January Wrap up and some photos

Well, the first month of UFO knitting is over and I’ve made some real progress on the pile. The Tally so far is 5 UFOs finished off, 4 other WIPs also finished and I managed to cast on a total of 6 things this month (including 3 that are finished). So all in all not a bad month of knitting. Granted the finished things are all relatively small or didn’t need much finishing but still, it feels like a good start.

Here is a pic of the DH Gloves that are finally done after something like 3 years in the UFO tub:

The bonus is they actually do fit him. Too bad we haven’t had much of a winter, he hasn’t needed them much and he’s the type that only wears things like hats or gloves if he’s in real danger of frostbite without them so they aren’t going to see much use this year.
Here is the red hat that I did for the Afghans for Afghans drive:

I came up with my own version of a hat pattern while doing this, knit extra tight to keep the weather out. Not your ususal super quick knitting hat but I really like the results. So much so that I’m writing up the pattern to add to the ones I have for IY. I’m writing up both versions, the red and this:

This is Mimmo’s new hat, made in the same fashion as the red one, but with a simple rib and without the pom pom. I’m going to add a pom pom to it for him (he seems to like them, even if his father isn’t too keen on the idea) but I wanted to take pattern pictures of it without so I’d have one of each . . . but I consider it done even without since he’s been wearing it. It stays on his head without sliding into his eyes much better than the other one he has. And goodness knows, a little boy can’t have too many hats in the winter.
I’ve also cast on for some mittens to match and from the other end of the ball I’m working on a second hat of the same design. It will either go in the at box or be put aside for him as a spare for next winter.
And here is the very beginning of Fern:

I’m really enjoying this yarn. Not the softest stuff in the world but it has a nice solid texture to it and I think it will hold up well without a lot of pilling or anything. And as an added bonus, DH thinks its too scratchy for his liking so he’s unlikely to try to steal my sweater! Something to be said for having a higher itch tollerance level! I’m about 2 rows away from changing needles and beginning the real pattern but as I refuse to work on this when I’m cross-eyed tired or have a toddler around its going to be rather slow going.
I didn’t wind up doing my Granny squares yesterday and it isn’t looking good with today’s schedule either so they might get pushed to this weekend. So long as I get them done it isn’t a big deal . . . just want to be sure I keep making some progress. . . . And I need to pull this months UFOs out of the storage. I’ll be working on the Lush Water Bottle Cozy, which really has very little left to do and on the Baby Blanket I started for Mimmo out of handpainted yarn. I don’t anticipate finishing the blanket this month, its on my exceptions to finishing list, but I’d like to finish the ball of yarn that I’m currently on . . .
I’ve also got 2 baby gifts to start (one that needs to be finished this month and one that doesn’t) and 2 sweaters to start from yarn I’m considering adding to the site that I want to do a test run of to see how I like them before I make a decision.
Okay, we’ve got a big day planned so I’d better run. DH is returning the car he got, too many things not right with it and we have to stop by the Drs for some over due shots (he was sick 2 weeks ago when he had his exam) and we are going to try to make it to the library for story time so he gets some toddler time today . . .