Sorry I wasn't able to post sooner today, the day just got away from me.
So, I guess I've unconsciously saved the best for last. Elisabeth's 2009 Martinmas knit is the Children's Poncho (also by Knitting Pure and Simple). The yarn is Malabrigo worsted in Hollyhock.
This is the most beautiful thing I have ever knit. As I was knitting it, row after row, increase after increase, it seemed a bit tedious, and it was always bunched up in my knitting bag. But oh, my goodness. The moment I saw it on my little girl on Martinmas morning, I almost gasped. The color is so amazingly rich, in the way that beautiful kettle-dyed Malabrigo yarns are. The drape (besides the somewhat annoying flippiness of the garter edge) is gorgeous. The weight is luxurious.
I wish the color were better in these photos so you could get a real idea of the beauty of this garment. You'll just have to trust me -- and coming from someone as picky as I am, you know it's true.
More details: I added pom-poms to the ties because I loved Erin's so. This is the largest size (10-12), and I knit it about 4" longer than the pattern indicates. I wanted it to be long enough to cover Elisabeth's arms completely (which it would if the edge wouldn't flip up -- I'm going to try to block it better if she'll relinquish it long enough). I remembered hearing that the pattern ran small, and I'm so glad I went up to the largest size. Elisabeth is tall for her age, but I may have tried the 6-8 size if I hadn't known better, and that would have been too small.
Anyway, here's to beautiful knits in beautiful yarn, for beautiful daughters who love their handknit ponchos.
