Handmade Holiday: Christmas III

I am finally posting the last of the homemades albeit almost a month later, but oh well!  The first gift that was off the needles was a sweater for MaKenna.  It is the Tiny Tea Leaves pattern knitted up in Cascade 220.  She chose the yarn herself on a trip to a local LYS with Daddy <3  This was the first sweater I had ever knitted, besides a few smallish ones for the dolls.  I am really proud of how it turned out despite a few mistakes.  I did a few alterations to the pattern- the neck is knitted using size 5 needles to tighten up the neckline a bit and I also knitted the sleeves and body full length.  I am hoping this will get her through the next year as a full size sweater and then after that, she will be able to wear it as the pattern calls for (3/4 sleeves and shorter bodied).  I am waiting on the buttons.  I ordered some white ones with etched flowers on them and will compare them to a plum button I have to see which I like better.  I don't know why, but I always have a hard time deciding on the finishing touches!  Thankfully, she loves the sweater even without buttons, but I know she will be even happier when they are on.

 For Blake and Jacob, I knitted them simple beanie style caps and a pair of matching mittens.  Again, these both were first time knitted projects for me!  I used to have a strong despise towards double pointed kneedles...I always felt awkward using them, but after knitting these up, I found I actually like knitting with them!  The boys wear their hats just about everyday and Blake even wears his around the house <3  Unfortunately, it hasn't been cold enough for a lot of mitten wear, but they do wear them on our morning walks.

 The last mama knit was a sweater for Parker.  This is a Henley Raglan Pullover by knitting pure and simple.  I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca in chocolate brown (love this yarn!).  I am also waiting on buttons for this, but have decided on a wooden button which I think will look very sweet.  I really wanted to take a picture of Parker wearing this, but he said he didn't want me to take his picture and so I didn't.  But maybe someday he will change his mind...he really does look very nice in it!

I had wanted to knit up a sweater for both Jacob and Blake as well, but seeing how I would have had to knit day and night to do that, I decided I would save my sanity and hold off for another occasion.  I have plans to make Blake the same sweater in a blue and will probably wait to make Jacob's in fall.  We will see!