The Knitting Fest Ends! YA RIGHT!

Well, another Christmas has come and gone. I got some wonderful gifts as seen in the picture above! The socks, boots, arm warmers, and mittens were all very well received. My friend who received the Selbu mittens told me she would like to frame them and put them on the wall. However, she has been wearing them because she wants to show them to everyone. I love giving knitted gifts! It's like giving someone a hug that lasts.

When I finished the Christmas knit fest, I started making hats that I will be selling. I finished five in three days! Christmas day I remembered that I still had the Sockamania December Socks to make. I started them and finished the first one last night--pictures will be posted when I am finished. I LOVE the pattern, so much so that I repeated the design all the way down the leg making the sock 9 1/2 inches tall instead of the usual 8 inches. They are beautiful!

Every year as Christmas ends, I get the silliest notion to start next years presents. I think and think and think about it--for about 11 months! and never start anything until the following December. Somehow I am determined to force myself to start in January and make one, large, special gift for everyone. If I would just do it I could have some really spectacular gifts by December, but it's the "DO IT" part that I struggle with. So, once again, this year I am already thinking about what I should start making. We'll see if I actually get anything started before December 2008.

On a sad note, a childhood friend died sometime Christmas eve or early Christmas day. They think it was heart failure. His son had tried to wake him up for Christmas morning but he was already gone. What a terrible event. I have had a very rough few days as I have remembered my friend and thought of his family. My heart aches for anyone who has to endure such a tragedy on what should be such a happy and special day.

Anyway, I am off to go knit! That always comforts me and helps me feel better. I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas.

Let It Snow!

It finally got cold enough here in the valley to snow. It started last night and has snowed almost all day today. Unfortunately, it is melting pretty fast, but here is a picture of it this afternoon. I love snow. I really should live somewhere where it snows more often and stays for the winter.

Saturday we went up into the mountains and took the kids sledding. It was alot of fun! The kids wanted to go on Sunday again, but it was blizzarding in the mountains.

Here are pictures of the Christmas gifts that I finished over the weekend.

These are for the Son. He insists on wearing his socks inside and outside--without shoes. As a result, he wears out his socks too fast. I thought that maybe these would be soft like socks, but he could wear them outside too. (I will sew a leather sole onto the bottoms when he opens them). I love this pattern, it is so easy and the boots are warm and wonderful to wear.

TA-DA! I finally got over the SMS and made the other mitten! The thumb on these mittens are THE BIGGEST PAIN! I have to admit it though, the second mitten went REALLY fast. These will be a fun surprise for my friend for Christmas. I made mittens and a hat and some fingerless gloves for her kids and husband as well.

So, now I am off to finish HoneyBunny's socks and hopefully my December Sockamania socks.

Happy Knitting!

Christmas is Coming

I can't believe how fast Christmas is coming. My son was dancing around the house this morning singing, "Only 20 more daaaayyys! Only 20 more daaayyyss!". Wow! Now, I really am finished with the main projects that I wanted to accomplish, but there are so many others that I would LIKE to finish as well--but I don't know if I have time at this point.

After visiting Hege's blog I just had to go take a picture of my crocheted snowflakes. I am unnaturally fond of crocheted snowflakes--to the point that I think a Christmas tree is incomplete without them and therefore EVERYONE should have at least a few. Which is why I have made so many. I love crocheted snowflakes (and little gingerbread men!).

I finished a lap quilt for my father-in-law. I am not a quilter really, just a wool fanatic. The top part is made from recycled men's wool suit coats and the back is just some soft, silky fabric I picked up that matched--the color is "pewter" which is my favorite shade of grey. Since I took this picture I have added a nice embroidered blanket stitch, in "pewter" colored thread, all the way around the outside edge. It turned out really nice and is very warm even though the batting is really light and thin.

And finally, here is a picture of the hat I made for the Daughter (couldn't get her off the phone long enough to take a picture of her in it so the son volunteered). I found the pattern about 8 or 9 years ago on the internet. I don't know why I waited so long to make it! I made it-start to finish-in only 5 hours! I used Cascade 220 worsted weight yarn and size 6 needles. I love it!

Hope your holiday knitting is going well!