Christmas tree mat

Back at work after a gloriously long holiday vacation. It feels really weird.

I went to my local quilt shop on Monday with a frined who is starting her first quilt. I was surprised to see the winter sale there. I don't know why, I just never gave it much thought.
There were a few FQs there that caught my eye. Especially one of a Toy shop that you're supposed to turn into an Advent Calendar.
I was very good on Monday though and didn't buy a thing.

But then I saw this tree skirt on my Google REader-list and thought I should get around to make that tree mat I've been wanting to make for a while.

I figured if I start in January I'll have no excuse not to finish it before next Christmas.

So today at lunch I drove across town to get some fabric for the mat.

I ended up getting a book as well on basic patchwork techniques. It's by a Swedish author so I can't really link it.

There was a really nifty tip on how to easily make continuous bindingstrips that I'm eager to try out.

I think I'll give myself some time to get over being fed up with Christmas before I start it. I have to draft a pattern anyway so I think there'll be time.

Knitting progress

I've not knit anything on my Sylvi for a few days. Not really sure why.

I have to fix something with the sleeve - I started knitting is as a right sleeve, but I think I'll have to change it to the left sleeve.
And I found a mistake in the seed stitch that I have to fix before I get too far away from it.

Blech.

And it's not KnitNight for another week. I've not been for over a month. Sigh.

I did however organize my knitting basket by putting in a pocket to keep the patterns.



I need to make a different closure for the pocket and it's not normally this empty. But it looks so much neater than it did before.

Coat

I got a bit of a head start on my 2009 project. I'm knitting a Sylvi-coat for me.

For someone who's knitted a few hats and mittens but never finished a sweater this is a big deal.

I've done the cuff bands and I started the first sleeve. I also cast on and knit the first 4 rows of the back piece.

I'm excited to see what happens with this project. And I most definitely hope I'll finish it.

Knitting basket

I bought this spacious basket at IKEA a few weeks ago and it has resided in my living room ever since holding ever-growing amounts of yarn.

Today when I had a "day off" I decided to organize it a little better.



Ta da!

I added a pocket to hold my patterns and a pen and tape measure. I had plans to put in more pockets, but I need to figure out how to do it easily. This one got a bit fiddly because I did something wrong (I guess).
I need to fashion a better closure for the pocket too.

The fabric is Michael Miller's Knit Pirates in teal and brown.