There's a Storm Brewing

Dan recently requested some socks in our school colors.







This Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock from The Loopy Ewe in their Loopy Ewe Mini Stripes fit the bill perfectly. One down, one to go.

Hubby Hat

I've been wanting to knit another Polly Wolly Doodle for quite some time now. So I did.

This one is for Bran. It was supposed to be for my dad but he wrinkled his nose when he saw. Pain in the ass. I don't know what the man has against cables.

Merry Christmas

Photo Shoot

Sorry to make you all wait until today for pictures of the other sweater but I had to schedule the photo shoot around the model. You know how high maintenance they can be.

This is the size 4. It's a tad short in the arms on her. I'm glad the one I started her last year is a size 6. Or at least I hope it is. Guess I better go dig that out and finish it up huh?

The Pits

Ok, so way back on the 2nd I started writing a post about how I had the red sweater all the way to the pits but found a stupid mistake which required ripping all the way back to the ribbing. After that, I had a hard time getting back into the damn thing. Then all the holiday stuff started creaping in and things really stalled. Last Friday was a Christmas party for Bran's work and then Saturday I was volunteered to go shopping after my mother invited the girls to go with her. I would have loved it had I not had a ton of knitting sitting at home for me. Ugh.



Not sure what was up with the grumpy puss. She was actually quite happy.

I'm quite please with how this turned out. I've been really working on my finishing and I feel like it gets better each time I attempt it. The little blue sweater is also done but you'll have to wait until tomorrow for that.

Toasty Tootsies

I finished up the second sock of the nice warm pair I was knitting for Daddy. I wasn't at all sure he'd like the heavier weight of the worsted yarn so I took the first one over when I finished it. It was an instant hit. So I of course wanted to quickly finish the second. But the little snowflake sweaters presented themselves. So I worked on Daddy's second sock for a couple minutes here and there just to take the edge off.


I closed the toe last night and brought them over today. He's thrilled and so am I. I've been under an enormous amount of stress lately and it felt so good to have something finished. Closure. It does a body good.

SALE! SALE! SALE!

I know you've all been just dying to knit my patterns so in the spirit of the holiday, I've reduced them all to $1 for the entire month of December! They're over there in the right side bar if you're interested. :-)

Happy Holidays!

That's what my super awesome SP13 had to say when this arrived:



This HUGE box of goodies arrived yesterday from my pal. It contains:

4 gorgeous skeins of Nordic Lites Lace Weight wool in Lilac
Interlacements Tiny Toes II in Sock Gang
A Treasury of Magical Knitting (not pictured)
A Second Treasury of Knitting (not pictured)
New Pathways for Sock Knitters (not pictured)
Fall 2008 Interweave Knits (not pictured)
November 2008 Simply Knitting along with the 2009 Simply Knitting Calendar (not pictured)
Clover Antique Needle Holder Charms
Clover Antique Point Protectors
Clover Knitting Register
Clover Bamboo DPNS in US 1 (2.25mm)
ViewTainer
Gingerbread Men Earrings
Rhinestone Cross Necklace and Earrings
Crocheted Butterfly

Wow! Thanks so much for spoiling me like crazy pal!

Christmas MeMe

I snagged this from Got Gauge. Thanks for the fun Phyl!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Well, I love gift bags because they're quick and easy and I suck at wrapping but for the kids I always use wrapping paper.

2. Real tree or Artificial?

Unfortunately, artificial. I have pretty bad allergies so real trees are tough. I used to be able to tolerate them for a week or so but since we've added the cat and the lab to the family they are totally out of the question.

3. When do you put up the tree?

Always after Thanksgiving. Sometimes not until a week before Christmas.

4. When do you take the tree down?

The day after Christmas. We have a small house.

5. Do you like eggnog?

No. But I do like McDonald's new Egg Nog milkshake. Yum.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

My 4 Wheeler.

7. Hardest person to buy for?

Daddy.

8. Easiest person to buy for?

Dailaesse. She loves everything.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?

We do.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Always mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

A toilet paper holder from my MIL. Yeah.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

The Santa Claus movies with Tim Allen.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

A day or 2 before Christmas. Doesn't everyone?

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Nope. Too afraid I'd get caught.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Reeses Peanut Butter Trees!!!

16. Lights on the tree?

Small white twinkle lights and big primary colored solids.

17. Favorite Christmas song?

Merry Christmas from the Family

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

We used to travel to my MIL but then she gave me a toilet paper holder. hehe

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?

Nope. I figure I've made it this long without being able to so what's the point in doing it now.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

Usually our angel but sometimes the star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

Christmas Eve with my parents and Christmas morning at home.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

Crowded stores!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?

I love all blue lights, just not in my house or yard. LOL

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?

Some sort of beef or ham. This year we'll be dining on a prime rib roast.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?

Peace on Earth, good health and happiness for my family and friends, and yarn.

26. Who is most likely to respond to this?

If you post this to your blog leave me a comment with a link!

27. Who is least likely to respond to this?

I have no idea. Really.

28. Favorite thing about Christmas?

Seeing the kids light up. Their faces. Not cigarettes.

It's Limp and It Makes Me Loose

I told you I'd review the new Kollage square circulars today and that about sums it up in a nutshell.





I've never used a needle with a more flexible cable. Normally flexible is good when you're working Magic Loop but in this case, not so much. The cables are flopping around all loosey-goosey and twisting around to beat the band as they hang on the sides in anything but a loop form. To be fair, I ordered the 40" US 1 (2.25mm) and 40" US 2 (2.5mm) and I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume (damn I hate to do that) that the cable thickness will grow with the needle size thereby adding some stiffness to the cable as the needle size increases. These smaller size needles in combination with the limp cable just aren't cutting it for me when trying to knit socks ala ML. I will confess that the more I use them the quicker I'm knitting but I think the speed comes with anything you do over and over. It doesn't make me like them any better. The join is also not smooth at all. At least not on the 2 needles I have. Couple that with the limp cable and well, it's just not good. I'm pulling up loops through the center of the line of stitches to be knit.

It's not all bad though. The one thing I really love about these needles is their shape. As you know, I normally have a problem with being tight. These have drastically changed that. I was quite surprised by this since when I ordered there was a blurb about ordering up a size as most knitters found they had to do this to make gauge with the needles. Not me. I was shocked.

So, would I buy more of these needles? Definitely not for Magic Loop. I might try a couple of the 24" lengths for sweaters though. I really do love that it's hip to knit square.

Almost forgot...Leslie asked if I hadn't tried the Harmony wooden needles. I haven't. I can only assume (there I go again) that since you asked they must have a nice cable and a smooth join. Do tell sweetie. :-)