Last week we talked about different Cowls you might make as holiday gifts. This week, I want to share some ideas for fingerless mitts, mittens and gloves. The fingerless versions are great for people who like their fingers free for texting, computing, and working, but need a bit of extra warmth. I wear them in my office when it gets particularly cold. (Unfortunately my office stays colder in the winter and hotter in the summer than the rest of Loopy Central, so I have to deal with it instead of adjusting the heater/air conditioner.) I also wear them if I’m reading a book in bed and we’ve turned down the heat for the night, but I’m not ready to go to sleep yet. Of course some people want their fingers surrounded in warmth, so I’ve included some glove patterns as well. (And because I know you’ll ask for mitten patterns, too, I added those as well. Whew. Long list!)

Here are some pattern/yarn suggestions for the friends/teachers/relatives on your list who might love a pair.

Note – I know not everyone is on Ravelry. I have listed the Rav patterns with (R).

Worsted Weight patterns (quick to knit) Mitts:
Fetching (these are the first mitts I ever made)
(R) Mom’s Cabled Mitts (pictured. I made several of these last fall.)
(R) Matching Mitts for the Meret
Irish Hiking Scarf Wristwarmers
Belle Ruffle Gloves (totally smitten with these. Must make.)
Bittersweet Vines (bonus – mitts plus cowl pattern)

Worsted Weight Mittens:
Cornrow Mittens (bonus – hat pattern, too. These look fun to knit.)
(R) Meta Mittens (of course I’d have to make the feet red for Loopy)
(R) Mittens for the Fisherman (love the classy design)
Wood Hollow Mittens (because you know how I love cables)
(R) Ladybug Mittens (for kids)

Worsted Weight Gloves:
Men’s & Women’s Cable Gloves (classy for either one)
(R) Treads, Tipless Gloves (ok, a cross between mitts and gloves, but darned cute!)

Try these in: Amy Butler Aran , Blue Sky Worsted Hand Dyes , Cascade Eco Alpaca, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted, Fiesta Boomerang, Lang Yak or Spud and Chloe Sweater.

Fingering/Sport/DK weight Mitts:
(R) Bird and Vine Mitts (These went on my list as soon as I saw them)
(R) Fishtail Wristwarmers
Fingerless Lace Mitts (pictured. Love the design.)
Veyla (pretty and elegant)
(R) Della Mitts (I like the stitches incorporated into this one)
(R) Red Velvet Cupcakes Mitts (because I love the name)

Fingering/Sport/DK weight Mittens:
Signe Mittens (or ANY mittens from Johanne’s Born to Knit line!)
Cuckoo Mittens (love the thumb, great in The Loopy Ewe Solid Series)
Midge Mittens (try these in Berroco Sox, Opal, Trekking, or Austermann)

Fingering/Sport/DK weight Gloves:
Women’s Long Gloves (I thought these looked elegant)
(R) Entangled Stitches (or any of Julia’s amazing gloves!)
Farinelli (someone needs to make these in black)

Try these in: The Loopy Ewe Solid Series, Alchemy Yarns of Transformation, Dream in Color Smooshy, Fiber Optic, Fiberphile MCN, Madelinetosh Sock, Spud and Chloe Fine, Sanguine Gryphon Skinny Bugga, or String Theory Hand Dyed Yarn DK.

You know, I could go on and on with pattern links, but I’ve already overwhelmed myself with patterns that I now want to knit. (Seriously, after looking at all of these, I am SO in the mood to do some mitts.) I hope it gets you thinking about some fun things to work on this fall.

No blog on Friday. I’ve had Web Guy home for a few days, and Knitting Daughter arrives home tomorrow. Happy Mom Week for me! I’m taking advantage of the Awesome Loopy Elves (who keep things running here when I’m gone) and will be in and out a bit the rest of the week. (Maybe starting a new pair of mitts….)

Sheri loveitwhenmykidsarehomehomehome

It’s time to vote for our Third Quarter Challenge entries! It has been so fun to see the different projects that have been knit up with our Loopy Ewe Solid Series line of yarn. After spending a year working on that line, it’s great to be shipping it out to so many of you.  Did you see the colorwork mitten pattern in the latest issue of Knitty, using our line? I love the bird on the thumb.

Here are just a few of the entries into our challenge, which was to make anything you’d like, using our solids line. You can see all of the amazing entries, here.

Socks by Allison:

and Beverly:

and Samantha:

and Em (this photo made me smile!):

Shawls by Kata:

and Linda:

and Mary:

Wearables by Wendy:

and Danielle:

and Michelle:

and Lynn (this was woven – love it!):

Check out the full gallery for details on these projects, and to see the rest of the cool socks, scarves, mitts and hats. We have had the best time seeing all of these come in! Please send your vote for your favorite to: support@theloopyewe.com  We’ll award our Knitter’s Choice award, as well as drawing from all entries for another award. Each person who completed a project and had their photo in to us by 10/7 also earned a 20% discount on yarn for their next project. You can also see a bunch more projects on Ravelry by typing The Loopy Ewe Solid Series into the yarn search, and bring up the projects. I especially love these – I want to make them!

We do have new things up for you in tonight’s update. We added in:

Studio June Sock Luck - soft base with gorgeous colors, new and re-stocks.
Austermann Step - the special yarn that contains Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil to treat your feet. New colors from the Zodiac series, plus re-stocks.
Trekking Hand Art - more new colors from this popular line.
Addi Crochet Swing Hooks - Addi’s newest line – great comfort and flexibility
Patterns – from Through the Loops, Wendy’s latest sweater, and a new line from ZigZag Stitch.

Sheri whodidsomeknittingonmydayofftoday

Here’s what I wonder. If you were a little kid and your bedroom was right next to this big inflatable black cat, and you could hear the “hsssssss” of the fan that keeps it inflated – would you develop a fear of cats? (What if it was a giant ghost? Or a creepy snowman? Or – hey – an oversized giant clown?) I wonder what little kids think. This is in the yard of the first house in our neighborhood. I also wonder what they think the next time they see it and it’s just a big black puddle of nylon on the ground, because the fan isn’t on. How would you like to explain that? Poor kids.

I also wonder when I’m going to stop ordering yarn. I worked late last night to get more put away and get these boxes organized in the kitchen (November Sock Club and Sock Club Lite stuff). Then this morning, UPS backed up to our building (as they do most every day) and delivered 14 more boxes. Now the front is all gumped up with boxes again. Today’s delivery is from Dream in Color – part of our order of their brand new 8-ply sock yarn called Everlasting. The colors are amazing. I sent a skein out to one of our Loopy Sample Knitters a couple of weeks ago, even before I could tell her what yarn it was. It was still a secret. She’s knitting up a beautiful shawl, which I’ll share with you soon. We’ll get the rest of our order in next week and we will have it photo-ed and up for you on Monday, the 18th. 50 different colors. 48 regular colors and two “oops” colors that they thought you would like. And I think you will.

Lastly, I wonder if I there could possibly be a simpler recipe than the one I’m sharing with you today. 3 ingredients. No measuring needed. Tastes great.

Salsa Chicken

4-6 whole chicken breasts
1 jar of your favorite salsa (16 oz. or so)
1 jar of apricot jelly (8 oz. or so)

Add everything to your crockpot and let it simmer the day away. The chicken will come out moist and the sauce will have a wonderful sweet/spicy flavor. Recipes like this definitely leave more time for knitting.

Monday is a holiday here in the States, so we’ll be out of the office. We will have an Update for you on Monday night, because I know that many of you count on that. We’ll get busy first thing Tuesday morning, getting your orders packed up and shipped out. (Another thing I wonder – what would I do without all of my awesome Loopy Elves?)

Are you wondering about anything today? Or is it just me?

Sheri  gladthattheweekendhasarrived.Haveagoodone!

It’s October. I won’t mention how many days there are until Christmas, but suffice it to say, the gift knitting had better be underway. Now I know that some of you are SO on top of this and you already have a big box of knitted items finished, washed, and wrapped up carefully in tissue paper, waiting for gift wrapping. (Some day I want to be like you.) Others of us have not even started and are wondering if we even have time to knit for anyone at all this year. The solution? Quick knits. No sweaters, no afghans. I will be sharing some gift ideas over the next few weeks – patterns and yarn suggestions, for the friends/teachers/relatives on your list who get the good stuff. (You know, the handknits.)

This week, let’s talk about cowls. Here in St. Louis, the humidity makes the cold feel like it’s seeping under your skin in the wintertime. I have found that if my neck is warm, then most of the time I don’t even need a coat, if I’m just dashing from car to Loopy or car to home. I made this new cowl last week. I have to admit – it’s not a gift – it’s for me. I love cowls that button instead of smooshing down over your head and hair. These are easy to get on and off. (Having said that, I’ve also made the other kind, and will keep making those as well.)

Here are some of my favorite cowl patterns. (I know that not everyone is on Ravelry. I’ve included patterns both on and off of that site. Rav patterns have an (R) by them.) Now what I need to do is to pick out the patterns and the yarn and line them all up on a shelf, so that I can have a visual of what needs to get done before Christmas.

Quick to knit worsted weight options:
(R) Irish Cabled Neckwarmer (this is the one I made, above)
(R) Crofter’s Cowl (I like the photos as much as the cowl.)
Tudora (cute asymetrical look)
Tom’s Star Crossed Cowl (I love cables. Can you tell? Great for guys.)

Yarn suggestions in worsted weight: Malabrigo Rios (that’s what I used for the one above), Malabrigo Worsted, Malabrigo Twist, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted, Dream in Color Classy, Cascade 220, Cascade Eco Alpaca or Duo, Madelinetosh Vintage, Blue Sky Worsted Hand Dyes, Lang Yak, and Universal’s Cotton Supreme for a non-wool option.

Sport/DK weight options:
Neck Warmer (love how this tucks under a coat. Great for guys.)
Spiral Cowl (I’d use Blue Sky’s Alpaca Silk – yum)
Honey Cowl (pretty texture. I’d loop it twice around, I think.)
Poinsettia (love everything Anne Hanson designs!)
(R) Felicity Cowl (cable at the top, cable at the bottom)
Ivy Vines Neckwarmer (great vertical & horizontal lines)

Yarn suggestions in sport/dk weights: Alpaca With a Twist Baby Twist, Amy Butler DK, Blue Sky Alpaca Silk, Fiesta Ballet, Hand Maiden Camel Spin, Lorna’s Laces Honor or Pearl or Sport, Shibui Baby Alpaca DK, Studio June Andrea Mae DK, and Cascade Fixation or Blue Sky Skinny Cotton for non-wool options.

Fingering weight options:
Good Luck Cowl (so pretty)
Tapestry Cowl (would look great in Loopy Solids line)
(R) Double Duty Cowl (cowl turned hat turned cowl – cool)
(R) Pretty Thing (isn’t it, though?)

Yarn suggestions in fingering weight: Alchemy Juniper, Dream in Color Smooshy or Starry, Fiber Optic, Fiberphile, Hand Maiden Swiss Mtn. Sea Sock, Madelinetosh Sock or Merino Light, String Theory Caper, Tempted Good Grrl, The Loopy Ewe Solid Series, Sanguine Gryphon Skinny Bugga, and Crystal Palace Panda Cotton or Kollage Luscious for non-wool options.

There. That ought to keep us all busy for a day or two ….

Sheri wholovesquickknitslikethis,doneinadayortwo

Not here in St. Louis quite yet. It was 47 degrees here this morning (that’s a good start), but the leaves aren’t really turning too much. All except for that one tree across the parking lot that starts turning before any other tree around, every single year. But look at what is happening in Indiana – the leaves are turning. (Well maybe they aren’t quite that bright yet. I recycled this photo from last year’s batch. But it IS from Indiana, and they do get really pretty leaves in the Fall!) We were up there this past weekend for Parents Weekend at Knitting Daughter’s school. It was good to see her. She has been way too busy co-editing the school newspaper this year. Here she is in the newspaper office, showing us around. She spends a lot of time there. It was good to get her off campus for a day or two, shopping (replenishing the supplies), eating out (away from the Dining Commons), coffee at Paynes, ice cream at Ivanhoes, etc. All of the things a parent is supposed to do on such weekends. Soon we’ll get her home for a long weekend of Fall Break – we always look forward to that, too.

Did you see Wendy’s post regarding the Hat Project? Would you be willing to knit up a hat for a sailor? (What an awesome undertaking, from Shanti’s mom!) Take a look into your stash and see if you have some 100% Superwash Wool that you can use. No acrylic allowed. (Need suggestions? Dream in Color Classy, Shibui Worsted, Malabrigo Rios, Madelinetosh Vintage, etc.) Here’s a free pattern (in the sidebar on that blog) with lots of options, done up in worsted weight yarn. Or google “free watch cap patterns” for more options.

It’s Monday – that means Monday Update time! Tonight we added in:

Fiberphile Merino Cashmere Sock – Georgia’s amazing colors on one of our favorite yarn bases. Yum! Snap this up for shawls, scarves, hats and mitts.

Loopy Heel Creme – We had the Soak people do an exclusive mint scent for us (because you know how we feel about peppermints around here). A little dab on each heel will make your feet even more worthy of handknit socks! These went out with sock club kits and we had so many of you email to ask how you could buy more, so I know you already love it.

Lavishea for Loopy - We had the Lavishea people do up a Loopy tin with …. you guessed it …. a vanilla mint scent, because you know how we feel about peppermints around here. (Wait. I already said that.) This lotion-in-a-bar melts into your hands as you use it, and the bar lasts a long time. These also went out in sock club kits, and we also had a lot of emails asking for more of this as well. Fortunately, we had planned on that with both the Lavishea and the Heel, and we ordered extras for the website.

Hadley Loopy Coasters – Many of you received the Mary Hadley Pottery Tumblers in our Anniversary kits in August. We are having them do more things for us (still waiting on yarn bowls, for those of you who pre-ordered them). This week, we have coasters to put up. Use these for your drinks, or to keep your stitchmarkers (or jewelry) corralled as you knit.

Re-stocks in: All scents and sizes of Soak, all bags and accessories from Namaste (including a new light pink Buddy Case), Needles/Puppy Snips/ Dumpling cases from HiyaHiya, and patterns from Through the Loops.

Lastly, all Dream in Color Dream Club pre-order notices have been sent out. We have extra skeins that went up tonight (it’s in the same Smooshy with Cashmere base that we put up last week – still a few skeins left here). We’ll add extra skeins during this week, if people on the pre-order list opt out of this one.

We were buried in boxes by UPS today. That means more good things to come, you know!

Sheri stayatLoopyandworklate,orheadhome?Ican’tdecide.

Have you noticed that long sweaters are in style this fall? I’ve been seeing them everywhere (here, here, and here, for example), paired up with leggings, jeans and dresses. This was my favorite vest this summer. As soon as I tried it on, I was thinking that someone needed to write up a pattern for it. It’s lightweight (fingering weight) and flattering, and I am envisioning it in several different yarn lines and colors. Anyone want to take that on? By the time I figured it out, wrote it up, had it test knit and edited, and put a pattern out, the style would be over. But I really like it. And guess what else? J.Jill has stitchmarker necklaces and bracelets. Check it out. Well no, they don’t actually call it that. And no, I don’t think you can actually take the rings off. But it’s clearly a bunch of stitchmarkers, right? Any knitter knows that. Very cute.

Did you see the Sugar Cookie Recipe on The Pioneer Woman’s blog last week? I have to say, I’m always very skeptical when someone says “These are the best sugar cookies ever!”, because I have been making frosted sugar cookies for 20 years, always using the same recipe, always loving the results. I’m just not looking for a new one. BUT – this looked easy (no cut outs, no frosting) and I thought I’d give them a try. You know what? These are the best sugar cookies ever. Seriously. Not for cutouts and frosting (I’ll still use my other recipe for that) but for pure melt-in-your-mouth happiness that you can make in a jiffy. Here’s the recipe with a couple of additional notes from me. I made a double batch, because it’s always nice to share.

Pioneer Woman’s Favorite Sugar Cookies

2 large eggs
1 cup Canola oil
2 sticks butter, softened (use butter – it’s better in here)
1 cup sugar (plus 4-6 Tbl. extra for sprinkling)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract*
4 cups plus 2 Tbl. all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar

* On the vanilla – does anyone remember sugar cookies that tasted a bit lemony? Next time, I might try half vanilla extract and half lemon extract. Or all lemon? Would that be too much? What do you think?

I noticed one commenter on this recipe said that she added 1 tsp. nutmeg to the recipe – also an interesting alternative.

Directions: Cream together all liquids, plus both sugars. Add the dry ingredients and mix well. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 1-2 hours. (Don’t skip this step. If you don’t firm up the dough, then the cookies spread too thin on the pan when they cook. Also, keep your bowl of dough in the fridge while the other pan is cooking, for the same reason. Ask me how I know.)

Drop walnut-sized balls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet or baking stone. Flatten each ball with the bottom of a glass, coated in sugar. (I re-sugared the glass for each one.)

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-11 minutes, until just before the cookies begin to turn brown. Let cool on the pan for 1-2 minutes before scooping them onto a cooling rack.

Speaking of Pioneer Woman, you all have been to her Tasty Kitchen site, right? It has become my go-to place when I want to try a new recipe. It’s like having access to thousands of recipe boxes, where everyone keeps only their very favorites. Yum!

Sheri whowantsalongsweateroutofAlpaca – doesthatsurpriseanyone?