So it is finally looking like fall here and I can sit in my living room without sweat pouring down my face. Of course being in the city other than the temperature there is no way of knowing what season it is. The trees look pitiful and don't really get the kind of fall foilage we are used to in Ohio. We are hoping to take a canoe trip on the Chicago River this weekend, weather permitting, and will hopefully get a better view of some healthier trees. October being my favorite month I am hoping to do some leisure things this month. Like knitting for myself, something I don't really do that much. I have done a few projects recently though. I needed a new hat so I frogged a scarf I made several years ago from Noro Kuyeron that had a small hole in it. I found this free pattern on Ravelry and used some leftover wool yarn from Ireland for the contrasting color. The effect makes it look much fancier than it really is.
I am hoping to make some fingerless mitts in the Noro to match. These colors will match my coat and breathe some new life into the Noro yarn, which is too expensive to waste. A couple of months ago I finally made a sweater for myself (that actually fits!) from yarn I bought in Ireland. I took a break from the Aran I was working on to do something less intense. This is a pattern from
Stitch N Bitch the Knitters Handbook. The pattern is called "The Pinup Queen" why I am not sure but it has this very cute empire waist which is done through short row shaping and is form fitting due to the ribbing on the waist and sleeves. Overall it is a very flattering sweater.
The picture did not turn out so great but hopefully I can get a better one when it is finally cold enough to wear the sweater. The yarn is also darker than it looks in this picture.
Of course later this month is my birthday and Halloween, no wonder I love October. I am thinking about making a new sweater for myself and have been looking at this pattern called
Rogue. Since I am almost done with Christmas gifts I might look into that this month. I am also trying to win some handspun yarn at garnfiti's
Halloween contest. We are also thinking about taking a short trip to Wisconsin but are not sure of the details yet. Will keep you all posted.
So aside from just finishing a five day stint at the hospital, I am enjoying this wonderful month of October. John and I took a canoe trip two weekends ago and the weather was great for it. Even the Chicago river looks beautiful in the fall. The river still smells terrible in places but I don't really want to think about that. The weather is starting to get cold here--the heat actually came on today. I am glad I took a break from knitting Christmas gifts to knit new gloves for us. John requested fingerless gloves, or what we used to call "hobo gloves." I was amazed that after eight years of knitting I had never made a pair of gloves. Now I know why--they are a royal pain in the arse. Not that the pattern is difficult but doing tiny finger openings in the round was tedious. I also used aran weight yarn when the pattern I was using asked for sportweight. I had to adjust the pattern for the thicker yarn. The pattern said to cast on 52 stitches and I went down to 36. It all worked out, but John had to try on the gloves at every stage of the game. I think he was a bit annoyed, but hey, that is the price you pay for gloves that fit. I used the leftover yarn from his aran sweater. I am planning to line them with a cheap pair of lightweight knit gloves so that the wool doesn't irritate his skin. I also made myself a pair of "Maine Morning Mitts." I don't really get the title but I love these fingerless gloves. They fit snuggly but I can still wear a thin pair of gloves underneath. They also match my new hat as they 
are made from the same Noro Kuyeron 
yarn. Here are some pics of our new handwear: