One of the things that I really do love about winter is the amount of time I seem to have for knitting. With it getting dark so early at night, it is easy to justify the extra hours of knitting.
I finished plying the beautiful BFL that I started spinning last week. What a treat this wool is! I worked hard to get a worcester weight yarn....now I am praying that I will have enough to do the regular version of Gretel. I have the correct amount of yardage, but the cabling does seem to eat up large chunks of yarn. I think I may do something size~wise in between the regular and fitted version, just to be safe.
This was the first time I have ever done a tubular cast on. Ysolda has a fabulous video tutorial, which made it very easy to follow along!
It has been a very active winter so far up here, making for some beautiful pictures. Knitting at night and appreciating the beauty of the NH woodlands and mountains has made this December and enjoyable one.
Here are some pictures for you to enjoy of our last snowstorm on my ride to Jackson to drop one of the girls off at a friend's house. (so far we have had 36 inches of snow this month!)
Wildcat River in Jackson
Carter Notch Rd in Jackson,NH
local farmland
my backyard this morning after yesterday's snow
I always love me some fresh snow! WE only got a dusting but at least we had enough prior to keep all in white.
Posted by: Diane | Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 07:50 PM
Such a pretty WIP! I wish the cities in New England could look so peaceful in snow as the farmlands do.
=:8
Posted by: somebunnyslove | Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 01:57 PM
The snow is beautiful! What a contrast to our winter. I loved seeing your pictures.
Posted by: Wool Winder | Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 09:10 AM
Beautiful! It is so much fun to knit and spin with it white and cold outside.
Posted by: Laurie | Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 08:16 AM
I hope all of that snow (and more) is there when Pete and I come up in February!
Posted by: Teresa C | Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 05:44 AM
Thanks for the beautiful snow pictures. That really is one of the things I miss the most. Having grown up in the midwest and spending time in the Rockies I miss the beauty of snow. It is a rare sight here!! The yarn is beautiful and I can't wait to see the finished hat! Happy knitting!!
Posted by: gina | Friday, December 28, 2007 at 08:11 PM
I love Gretel. It's funny how a blog with a certain pattern will spawn a rush on the design! I have the pattern, and I'm waiting on all of you to work it out! I know Sknitty made it with Fibre Company Terra, and it's gorgeous too! So many choice! You will be offering the yarn you're using--right? I love the snow pictures. I have my own collection, here, in Maine! So pretty.
Posted by: Debbie | Friday, December 28, 2007 at 06:36 PM
Your Gretel will be fabulous! And your photos are gorgeous - the snow is so beautiful, as long as you don't have to drive too far in it:) Be safe!
Posted by: stacey | Friday, December 28, 2007 at 06:25 PM
wow, such pretty snow pictures; and a beautiful hat too. it always surprises me how litle yarn a hat takes; you would think that for that amount of "bang", the buck should be bigger, but no . . .
Posted by: anne | Friday, December 28, 2007 at 05:48 PM
You mean "worsted" weight yarn right? Hehe. Great photos. We got rain instead.
Posted by: Manise | Friday, December 28, 2007 at 05:16 PM
The snow is lovely. Snow can be a good thing. I just wish some would come my way.
I love the colors of the yarn you are thinking of for Gretel. I am going to have to watch the video so I can try it out since I have the pattern too. It looks like a lovely hat.
Posted by: Mia | Friday, December 28, 2007 at 05:08 PM
This morning's commute in was gorgeous; I love it when the snow sticks to every little branch like that.
Posted by: Cheryl | Friday, December 28, 2007 at 01:50 PM
Wow your backyard and the rest of the surrounding area pictures look amazing! Pretty cold but amazingly beautiful!
Posted by: Marisol | Friday, December 28, 2007 at 12:16 PM
Your BFL is working up so great! love the color combos - and I hope you have enough for the hat.
Thanks for the photos of your lovely snow. They keep promising some real snow here, but so far it hasn't happened. It's just gorgeous back there!
Posted by: Teyani | Friday, December 28, 2007 at 11:42 AM
It's so beautiful up there! Thanks for sharing your photos.
Your Gretel is looking great. I'm getting ready to cast on now. I watched the video yesterday then never quite got back to casting on. :)
Posted by: Beth | Friday, December 28, 2007 at 11:29 AM
Pretty! I'm hoping to start Gretel soon as well.
Posted by: Kat with a K | Friday, December 28, 2007 at 11:22 AM
It's really beautiful there, thanks for sharing the photos. Isn't Gretel a fun pattern? It was my first tubular cast on and I thought it was pretty cool.
Posted by: Carole | Friday, December 28, 2007 at 11:08 AM
Your landscape is so beautiful, Kim.
Posted by: margene | Friday, December 28, 2007 at 11:06 AM
The snow is so beautiful! Especially in your backyard. I'd love some snow.
Posted by: Cara | Friday, December 28, 2007 at 10:53 AM