The (not so) Wicked Witch of the West!

 I've had this Alan Dart pattern for years (thanks to a knitting friend). I knew as soon as I saw it that I wanted to make her for my mother in law. I know that might sound a bit weird to some of you. But if you know my MIL at all, you will know how much she loves Halloween.

I put off knitting her for a multitude of reasons, but finally I bit the bullet, and went for it. I knew she would be fiddly. The pattern is written so you knit every piece flat and then seam everything. I didn't want to do that. A few other knitters on Ravelry said they knit the majority or her in the round, so I went ahead and did that too.

The ruffles on the bloomers and boot cuffs I picked up stitches and knit. I had to stuff as I went on her body. On the fingers, I knit I-cord. The hair was so funny looking, I wish I'd taken a photo before I sewed her hat on, she is completely bald under it. I separated the plies of yarn to make it look as much like hair as possible.

 Putting her all together was so satisfying. Her fingers were the most tricky part, but so worth it! I then had to make a broom for her with bits and pieces I bought at JoAnns. I am totally thrilled with the finished product. I packed her up and sent her out west to her new home.

 My daughter, Little Miss M., was so reluctant to let me give her away. If she hadn't been for Grandma I think she would have had a fit. I love the picture she drew of her on our very dirty chalk board. I used almost all of the black yarn, but I have plenty left of the other colours. I used Berroco Comfort DK. It was pretty hard to find the right yarn for this project. Luckily they had this at Webbs. I hope to make us our own witch in the not too distant future.

Another yummy hot water bottle cover.

 This was sent to my Mum for Christmas. It's the same pattern I used for my sister's hot water bottle cover, but this time I put in the optional cable down the middle.

 Pink continues to be my mothers favorite colour, so I used Cascade Yarns 220 superwash paints wool. There are some great colours of this yarn. I added a few extra stitches on either side of the cable, because I thought it didn't look wide enough, and I put the cable on both the frond and back. I filled it with Reeses Mini Peanut Butter cups, and put it in the post. Boy are those chocolates heavy!

I love hot water bottles! I'm really happy with how this cover turned out. Luckily hot water bottles are much easier to come by over in England. My big sister and my niece sewed hot water bottle covers for my kids and I as Christmas presents, and sent them with much needed hot water bottles inside. We couldn't be more thrilled with them. It has been sooooooooo cold here lately, that we have been enjoying them night and day.

Hats, hats and more hats.

 Here are a bunch of hats I've knitted and given away recently. The four in this top picture were for a sister-in-law and her three kids. The girls got my modified version of Hermione's cable and eyelet hat. The pattern is available for free here. You can find my modifications on Ravelry.

The forth hat was for the boy in the family. The pattern is also a free one, it's available as a Ravelry download. It is called the Strib hat. I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn for all of them.

 This next hat was for a baby shower. I've made this one before, for one of my nephews. It's a great hat. It's called the Striped Elf Hat and is a free Ravelry download. They yarn is a mystery. I got it at a yarn swap at my knitting group.

 The hat is super stretchy. I tried it on my Little Miss I. and it looks so cute on her.

I've got a few more knits to share with you that were Christmas presents, and then it's all about baby shower gifts. I think there must be something in the water. I'd better not drink any!