Vest became a sweater

I started this as a vest, but when I got to the midpoint I realized I had enough yarn for a sweater, and so here it is. It's a soft but heavyweight yarn, will be very effective against the winter cold in Afghanistan. This is the second of three projects I am making for the current afghans for Afghans campaign. The third project, a blanket made from lovely gray recycled wool (a jcrew sweater) been begun.

Vest colors

Here is the yarn dyed for afghans for Afghans project #2. Can you see a vest in this? I think "yes".

More mittens

Plan on knitting three things for the current afghans for Afghans "campaign for youth" drive, http://www.afghansforafghans.org/. Here's the first - the snow day mittens from "Knit one, Embellish too". Yarn is navy Knit Picks bulky (merino, I think) with some recycled wool for the embroidery.

The second project is underway. Here's part of the unraveled Polo sweater (i.e. yarn spaghetti) which I will dye (green/blue/yellow) and knit into a vest.

Popsicle Mittens

Some finished mittens just in time for 90 degree weather. This pattern is also from the book Knit One Embellish two. I added a couple of increases and decreases as I went along to make it fit my hands. The yarn is self-striping (5 different dye colors) that I made up using the last of the recycled yarn from the Talbot's sweater. Usually when dyeing, you soak it beforehand. But I purposely dyed this yarn dry, which increased the variation in color (bottom picture).

Tree Bud Mitts

Some striped fingerless gloves, made 2-at-a-time on one circular needle. Pattern is from the book "Knit One, Embellish Too". The dark blue yarn is knit picks amethyst heather, the green is recycled from the talbot's sweater and dyed by me. Alone, the green yarn was pretty intense, but I like how it combines with the more sedate blue (pic 2). I get that jog with my stripes via circular knitting (pic 3). I might try another pair trying out a jogless join method. Anyways, a fun knit, they fit great.

First socks

I am on vacation, went to the local yarn store, and came across this interesting book "2-at-a-time socks" that shows you how to knit socks on one circular needle - a "magic loop" technique. I'd been avoiding trying to knit socks - it was a little intimidating. But I have to say, this book made it fairly easy, and I finished this pair in a couple (vacation) days. Yarn: recycled, hand-dyed, 100% wool.

Overdyed

I like the effect of overdyeing, in other words dyeing yarn more than once. It produces lots more interesting variations. I dyed this one 3 times, think it's good now. (p.s. It is a different skein than the one in the progressive dye post.)