Meet Stekkjarstaur (aka Gimpy)

True story.  Iceland has various "Yule Lads" that visit on the days leading up to Christmas.  Strange little men, whose mother is thought to live in a cave and feast on naughty little Icelandic children.  If she doesn't manage to snag a wee one, her grisly black cat stalks the country side in search of poorly dressed children.

Nowadays, the tradition has had some sweetener added to it.  You can find little "Jolasveinar" cards, figures and ornaments all over the place (if you know where to look).

OR, why not knit your own.  That was my big fat idea.  Knit 13 varied Yule Lads using "Yuletide Gnomes" by Alan Dart.  That was one year ago.  I finally finished Gimpy.  Stay tuned next November 2011 for  "Gully Imp" (aka Giljagaur).  So in 2023, I should have the complete set. 

Strange.  But true.

ps.  The boys are wrestling with the dog while I'm in my blog-trance.  Until I heard one yell, "He's got my sock!"  To which I screech, "It had better not be hand knit!" I gotta go!  I have some arse to kick.