On the Knitting Front

There has been a fair amount of knitting going on here, and not necessarily on projects that have been waiting to be knit. (What can I say? I'll never be a monogamous knitter.) Although it would probably make sense to get back to work on my long-janies since there has been significant frost overnight lately. I've only got one leg started on them, and I'm only up to the knee at that.
In my defence I did knit a pair of socks for my mom while she was visiting, in yellow, as per her request. And I gave her another pair that I had knit up during the summer. This has been a year of sock knitting it would appear.
I have started knitting scarves though. First there was a short one I made for Alison this summer (which I will get back one of these days and lengthen, I promise!), then there is this one in Rio De La Plata (vibrant orange) and a matching hat. Very cushy and soft.

Yesterday I stopped by Zellers and picked up some yarn to knit gifts for their Christmas tree which then get distributed to the less fortunate. As of last night, I knit a hat in a three by two rib, started a two by two rib hat, and this evening I started this mistake rib scarf. At knit night I started a pair of thrum mittens, using Briggs & Little Regal and Patons Roving. The roving is lovely and soft, but has a bit too much twist in it and makes ripping off pieces for the thrums a somewhat time consuming endeavor. I'm considering pre-cutting the thrums to speed things up.

Also on the needles are socks for my youngest. I've very pleased with these two colours (from Sisu) and so is she.

And last but not least, the Olympic Sweater is still waiting for attention. Notice that the sleeve is quite a bit shorter than when I last worked on it. Somewhere along the line I dropped a black stitch and didn't notice it for several inches worth of work. Needless to say I also didn't notice the pattern not lining up quite right due to the regular increases. I will make a point to work in much better light the next time I pick this project up. The new self-imposed deadline for this sweater is Christmas. Here's hoping for the best.

I'm thrilled to say after this show and tell that the stash has deflated nicely. As you already know I've broken the yarn diet a while ago, but I haven't gone on a mad yarn shopping spree either, so I do in fact feel ahead. If possible, I'd like to squeeze in a Lopi sweater before the New Year to bring down that portion of stash which is quite sizable, and possibly another blanket. I've been eye-balling the pillow pattern from 24-7 by Veronik Avery. Two-colour, nice and simple. Knit in the round, it would also be relatively quick using a heavier yarn, which I have plenty of. Imagine that. Heh.

OH. Big news: thanks to my friend Tina, the spinning wheel has been dusted off and put to use today. Tina very kindly invited me over and helped me adjust the wheel and gave me a lesson in drafting and spinning. Thanks to her patience I've had that eureka moment: finding the sweet spot for the tension where treadling is easy and comfortable and I was actually able to spin yarn. You couldn't possibly imagine how thrilled I am.