There are still some cookies left, and the tree is still gamely shedding needles, but Christmas is winding down. My gifts have been distributed and I can now share them with you all, in lovely photo mosaic format:
In order:
1. Mom’s socks, knit in basic stockinette on US1s out of Lorna’s Laces Shepard Sock in Black Watch. The moment I saw the colorway I knew I would use it for her Christmas present. She put them on immediately, which was very pleasing.
2. E’s Cross-Country Chullo, done in Knitpicks Palette in Golden Heather and Clematis Heather. E is my Vermont sister and needs warm things to cover her ears when she walks her dog. She also put it on immediately, so quickly that our other sister had to point the skiiers out to her.
3. Last-minute Cowls, because I always get distracted working on my immediate family. These are the Simple Fitted Cowl done in Malabrigo left over from my Holly & Ivy wrap; one for my cousin and one for my grandfather’s aide – she put it on right away and left it on for the rest of the night even though she was sitting next to a roaring fire. That is appreciation, and I appreciate her appreciation.
4. Brother Socks – Thuja pattern done in Knitpicks new sport-weight Stroll in Cobblestone Heather. The yarn was a bit splitty but I’m very happy with how it worked up. These were not tried on, because my brother shows appreciation by nodding. He nodded quite a bit, so I’m happy.
5. Blink! – My sister B presented me with Knitpick’s ornament kit for my birthday this summer, and then requested the String of Lights pattern. I was very happy to oblige. Now I have to make one for myself!
6. Coffee Cozies knit from the Quick and Easy Coffee Cozy pattern in some leftover Wool of the Andes out of the stash. These went to my sister’s boyfriends, one of whom drinks coffee and one of whom drinks…cocoa. When he’s not drinking beer. Which could also fit in a cozy.
7. Dad’s Selbuhat. I took the main motif from the Selbuvotter #10 (which I knit this spring for Dad) to make him a matching hat. It hasn’t been blocked yet, since I had to wait for him to try it on to make sure it fit. It does – picture me doing a massive sigh of relief!
8. Grandfather Socks – these are for my grandfather, whose feet get cold at night. They’ve become a tradition. Paton’s Classic in Jade, held doubled. Amazing how much faster socks go when you use fat yarn!
Then there was a wedding this past Sunday, which called for more gifts. Since I do this for every wedding I wasn’t about to change course now:
These are the Oven Mitt and Trivet patterns from Bev Galaskas’s book Felted Knits, done in Wool of the Andes held double and helped by my sister’s dog, who kept stealing the WIP out of my suitcase when I was visiting earlier this month. I have learned that Eeyore the Dog is not to be trusted with yarn. (At one point he stole it right out of my lap.)
And then I actually finished something for me, too.
My own Christmas socks! Another iteration of the Thuja pattern, this time in Socks that Rock in the Hollydays colorway, although it wasn’t labeled as such, being a mill end that I picked up at Rhinebeck. I am very pleased at the subtleness of the colorway, and also that it is warm and cozy. They were finished about an hour before we left for church on Christmas Eve, which is cutting it it a little close, I admit. But I got to wear them Christmas Day and let my toes join in the festivities. Bailey’s for me, socks for my feet — everyone’s happy.
Now I am off to spend New Year’s with friends, and consider my knitting resolutions for 2010. They involve socks. This will shock nobody, I’m sure. Enjoy your last days of 2010!