I didn’t do a lot of knitting this fall, aside from a few hats for Nest Maine and my annual batch of wee hats for Innocent Drinks’ Big Knit. I only reached for my needles while watching TV, using up scraps from my multicolored stash.
I know the pitfalls of a huge Christmas knitting list, so I limited myself to two pairs of slippers. My mom’s birthday is at the end of January, so I started knitting her a big, cozy cowl this fall, knowing I could save it for her birthday if I didn’t finish it in time for Christmas.
The slippers, the cowl and the three projects I’ve started since Christmas all have one thing in common: my favorite color.
This is the cowl I made for Mom – the pattern is Julie’s Stockholm Scarf pattern, simple and squishy and so cozy. (Now I want to make one for myself.)
These wee slippers went to my girl Bethany, who has size 5 feet and gets cold easily. The pattern came from this book of slipper patterns. I made a similar pair for Abi, in red, to replace the now-worn-out felted pair I made her several years ago.
My sister requested a pair of boot toppers like the ones I made for Mom last Christmas. She wanted red, and I was happy to oblige:
I’ve also been doing a bit of selfish knitting: a cozy ribbed cowl in a deep red and a bright pink cabled hat. Because I need some color to combat the relentless white and gray of winter.
Are you making anything colorful during this gray month?
cakes, tea and dreams 
This is my favorite color! I call it Mikael Red. Love it!
A good way to spend a winter afternoon. And if meanwhile you have a cake baking in the oven… mmm a delight!
The slippers are really cute
Katie, this post made me so happy. I love the red cowl and boot toppers. Thanks for sharing on Ravelry too. I would like to knit these one day. I also loved the link to Nest Maine. I wonder if we have something like that in the Pacific NW, closer to home for me? I am going to look around here and see where I could donate some hats. Thanks for all the great knitting and book ideas.
Love the boot toppers and really love that everything is red! (also my favorite color, and such a good one on brunettes)
Those boot toppers are so cute! I just read your blue post and loved it. It’s so true. I adore the way you turned it from a sad blue to a meditative one by the end. It’s such a lovely, subtle difference. And this red is so pretty. I wore a bright pink scarf in my hair one day last week, and people visibly brightened to see color like that in a string of cold, cloudy days. My wardrobe is so Angelina Jolie really – it needs more pink!!
What gorgeous projects-thanks for sharing the patterns too! I’m still very much a beginner at knitting but I find it so relaxing. And red yarn is one color I don’t have in my stash…I need to rectify that quickly!
How cheerful and fun!