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First, the good photo to grab your attention:
Got some lovely Baby Alpaca DK from my boss for Christmas and, promptly upon opening Friday morning, started making some shooting mitts. To avoid SMS (Second Mitt Syndrome), I do (a) for both mitts, then (b). In this case, it was two thumbs (10 rows of k1p1 over 16 st), then two index fingers (15 rows of k1p1 over 16 st), then both three-fingers (some number of rows over 36 st), then joined the index finger to the three-fingers bits, which brought me to Friday night. Note that the index finger bit is made three rows longer than the rest of the fingers; it needs extra warmth, being out there all on its own.
Saturday, there was a thumb mis-attachment incident....
Which was fixed by the end of the day.
I sort of made up a cable as I went (it's a double twist over 4 stitches, with the not-part-of-it stitches going back and forth a bit, sort of in a honeycombish effect. It'd make a pretty sweater. But, by Sunday evening, they were done.
So, 43 projects done for the year, and I'm STILL under 50!! Wooohoooo!!
A Knitter's Night Before Christmas
~Author Unknown~
'Twas the night before Christmas and all around me
Was unfinished knitting not under the tree.
The stockings weren't hung by the chimney with care
'cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds
but I had not finished the caps for their heads.
Dad was asleep; he was no help at all,
And the sweater for him was six inches too small.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I put down my needles to see what was the matter.
Away to the window, I flew like a flash,
Tripped over my yarn and fell down with a crash.
The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow
Reminded me how much I still had to go.
Out on my lawn, I heard such a noise,
I thought it would wake both dad and the boys.
And though I was tired,my brain was a bit thick,
I knew in a moment,it must be Saint Nick.
But what I heard then left me perplexed-ed,
For not a name I heard was what I had expected
"move, Ashford; move, Lopi; move, Addie and Clover
Move, Reynolds; move, Starmore; move, Fraylic--move over"
"Paton, don't circle round; stand in line.
Come now, you sheep wool work just fine!
I know this is hard semi, it's just your first year,
I'd hate to go back to eight tiny reindeer."
I peered over the sill; what I saw was amazing,
Eight woolly sheep on my lawn all a'grazing.
And then,in a twinkle, I heard at the door
Santa's feet coming across the porch floor.
I rose from my knees and got back on my feet,
And as I turned round, Saint Nick, I did meet.
He was dressed all in wool from his head to his toe
And his clothes were handknit from above to below.
A bright Fairisle sweater he wore on his back,
and his toys were all stuffed in an Aran knit sack.
His cap was a wonder of bobbles and lace,
A beautiful frame for his rosy red face.
The scarf round his neck could have stretched for a mile,
And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.
The back of his mittens bore an intricate cable,
And suddenly on one I spied a small label.
SC was duplicate stitched on the cuff,
and I asked "Hey Nick, did you knit all this stuff?"
He proudly replied "Ho-ho-ho, yes I did,
I learned how to knit when I was a kid."
He was chubby and plump, a quite well-dressed old man,
And I laughed to myself for I'd thought up a plan.
I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,
And the next thing he knew he was tied to a chair.
He spoke not a word, but looked in his lap
Where I'd laid my needles and yarn for a cap.
He quickly began knitting, first one cap then two;
For the first time I thought I'd really get through.
He put heels on the stockings and toes in some socks
While I sat back drinking Scotch on the rocks!!
So quickly like magic, his needles they flew,
That he was all finished by quarter to two.
He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,
And over his shoulder he looked back at me.
And I heard him exclaim as he sailed past the moon
"Next year start your knitting sometime around June!"
Random vacation photos, and things I bought and/or didn't buy...
Waffle Iron:
Now living happily on my Kitchen Counter!
Ball of Yarn Bigger Than My Husband's Skull:
Something to make a sampler afghan with, I think.
Replacement Cross Stitch Chart (for one I've colored in):
L&L will give you a free pretty chart if you send in the old one, but I think I'm gonna keep it. I've had it a long time, and we've been through a lot together.
Electric Moose:
A neighbor, long since moved away, had an electic moose instead of the usual reindeer. I swore that if I ever saw one, I'd get it, so this is this year's big decoration. Photos of moose outside to follow, if I get it outside before the snow. Heck, even if I don't!
Gaudy Non-seasonal Store Display:
Thank you, Louis Vuitton!
Cross-Stitch/Canvas/Knitting shops:
Yes, I bought a few things. Um, kits. Complete kits. With fabric. It was much needed shopping therapy after the Dishwasher Delivery Incident of 2009.
Frighteningly Sparkly Sneakers:
No, I didn't buy any. But face it, you'd think of me if you saw these in the store.
Oddly Made Mass-Produced Scarves:
Love the colors & yarn, and would have bought it if it hadn't been stockinette with the edges SEWN back. WTF?
Books that might be revised in future printings:
For those who say Tiger wasn't promoting himself as a role model for kids, he/his reps had to OK this page's existence in "A Book of Lists About Me". This may not be a page in future editions.
Gymnasiums Full of Crafters:
My favorite craft festival (this is "the Back Big Room" - as opposed to either of the back small rooms, the four upstairs rooms, or the room out near the pool...). Ben & Xander's Fudge is always there, and several of my favorite jewelers, photographers, and quilters. And knitters, but they're never selling their knitting...!
And my 1,000th comment on Ravelry!!
