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!