This is just disappointing...

I expected a much higher score. Where were the knitting questions? I think my score should definitely be raised due to my vast knowledge about knitting and the Simpsons alone. And what about that big box of comics in my closet! That has to count for something! C'mon people! Who made this test anyway!

Gifts revealed...

So while the secret mystery gift I'm working on is still under wraps I can at least reveal the 2 gifts I did manage to finish and give for Christmas. Sister & her husband got some nice washcloths as promised...

And mom finally got the socks she wanted...

No more white socks after this people, I'm just done with the white socks they are so boring!

And lucky me, I got (be still my beating heart) this!!!

Not only do I have the best husband ever who always helps with the piles & piles of dishes after a huge holiday dinner but yes he did get me the much-coveted 3 tier lantern moon basket I've been wanting forever. I realized after I re-organized my stash into that I had not taken a "before" picture like I had wanted to. But then again, what good what a before picture have done really, it was pretty pathetic, nobody wants to see that. Nobody!

Best wishes

Whatever your beliefs, whichever path you follow, best wishes for a happy time of year full of friends, family, good food and fun times!

Preparing...

Last night I finished my Christmas baking! I don't do a huge baking event like some amazing people do this time of year (my mother in law's best friend makes 30 different kinds of cookies!) but I still feel accomplished...















The stuff in the middle is 7 layer magic bars which are sooo good. The other stuff is cashew brittle and mixed nut brittle I made in the microwave. Tasty stuff, just don't tell the dentist!

Look at my new socks!

So I have a certain special birthday deadline in January that I'm trying to make someone socks for. I ordered a very particular yarn from an online company I've ordered from before. The yarn is perfect, it has colors that simply embody this person to me. I ordered that yarn December 3. Today is December 19. The yarn is still not here. The company tells me if my package does not come today they will gladly replace it & send another. Which is more than I would expect from a lot of companies. But this does not help me with this deadline. So in a panic yesterday I began this.














It's a sock from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. The pattern is called Elongated Rib. I like it. I'm using Cascade Fixation from my stash which is an adjustment for me. The yarn is very stretchy and I find I kind of have to hold it with my whole hand as opposed to my fingers to keep it tight. Plus I'm not crazy about the color, you'll understand when you see the yarn I wanted to use... Anyway, if the package comes today I'm casting on with the yarn I ordered for the gift & these socks will be mine. With my luck that is what will happen. I started this other sock and now along the correct yarn will come. But just in case it does not, I guess I'm prepared and I'll finish these socks for the gift.

** Footnote- Of course as predicted when I got home the original yarn I had ordered was here safe and sound. I did not need a replacement sent after all. Sigh... The yarn is just what I expected, the colors amazing and I've casted on and am now an inch or so into the secret gift sock. Of which I will write nothing more at this time- I've already said too much! I promise, future pictures will follow!

Knitting in action!

No new knitting pics today, but how about a picture of the cutest baby in the world? (Not that I'm biased) She's wearing booties I feel like I made ages ago..



















This was a pattern from my knitting a day calendar called 'Stay on Baby Booties'. My sister says they do stay on very well.

Aww... She's so cute!

Procrastination...

Ok so I'm finally better. Yay! And I'm knitting again and it's fun. I'm working away on clapotis. It's the only project I have going right now which kind of makes me happy. I just feel like I progress so much faster that way. So it might not look like much here but it is going relatively fast.

And I do like how it's coming out so much. It's going to be huge and I love that. In addition to enjoying the knitting I think I'm really going to like the finished project and that's so cool when that happens!

In other news I feel like I got better just in time for the holiday insanity. I feel like I did nothing but shop this weekend, and if you know me at all you probably know I hate to shop. I do as much online as I possibly can just to avoid the parking lots! Next year, I'm knitting more gifts. (I am! I am! I am! hitting forehead) I really am, I want to start in January if I can. So many people I know don't need anything, or could buy themselves whatever they wanted, or just are not materialistic at all. So I think next year they just might appreciate some handmade gifts. Come to think of it, this might just be the kind of New Year's resolution I might be able to get somewhere with....

Fever inspired knitting

I couldn't sleep last night so for some reason I just got up, got the needles and yarn for a project I've been dying to make but has been intimidating me a little. This is the beginning of my (first?) Clapotis from Knitty.

Note the use of the previously described stitchmarkers! Ok, so it doesn't look like much now, but I can't believe how easy this pattern is. For some reason when I had read through it before starting it just looked so hard. Maybe it was the required 18 stitchmarkers? But in the end it just goes step by step, and it's making a lot of sense. I'm using Noro Silk Garden, as an unabashed imitation of Cari's Clapotis from Dogs Steal Yarn. If you've never read the post in her blog called Thirteen ways of looking at Clapotis, go read it now. It's just so great. So I know this is not very original but hey, imitation can be flattery right?

What the????

I feel like I fell asleep and woke up in winter. I can't remember the last time it snowed in December here. Unfortunately my sickness has not left me yet so a lot of things look funny lately. I won't go into any gory details but lets just say there's a lot of disinfecting and lysol going around this house lately in hopes of stopping the madness. That and I've been mandated to be at the doctor first thing tomorrow morning by various family members, so maybe we'll have some answers and some relief then!

In the meantime I haven't been knitting much. Every once in awhile I poke my head up from the blanket, knit a few rows, then nod off with the needles in my hand. Which really goes to show just how easy these socks were

Because they're worsted they went really really fast. They're comfy but not really that warm. I think for them to be warmer they'd have to be wool or something. I know I mentioned making more for holiday gifts but I didn't get to the yarn store to buy that warmer wool, so I think I may be done with the holiday gifts. Maybe next year.

Blechhhh....

Sorry to whine but somewhere along my travels I must have picked up a horrible case of the asiatic bird flu. My husband is sure it's just a very bad cold but I don't know, I have yet to see his medical degree. whatever! Anyway, being unable to pick my head up half the time has already caused me to miss my regular knitting group which totally bummed me out. I'm also fearful I'm slowly becoming addicted to nyquil. In the meantime I still feel the need to hold something soft and warm and knitterly now and then so I have managed to knit very few rows here and there on this.

It's a sucky photo but bear with me. It's just a simple little sock of everyday, run of the mill, found it in the stash might as well use it wool-ease. I'm considering whipping up a few pairs for Christmas gifts if they go fast enough. Which may happen. I think I can find the strength. Nyquil don't let me down! There is knitting to be done!