As many of my friends (and blog readers) know, I’m a big football fan. But, I really only enjoy watching my favorite college team, The University of Southern California Trojans, play. We had a lovely New Year’s Day in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl this year, thank you.

But my sister’s family is a pro-ball family. For the last two years she has requested Patriots hats for her gang (she also has three boys, but she wisely gave them each their own initials). These hats are knit in Encore worsted, my yarn of choice for non-hand-washing-families. I made up the patterns as I went along, but did my best to make sure the stripes were each different so the kids couldn’t get them mixed up. I made hats for my DS and BIL as well.

My sister tells me that the Pats did quite well this past weekend. And that her kids all wore their hats as they watched the game on tv.

My Knitting Goddess, Beth, wrote a wonderful, extremely simple sweater pattern. To be knit in heavy worsted weight Maine Wool , I guessed it would be a quick and easy sweater to make five times before Christmas. That was way back last summer. I got this one done in July:

My dear, rumpled T2 on Christmas morning. He had requested a leather lace rather than the knitted one the pattern calls for. It’s in a dark green–I honestly don’t remember the exact color.

Then I moved on to T3’s sweater. I decided that it would be cool to knit the stockinette parts on the knitting machine. Being the smallest of the sweaters, it went quickly and even the machine didn’t give me too much trouble.

T3 decided he wanted a knitted lace so I ran to the machine on Christmas and attempted to make one. I failed. So, this is what it looks like without the lace. I promise to make one soon. The color is Cornflower.

When I measured T1 for his sweater it dawned on me that he really needed an adult size sweater. He’s really growing up . . . and is growing his hair out. He didn’t want any lace at all, so I changed the pattern for him.

T1’s is in Navy Heather and the stockinette parts went really quickly on the knitting machine! And, yes, it looks like a dark charcoal color, but I was so happy that he didn’t insist on black that I was very happy with what he chose.

I’m still working on T, the DH’s, sweater. The back is almost done. His is in Black Watch (a lovely dark green and black). I put it aside to complete the hats in my post for tomorrow (hey, I’ve gotta keep those nephews happy!).