More Baby Surprise Jackets!  They’re coming out my ears at this point…

Or at least, it seems like they are.  I had my first BSJ class this past Sunday and I have another one on September 21st.  I think (and hope!) the class went pretty well.  I can’t wait to see how all my students’ sweaters turn out.  That’s part of the fun with this pattern — they all turn out so differently based on the yarn and striping pattern that a person chooses.  It’s so much fun!

Now that my prep and samples for the BSJ class are done, I’ve been focusing on Christmas knitting.  I have a huge list of things I’m hoping to knit for Christmas gifts.  I’m not sure that I’ll finish them all, but I’m trying to start early so that I stand a fairly good chance of doing so.

One gift that I started is the Yarn Harlot’s One Row Handspun Scarf.  It’s a fantastic pattern, so quick and easy to memorize!  I’m knitting it with some handspun corriedale from Sakina Needles that I finished a couple months back.

I’m also making an Amanda Hat to match this scarf.  The hat is made from yellow Malabrigo worsted, and in parts I held it together with a single-ply of the handspun to tie the colors together.

I’m also knitting up Violet Green’s Wavy Lace Scarf using some Jojoland Melody sock yarn.  I added one more pattern repeat (an extra 18 sts) to the pattern to make it a bit wider.  It’s turning out really, really pretty.  The subtle variation in color is really what makes it, I think.

Again, this is a wonderfully simple pattern.  Originally I’d thought about doing something more complex and lacy but I knew if I hoped to have it done (along with all my other knitted gifts) in time for Christmas, I had to pick something a bit less difficult.  I’m not good at lace.  This still looks gorgeous but it’s easy to memorize the pattern.  It’s become my “lunchtime project” at work and lives in my bottom desk drawer.  I can’t wait to see it all finished and blocked.

Lastly, I wanted to mention, I have a new custom layout for this blog about 80% done.  I’ve got a lot of freelance webdesign stuff going on right now, so I’m not sure when I’ll finish it — but hopefully soon!  So look for that.