Things to Make and Do

Here are some things I've been working on:

This is the "medallion mitt" from Knitting with Balls by Michael del Vecchio.  I like how this one (and its mate) came out, but do you think it makes my hand look fat?

This is a necktie, using the same medallion cable pattern and two shades of rug wool. I'm not sure how I feel about it -- I don't think the cable pattern works as well in a tie as it does in the mitten above -- it seems too bulky and unrefined.  I'm hoping that washing the wool (my mother suggests fabric softener) will make it seem less rough and maybe meld the colors a little bit as well. 

I'm going to do these monochromatic granny squares in a handful of colors (red, blue, two shades of grey) and then assemble them into an afghan.  I'm using Lion Brand Wool-Ease, very cheap and easy to work with, although it's been hard tracking down colors I want. 

More crochet: this is a vulgar, vulgar afghan I'm making, using scrap yarn (mostly acrylic -- I know) and a 1970s-inspired wave pattern.  It's a really good project for in front of the TV, because it requires no thought and almost no attention.