UK swap catch up...warming your neck and hands :)

Back again as promised with my catch-up post......

What is your favourite neck warming pattern?

I really like the intricacy and all of the cables on this 'Irene scarf'
but maybe not for me, I see that as a bit more masculine. I really want to make this 'Chevron scarf' for me. Maybe it would be a good use of some of that sock yarn? Hmm.....

Do you have a favourite FO?

I loved this stitch pattern when I was making it and I was loath to give it away when I did but I had knitted it for Operation Christmas Child and I knew that it would be well received and worn and promised myself I would make another one for me and maybe Looby. It was of course 'My so called scarf' knitted in one of the many balls of Debbie Bliss Maya that I bought a few years ago.

Is there a style of neck warmer you particularly like?

I have only really worn scarf scarves but the more I see the little scarf-lets, the more I am intrigued and wonder if they would keep me as warm. There sure are some lovely patterns out there at the moment and they would use less yarn so a good way of using up odd balls...see how my mind is working at the mo; Use. Up. That. Stash!

And finally, moving onto hand warmers.......

So, what is your favourite winter warmer for your hands?

Well. I am going to totally honest here, the gloves of choice at the moment are some purpley alpaca gloves that I bought from a market a few years ago. They are so warm and also thin so I can still do stuff with my fingers when wearing them, always useful on the school run and when in the park with little people ;) Obviously this is because I haven't found or knitted the perfect handknitted hand warmers. Yet. Hehe

Do you have a favourite pattern or finished object?

Gloves scare me so I have put off making them but I may have to have a go in the new year. I knitted Fetching, as I'm sure quite a lot of the knitting world did but I was a bit disappointed. I made them in some lovely Wollmeise merino in an ace colour but in my impatience to wear them, I didn't make them long enough so they don't keep enough of my fingers warm and are relegated to warmer cold day wear. I know, you are all looking at the pattern pics and you can see how they're not supposed to come up *that* high but I could have made them longer. If I wasn't so damn impatient!!What is your favourite yarn for gloves/mittens/handwarmers?

Hmm something warm (obviously) but hardwearing. I worry about merino because surely it would pill? (although having said that, my Wollmeise hasn't). I've just finished a hat for J in alpaca and he says that it is too hot so that!! My hands are always cold. Colourwise, I like bright and I think you can get away with it for hand warmers without people thinking that you are rather a bit odd....well maybe you can't but thats my thinking and I'm sticking to it.

Are there any patterns out there you would love to own?

These Lola fliptop mittens. I love them and have been working up to buying the pattern and knitting them since...oooh well they have been on my Rav queue since March 2008 so for a while ;)

Right that's me all caught up. I need to run because I have just discovered that swimming lessons re-start today and I had thought they had another week off so I have to sort swimming stuff out and gym bits too because I have a rather scary urge to go to the gym while they swim.