holiday knitting

Okay, my training was put back a day. This after I sat in there, and when they all started talking about the software, I said that I had no idea what they were talking about. When asked why I hadn't done the required reading, I asked when the reading was provided. "last week" was the answer. I sat quietly until someone realized that I hadn't seen it, and since I was to be the primary user of this new software, maybe they should give me a chance to read up on it. Training delayed until tomorrow...
Of course, since I uploaded these pic last night at home, now I can sneak a quick post in. I will expand upon my vacation a little more in coming days, as I probably won't have much more to talk about...

I knit a lot last week. A lot. I still didn't really dent everything I had brought, but I made some good progress.

I finished the two pairs of socks that I had started. Two more gifts for Christmas!

I started a new scarf with my favourite scarf yarn - Noro Silk garden. I have two scarves in this already - the Harlot scarf, and an Argosy scarf. I may give the Argosy to a SIL that has been coveting it, and keep this Montego Bay one for me. I. love. it. Here it is with under one ball done - there has been another ball's worth or length added since. I will probably use up 2.5 balls, and use the rest for fringe. Did I mention that I love it? I really do.
You've seen parts of this before. I knit very simple fingerless mitts - simply a tube on dpn's, then back and forth for a while to create the thumb hole, then back to rounds. A simple picot bind off. But, since these are for my niece, and she's 13, so she loves the over-the top stuff, I've added a frill of Ovation (kid mohair/silk blend), with a wealth of beads - two roads of crystal beads at the cast on, then a ruffly bind off with a bead on every stitch. I will go into more detail of this project, because I'm thinking of writing up the pattern.
A cotton chenille flower washcloth. I started this a while ago, having one petal done, and the needles and pattern sitting in a bag. I dragged it out, and within a couple of hours, had it done. It's an Interweave Knits pattern (can't remember which issue right now - let me know if you want details...). Surprisingly, the cotton chenille was not a bear to work with - no worming, no straining. And the resultant fabric is quite nice. Wrapped up with a special soap, this could be a really nice gift.
I started a new sock - Socks that Rock, Harlotty colourway (Hi, Stephanie!) Again, more headway has been made on this - about another three inches. I have also decided that it may not be a sock. It fits my hand rather well, and may turn into a mitten. The colourway is really pretty, and would match my green jacket very nicely. Plus, I am planning on getting a new brown coat this year, so mittens it may be. I'm making the pattern up as I go - I've never made a top down mitten. I'm thinking of creating the thumb hole with waste yarn, and knitting the thumb up from there.
Another lace scarf - 50% merino, 50% tussah silk fingering weight, bought from Grand River Yarns, crocus colourway. Pattern included - it's by Sue McFadyen, and very pretty. If it's this nice unblocked, you can imagine how nice it is blocked.
Four more beaded bracelets. Seriously quick knits. The multi-coloured ones are from the kits I bought, the red is one I did using beads that I had. It's more of a pavé look, and really quite pretty.
My favourite knitting time - sitting on the dock at sunset, watching my boys fish. It doesn't get much better than this...
More details about some of these projects to come.