Last minute knits

I am still home, waiting patiently (or not) in the gloriously sunny but incredibly cold weather, (which is better than the other option of grey but warmer). Evening fires, time to bake bread and cakes, to knit and sew, and clean all those little nooks and crannies that otherwise get ignored...how could I not be happy. And yet somehow...I am becoming impatient!

Anyway, I have taken the opportunity to continue to knit small, warm, woolly pieces for this boy, as it has turned very cold very quickly. And its quite good fun! A little vest, knit in Rowan Purelife organic wool (Tannin and Ivy shades):

The yarn is quite lovely. Its nice enough when you are knitting it, although the Tannin puts quite a lot of dye on your fingers & needles, but after a wash it comes up beautifully and is quite soft and snuggly. Interestingly, not only is the yarn organic but it is dyed with sustainable plant dyes, so it is all very green and lovely. And the excess dye washed out of the yarn pretty quickly, without too much colour change (and didn't affect the lighter yarn at all). I also love the buttons - I think they are perfect!

The pattern is from Drops Design - romantically named 'a sleeveless jumper'. Its simple and easy (I knit it in the round to avoid seaming), I just added stripes and a little pattern that I took from a lovely little book about Estonian mittens that I was given a while ago.

I've also started a lovely little alpaca cardigan, but given the weight of the yarn and the size of the needles (both very small!) it is like knitting a pretty, tiny, waft of cloud, and is taking its sweet time. But it might be done by the time he gets here....if I keep knitting!