at home!  Hence my Color Affection WIP has taken an absolute age to complete, literally doing an odd row here and there on the odd occasion I was sat breastfeeding with my knitting bag close and nothing else to do.  Add the fact I detest garter stitch, yarn barfs...I've been ready to frog the lots several times but finally managed to cast off this weekend.  Wash, blocked and dried I'm happy enough to forget how long it's taken and enjoy it!

Finger slippage

In a moment of weakness I brought something that I was supposed to add to the husbeast's present inspiration list (aka the list of nice things I'd like for Christmas/Birthday/Mother's Day!)  This gorgeous little twig brooch from I Am Acrylic caught my eye and I thought it would make an ideal shawl pin, of which I desperately need more of!  Turns out it really does look great :-)   Fortunately they have several other designs I'm coveting that Lee can buy me should he feel the need.

The Color Affection isn't actually finished (still...yes...I know!  I am met with ridicule from the husbeast every time he sees me knitting it!) but I am at least on the last repeat of section three before starting the border.  It should be finished before the end of the year at least hehe