KNITTING WITHOUT DOG HAIR IS NOT AN OPTION

OK, I confess. But I really tried... Remember the KAL for the double-knitted scarf? Here's what I accomplished after about three hours:

Sorry my dear fellow Friday night knitters, but I just don't have the patience for this. So, here's the final result on Sunday evening:

But... I really like the Argyle pattern and the color combination. I can see socks with this color/yarn combination in the future. (Note to self - don't forget about this pattern for socks!)

So, I'm getting ready to knit on my MISSION: POSSIBLE 2008 list, which I posted on Ravelry yesterday (a blog post will follow shortly). It's a bit overwhelming when you write it all down, but it's all good. I needed to do this, and hopefully I'll be able to get everything accomplished, too.

There was quite a bit of knitting and finishing this weekend at Chez Claudine (that's my name Frenchified). The Wisp is finished:

Project Stats:
Pattern: Wisp
Needle: US 8 / 5.0 mm (Knitpicks Harmony)
Yarn: Unknown - from my boss's wife (she gave me all her yarn and needles last year)
Yarn content: I think it is mohair
How much? no idea, two balls of yarn without a label
Colorway: Dark Blue

Also in the finished pile (and actually in the mail to my dear sister-in-law in Vermont) are a pair of felted mittens. She asked me to make her a pair because it is sooooooooo cold in Vermont. She also asked if I could make them to match the felted hat I gave her for Christmas in 2006. Boy, that was a task. Luckily I had a picture of the hat:

It took quite a while to remember what yarns I used to make that hat, but with Hubby's help I figured it out: a strand of Knitpicks Wool of the Andes and a strand of Knitpicks Suri Dream. BUT the baby blue color is not available anymore. Shoot... Thankfully I found a pretty close match among the Cascade 220 blues. And here are the mittens (before and after felting):

I think we matched the yarn quite successfully. (What would I do without Hubby dearest?) And I added a little ribbed cuff, so the mittens will stay on her hands and keep snow and drafts out:

My SIL typically reads my blog only on the weekend, so hopefully she won't see this until after she gets her package. If not - hey there - these are on the way with warm wishes!!! ;-)

I also managed to finish the front and back of the Noro sweater, attach them, and add the collar with a cute little crocheted (yes, I do that once in a blue moon...) shell edging:

And for superfast knitting and instant gratification - I finished a baby kimono for friends of ours in the UK. Here is the birth announcement, which I found in my emails when I came back to work last week:

Helen, Ian and James are delighted to announce the safe arrival of a baby girl yesterday morning. She weighed in at 6lb 8oz and is called Alice. She made an extremely rapid arrival and was safely delivered by Ian before even the ambulance could make the 3 minute journey from the hospital to our house. Mum, James and baby well, Dad in shock!!

Poor Ian - we hope he's recovered from his role as midwife by now.

I love knitting for babies and I haven't knitted one of these cute kimonos before. Perfect occasion to knit one up. I fell in love with the soft cotton at Knitch on Sunday and bought two balls:

Project Stats:
Pattern: One-Piece Baby Kimono by Christina Shiffman (from Mason-Dixon Knitting)
Needle: US 6 / 4.0 mm
Yarn: Araucania Nature Cotton
How much? 2 skeins = 210.0 yards (192.0m)
Colorway: Varigated Pink/Orange

Another fast knit... Good to know for last minute baby gifts. The original pattern calls for one ball of good ol' Peaches & Creme cotton. Instead of a Fabric tie, I crocheted one. Geez, again?

Aren't those colors wonderful? Love the combination of orange and pink.

Lastly, more proof that some people have too much time on their hands:

Man, I wish my mom would have let me play with food... Oh, well, I'm at the end of lunch break. I'll post more about my Mission: Possible projects later. See ya!