Christmas Break

Time flies when you don't have to go to work, doesn't it? I can't believe it's been a week since I posted last, but we've been super busy. I think we've had three Christmas get-togethers so far, and one more this weekend. Actually its a combination Christmas / 73rd birthday party for my Dad. My out of town brother and sisters and their families are all coming in, and the plan is to cook steaks on the grill if the weather cooperates.

Anyway, for Christmas I received, among other things, a new watch, leather jacket, my annual quilt calendar, and Barbara Walkers' A Treasury of Knitting Patterns - Yay! Yesterday I hit one of my LYS, which was having a big year end sale, and I scored 2 sweaters worth of Cascade 220. Tomorrow I'm going to another LYS, also having a year end sale! I'll post pictures of the haul tomorrow. (Oh, yes, and I ordered the Options needle set from KnitPicks, and yarn for scarf and cardigan from Elann.) Yes, I have Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket ;)

On a somewhat related note, I'm taking advantage of my week off to reorganize my sewing / craft room / office, which is no small feat. At the same time I'm also cataloging and organizing my yarn stash and book & magazine collection. That is the scary part, I didn't realize I had so much yarn stashed here and there.

On the knitting front, today I started a scarf for my dad, I'm thisclose to being ready for the first armhole steek on my Fair Isle Cardigan, and I'm itching to cast on for two new projects - I've already swatched and blocked for both, but I have to finish the scarf for my dad first!

Soaring Eagles Update

As of Monday, Rachel had received 676 hats for the Soaring Eagles Project! Woo Hoo!

Soaring Eagles Hats

I turned over my completed hats to Rachel tonight. She came to my stitch group, and hopefully had a great time. We really enjoyed meeting you, Rachel, and hope you can come back again! Anyway, I completed 19 hats, and 4 headbands, but the headbands didn't make it into the picture. One of the other stitchers set up the hats for the photos, and I was too busy talking to notice they weren't in there!

I helped my novice knitting friend Pam cast on for a Twisty Turns wrap from Wrap Style, and took my Fair Isle Cardigan to work on, but ended up casting on for a gauge swatch for Off-Center Argyles instead. It isn't finished yet, but when it is I'll post details about that upcoming project.

New Look!

Check out the awesome banner and button my Secret Pal made for me! She offered, and I sent her a few pictures, and voila! I think she did a fabulous job, and I am so thrilled! The picture she used, by the way, is of my Clapotis out of Noro Silk Garden. I think it was probably the first item I knitted out of really nice yarn.

I also updated my avatar, gave myself more of a seasonal look - I chose not to go with a holiday theme so I won't have to change it as soon as Christmas is over :)

17 days

17 days until Christmas? Actually 16 for us, we do Christmas on Christmas Eve. My tree isn't even decorated yet, no packages wrapped, no Christmas cards mailed out.... I made a batch of toffee Tuesday night, and its already gone. Being sick at Thanksgiving really threw me off schedule. I have been knitting a lot of hats for the Soaring Eagles Project. As of last night, I've finished 19 hats, and have moved onto headbands / earwarmers. I think Rachel will be visiting my stitch group next week so we can meet and she can collect all the hats & earwarmers. I already have three other projects working in my mind, in fact I decided against swatching for one of them, for fear I wouldn't stop knitting on it, LOL. What are these new projects you ask? Off-Center Argyle from Wrap Style, a cardiganized Rogue, in Barlett yarn, and a Raglan Cardigan with waist shaping, in Peace Fleece (my own pattern).

Back to Christmas, I'm finished shopping for Monkeyboy, almost for TBHE, but have nothing for Sweetpea. Seriously. She gets all the toys and books Monkeyboy has outgrown, we are well stocked with clothes, she already has three dolls that she doesn't really play with... what do you get a 16 month old who doesn't need anything? I thought about just putting the money we would have spent into her college fund, but I want to have something under the tree for her, and the Grandparents give college money every Christmas anyway. What to do... Any suggestions?

Happy December

Well, winter is in full swing in my part of the country. Ten inches of snow on the ground, ice underneath that, and my Christmas tree is up! No decorations yet, we'll probably tackle that tomorrow, after we go sledding :)

My Secret Pal sent me this pattern, with a cryptic note hinting about something to follow... What could she mean? Thank you Secret Pal! I love the pattern, it reminds me of the chevron look Jaywalkers have. In fact, I like a lot of the patterns on The Garter Belt. I have a few sweaters I'd like to design myself, as I can't find any existing pattern to match what I can picture in my mind. I've got one I'm kicking around now, except that I can't find my Knitting from the Top Down book. I know it's here somewhere....

Oh, the new Magknits is up!

Have a great weekend!