Boxing Day

Well, it's all over for another year, isn't it? I'm definitely starting Christmas knitting no later than summer next year. (I said that last year -- see where it got me?) I have a list going of some ideas for some people. That will most likely change considering it's a whole year away! We got this book in the other day. I'd like to do the Hat, Mittens and Scarf for my SIL. Pattern calls for Canadiana, but I will switch it to a nice wool in an aran color. Was thinking maybe Cascade or something of the like.

I did not finish my parents' felted slippers. I told them Christmas Eve that I was making them. My mother's were finished yesterday. Here's a picture of them pre-defuzzing. I trimmed off quite a bit of fuzz with the scissors. These were made with Briggs & Little Regal in lilac and grape. I find the B&L takes a lot of runs through the wash to felt, thus the major fuzzing. I have enough left to make myself a pair, I think, but reversing the colors. We don't have any more grape in the same dye lot at the store, and the other dye lot is noticeably different.


I got some holiday cheer for bookkeeping for the business. I had a few Monkey's Lunches Saturday night before the firemen's Christmas party. Yum! (Equal parts banana liqeuer and Kamora/Kahlua with milk.) I also got a flat of Schooner which I in turn gave to hubby. (Who is contemplating giving up alcohol in the New Year since the fiasco the other night and the illness that followed the next day. Yeah, right! That's a temporary thought on his part that I've heard before.)

Got a wool winder -- finally! -- and got to try it on its maiden voyage last night on the hank of cashmere sock yarn I won from the first Sock-A-Month KAL. This afternoon I wound five skeins of Briggs & Little Regal for Dad's slippers (with a couple of helpers). I'd like to get a swift eventually. I do have a birthday March 1, plus there's Valentine's Day and our anniversary on February 26. Could be a combination gift!


Now here's some eye candy. This is what I got from The Sweet Sheep during their 20% off sale just before Christmas. It was shipped really fast! I half didn't expect it til after Christmas. I have this in my closet still. I figured if it was under the tree the cats may get at it. I have Baudelaires planned for the red, Lobster Pot Socks for the blue (I foresee a couple of pairs of these!), and I haven't decided anything for the three variagateds. (Feel free to recommend stuff!)


I also churned out one more pair of felted mittens for my MIL. I'm not crazy about the stripes on the body of the mitten, but I didn't have enough brown yarn left (Patons Classic Wool). After nine or ten pairs of these in a row the mind sort of hazes over on ideas for striping or different effects. I didn't have time to get too fancy. I started another pair with some odds and ends that I was going to give to one of my SILs, but I didn't like how they were looking. I'm going to keep them for me. They'll be good to wear playing outside with the boys or shovelling snow. (By the way -- the last several days have been like +10Celsius and raining. No White Christmas.)

I think tonight I will start Center Square for myself. Though the weather has been nice, according to the forecast Thursday and Friday are going to be cold, highs only of -5Celsius. (The weather always changes after Christmas!) That pattern didn't really catch me eye at first. Maybe it's the colors shown, dunno. But I saw it here and liked it. I have Patons Classic Wool, of course, in winter white and chestnut brown. (I probably will have some brown left over that could have been used for stripeless MIL mittens, but alas the hat comes last. Knowing my luck if I'd have robbed a bit for the mittens I'd run out on the hat. I think I bought most of the good colors we have. And there was a lady in the store one Saturday I didn't work who bought over $100 of it. Definitely needs restocking -- after the dreaded inventory taking.) I'm leaning towards a new winter jacket that is brown. I also am waiting for the yarn to arrive that I ordered off eBay for Karen's Sugar Free Socks and two balls of Rowan Calmer I ordered for two hats for me. I also have the stitch marker order coming from acloset.com. (She e-mailed me to say it was shipped and to say there's a surprise in it for me!)

I also have a little bit of a contest to hold. Well, it's only a contest if I get more than one person who wants it. I ordered the boys some Lite Brite refills for Christmas from Toys R Us. One was a Star Wars refill kit (I know, more for me, the SW freak that I am), and the other one was supposed to be this plain one. When it came it was My Little Pony, which isn't even listed on their site. I don't have any little girls with Lite Brites to give it to. Anyhoo, all you have to do is leave me a comment or e-mail me saying you either have a little girl with a Lite Brite Classic, Cube, or Travel OR you know a little girl with said item(s) who would like to have it. If I get more than one person expressing interest then I will do the random draw thing to see who gets it. {darganknits at hotmail dot com}

Pop on over to The YoYo Knits to congratulate Alyson on her engagement!

Got more pictures to show next time.

Happy knitting!