Happy New Year!

I won't be posting until after the new year begins, so

Happy New Year!

PS. Woolgirl is starting a FABULOUS new sock club - you can start signing up for this after in January. Don't miss out!!

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care . . ."

Some Stockings for hanging. (My mother-in-law knit these)

Some socks for giving. (For my sister-in-law)
Lumpy and Bell waiting for their turn in the Christmas pageant.
Mary and JosephBy the way, do you see that real baby in the manger? It was promptly replaced by Bell's baby doll that she brought.
Peace on earth, good will to all!

'Tis the season

You are looking at a merry little gift that my good friend Tiffy gave me just because she's nice. Her talented sister "T" made this (and other clever things). She needs to get off her tushy and open an Etsy shop. achem. hint hint. By the way, that little tag was handmade - the stamp included. She drew and carved out that little stamped bird herself! Isn't it sweet?


I still have no knit items to show off because I'm just too darn busy. But I'm close to having a dull, but practical pair of socks completed. When I do, you'll be the first to know.

In the meantime, I was pleasantly surprised to receive another sock club kit from Woolgirl. It was entirely unexpected. I forgot I had signed up for this! Whoop whoop! I highly recommend her clubs. They are fabulously fun.
I didn't get a rich enough picture of the yarn. It's the perfect 'sprucey' color.
Here is a tiny stitch marker (she includes one in every kit).
And a new sock pattern that I can't wait to knit. I won't do the ruffled edge. I'm beginning to be a firm believer in the simple ribbed cuff (k2,p2) which can't be beat for fit and comfort. (All my non-knitting friends are starting to yawn).
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I will try to get one more post in before Christmas.

When the weather outside is frightful . . .

Thisplus this

Plus thisEquals a fine December morning.

Well, no knitting to speak of. There are things in a pile next to my bed, but nothing finished. So instead, I bring you some of our December antics.

Making cookies at Grandma's house:

My mom and I made Icelandic kleinur (clay-noor) for the first time. They are like doughnuts, only not as sweet and with cardamon. We had a fit of giggles when I suddenly noticed how phallic our kleinur were turning out to be.

See if you're imagination is as sick as my own:

What was Leo doing? Getting his ass kicked by my sister's pug. Ha ha.
Ok, I lied about not having any knitting news.

I bought this kit at Coldwater Collaborative. (Designed by Arnhild) These are traditional Norwegian mittens that suggest I use US size 0 needles. Do these even exist!? Yes. They do. And I'm not really looking forward to knitting with toothpicks, but I paid for the kit and I'm going to make these.
Peace Out!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr

Hands c-c-c-cold. Can't knit. Stiff f-fingers.

-4 degree F

Must knit mittens.

Lots of Doo Doo

OK OK! I'm back. I don't think anyone really missed me because it seems that all my bloggy friends are quite busy this time of year. We have been doing constant clean-up after Leo - who is doing his best impression of an out-of-control soft-serve ice-cream machine - from his back end. And I'll welcome advice (yes, we've crated him - yes, we take him out after every meal, playtime and every 20-40 minutes).

My consolation is that the vet said, "This behavior still falls under 'normal' for an 11 week old puppy." In fact, the vet told me to set our alarm every 2 hours during the night. This was met with my stony silence and then,

"Set the ala . . . . every 2 . . . . are you . . . . . am I . . . "

"You know, " said the vet sweetly, "It's just like having another baby."

"But we . . . . I . . . "

"OK then, we'll see you next week at Leo's appointment. And good luck."

(Guinifer, you were brilliant to wait).

And do you know what I found him chewing on?!? An OWL PELLET!!!!! Do you even know what an owl pellet is!?!?!? Well I do NOW - it's owl vomit and it looks like a ball of fur with tiny bones from mice and voles. Where is he finding these things?! I'd return the damn dog, but when I sit down on the floor, he flies across the room, abandoning his current chew toy and promptly curls up in my lap. See?It's so utterly charming and disarming that I can hardly stand it! Damn, he's cute. I won't give him back just yet.

Now moving on. Imagine lovingly knitting a pair of socks for your 7 year old (foreshadow: this is the kid who pulled out my needles from my choco-socks to use as light sabers). You finish them around 11 pm, sneak into his room and tenderly put the socks on his chubby little feet. You hear his joy upon waking and finding new socks on his feet. An hour later, there is a gaping hole where he fidgeted with a snag, snapped it and then unraveled it "to see what would happen". (insert red angry face)Do you think I can fix it? The ladies at Coldwater Collaborative challenged me to fix it myself (instead of paying them to do it). They said that if I did, I would most certainly promote my knitting prowess to a whole new level. They suggested KITCHNER stitch, but what do I do with the broken ends!? Advice? I'll keep you posted.

My niece's socks turned out to be too tight, so I'm giving them to my Belle who has skinny little legs and feet. They turned out nice - except I did not bother lining up the self-striping yarn. Too lazy.
CO 48
Needles: US 2
Yarn: ONline Supersocke 100 Holiday Color 90 (Self-striping)
Pattern: basic sock
size: child 13

And so I'm off. It will be another week, I think, before I post again. Keep on a-knittin' (or sewing or whatever it is that you do).

PS.
1. Another crafty idea to add to your Christmas list: Recycled Christmas Stocking
It's a great way to use up an old wool sweater. Check it out from Fluffy Flowers. (Beware: Loads of yummy, handmade items for sale!!)

2. "Pay it Forward" - this is a really fun thing to do. It is a random act of kindness in which you send someone a secret package of something you made. And you may receive one, too. Check this out at "And Sew It Is". You don't have to be a knitter!

Happy late Turkey (or Tofurkey) Day!

So much for keeping the dog off the couch.

What a nice long weekend. Did some knitting, but more important, spent time with family and friends and did what family's do best - EAT EAT EAT!

Check out Heather's blog at "A Family Life". She has a great idea for some charitable knitting. Follow a simple pattern and use up some old stash to knit a bear for some kids in Jamaica. Visit her blog to see how to get involved.

And now for some socks. . .

(Middle Sock)
Pattern: basic sock - CO 60
Needles: US size 2
Yarn: Schachenmayr Nomotta Regia Avenue Color (mom bought it for me in Germany)
Color: Mexico 1118
Size: women's 8/9

Sock on the left:
Pattern: my own (CO 48)
Yarn: Marks & Kattens Clown
Needle: US 2
Size: Child 6/8 yrs

Blue sock:
Pattern: my own (CO 48)
Yarn: Online Supersocke 100
Color: Holiday - turquoise
Size: Child 6/8 yrs

And yes . . . I broke my yarn diet, but only to purchase yarns for Holiday gifts. So technically, that doesn't count.

Also, I thought this was very interesting. It's a friend's blog entry regarding Christmas Pudding. I never really knew what it was all about. Check it out!
So sorry for the boring post. I'll try harder next week.

Puppy Love

The dictionary meaning of "puppy love" says:

transitory love or affection felt by a child or adolescent

However, I'd like to challenge the Merriam-Webster's definition of puppy love to include the following:

2. the ability to love a puppy despite its inability to control bladder and bowel functions, tendency towards destroying shoes, toys, socks and furniture, and a strange obsession with pouncing on people's faces when they are trying to sleep, read or watch tv.


So all this clean-up and scrambling out of his way has left little time for knitting Christmas gifts and I'm starting to get anxious. I started this pair of socks for my sister-in-law who I'm sure never checks my blog. If she does, well, there you go A.A. Some nice woolly socks to keep your toes warm up there!


I am also trying to decide what hat to knit. I already know what color but the pattern is illusive. I'm considering this one:

Foliage by Emilee Mooney
free pattern from Knitty

(picture used without permission from Knitty)

But there are also a few from Charlene Schurch's book Hat's On! that I love as well. Perhaps after Thanksgiving, I'll post the patterns and take a vote!

And last, here is a better picture of the Woolgirl Sock Club yarn.

mmmmmmm. What to do with it . . . what to do . . . .

One day more . . .

I have not posted in some time and there are several reasons.

1. My socks have become painstakingly slow.

2. A friend and I started an environmental club for our kids and the first "Challenge" was to keep as many electronics off as humanly possible . . . this included PSP and my computer - gulp. So for the past week, my computer has not just been asleep - OH NO! It has been unplugged! If I get the urge to check e-mail or look your all your blogs, I have to go through the work of plugging it back in, warming the machine up and all this without my kids/husband finding out!! Gah! WITHDRAWAL!!

3. I'll tell you in a minute . . .

So quick, before anyone comes home. Here is what I've been up to:

Christmas socks - which I am absolutely head over heals for - yarn and pattern. They are not quite done, but soon . . . so soon.Specs:
Pattern: Child's First Sock in Shell Pattern by Nancy Bush
(THIS IS MISLEADING AS THEY ARE NOT CHILD SIZED)
Yarn: fingerling weight - Sweet Sheep Sweet Socks
Colorway: Vampire (I know . . . not very Christmasy)
Needles: Size 2 (Keep in mind that she must have a very loose gauge because she specifies US 1 and I used US 2 and the socks are not even close to being too big. )

Next stop - Gift Socks for a certain kid we like to refer to as Lumpy.
Simple and straight forward socks.Pattern: my own - just a basic sock
Yarn: Clown #1689
needles: US 2
CO 48 - this will fit a child - 6-8 - I have a tight gauge.

My Woolgirl Sock Club kit arrived. It's fabulous. Simply fabulous! Here's a pic:SALE!!!! You know those beautiful Noro scarves everyone is knitting?! Well Noro can be expensive but Woolgirl is having a sale 40% off and the Noro is going fast for $5.40 per skein!! HURRY! (My hands are tied behind my back (I'm typing with my nose) so I can't buy the stuff, but I want some of that bad. This is a great beginner scarf AND they make great Christmas gifts!
And #3 reason:
We picked up Leo early - we couldn't wait any longer. Here is our dear boy in all his glory!!
And he's off!!

Waiting to fill the empty spaces . . .

Four more days until we bring our little Leo home!

STASH ATTACK!!

Prepare your eyes for a feast of yarny yumminess! Yes, I am still on Yarn-Hiatus. This stuff was all technically paid for BEFORE I went into my Yarnaholic Out-Patient Therapy.

First on my list:

Yarntini "Pumpkin Spice" (paid for by my dad - THANKS!) Purchased at Woolgirl (LOVE THAT STORE)

Next stop: ShibuiKnits Sock yarn "Orange" (stop drooling) Tiffy, keep your eye on this stuff. Purchased at Coldwater Collaborative.

For December knitting I give you: Collinette Jitterbug "Raspberry" sigh. lovely.
Also purchased at Coldwater.
And lucky little me, this FABULOUS Christmas Story sock kit from Woolgirl
And a child's Christmas gift knit. Not sure yet who will get these socks. . .
Leo comes home in "9 sleeps"!!