Happy Boxing Day

We're having a peaceful day-after-Christmas morning, reading the paper and drinking coffee while Brian and Evan play with their new castle.

We had a bittersweet Christmas yesterday at Dave's mom's - the cousins enjoyed wrestling with each other and unwrapping presents, but the absence of Dave's dad Bern left an empty spot in the otherwise joyous festivities. Brian summed up everyone's feelings with childlike eloquence: "I want Grandpa Rago to be here."

Knitted gifts went over well - Lori (SIL) and Wynn (MIL) were tickled by their red fuzzyfeet. I took orders for black fuzzyfeet (Mary) and fuschia (Nancy). Since Michael is only 20 months old he was neutral about the striped hat, but I think his parents approved. Mom and Dad haven't received their blue fuzzyfeet yet.


Michael's stripy hat. My design, Filatura Di Crosa Primo.

Christmas eve we went over to Joe & Linda's. Angela thought her mohair scarf looked like a spiderweb, which I took as praise. Drea put on her striped nosewarmer and Joe seemed mildly amused by his wine cozy - though at first he thought the gift was the wine inside. I had to explain that the bottle was nothing special, just a prop.

There was only one knitted gift that didn't get done in time - a black sparky felted purse for Mary. Mary's birthday is in February so I can gift it then. I was working on the strap on Christmas, and several people asked me what I was working on. Since Mary was there I was mysterious.

I received a knitterly gift from Wynn - a set of Denise needles. Though I love my addis I have heard great things about these, and it will be nice to not have to worry about whether or not I have the needles at home when I pick up yarn for a project. Yeah yeah yeah - I should carry around a needle inventory list and my problem will be solved. That would be too easy.

Brian has started dabbling in the fiber arts - Dave and I gave him a potholder loom from Harrisville Designs. He is nearly done with his first potholder, and getting the hang of it. I have high hopes that we will soon be spending long winter afternoons together knitting and weaving during Evan's naptime.

Let it Snow!

Ann Arbor was pounded with snow last night. I took the boys for a quick sled ride around the neighborhood this morning, and then knit all afternoon.

I blocked the mohair scarf this morning. Some of my Tuesday night knitting friends advised me to block it severely, which was good advice. It turned out great - lacy and airy.


Airy scarf for Angela.

After that I knit up Joe's wine bottle cozy. It is silly, but in an elegant way.



Joe's wine bottle cozy. My design, JoAnn Licorice, Berocco Opulent FX, Paton's Cha Cha.

Now it is late and I am finally working on my sister-in-law's bag, out of black Gjstal Naturgarn I got in the mail from Elann earlier this week. It is a modified Booga J Bag. I am going to knit a strap onto the bag, and trim the top with some bling-bling stuff left over from the wine bottle cozy.

Elann is evil, addictive, seductive. I spend entirely too much time there.

The Gjstal came in hanks. Normally I wind my yarn at the store where I work, but since I bought it from the evil internet I borrowed my friend Anne's winder and swift. Winding yarn is a great way to entertain 4-year-olds. Brian had a play-date with the love of his life, Alex, and they were transfixed by the winder. Dave was, too.

Felting Frenzy

This is my first knitterly post. Photos to come.

I felted four pairs of fuzzyfeet today, for Christmas gifts for mom, dad, my mother-in-law, and my sister-in-law Lori. All together I have made this pattern seven or eight times. Yes, I am getting a bit bored, but this pattern is so easy and quick, (and economical!) and everyone loves these slippers. I think I can do this pattern in my sleep now.


Fuzzyfeet for Mom & Dad, Lamb's Pride worsted.

I am also felting, ever so slightly, and even as I type, the luscious alpaca headband I made for Dave. It seems a crime to felt this lovely stuff, but it turned out a tad big, and felting will make it more warm and windproof. The supreme mystery of felting: after one round in the wash the headband is actually larger than when I started.

Other projects, all to be done before Christmas: an airy lace scarf for Angela, from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts, my new favorite book. It is out of blue-gray Kid Silk Haze. Lovely to look at and pet, but a bear to knit with. The silk core thread doesn't stretch, and the mohair sticks to everything. Plus I have never knit with mohair before, or knit lace. Did I mention I am a beginner?

Note to self: when knitting with mohair, don't wear velvet pants. Mohair is meant to be knit in the nude.

Next I will knit a nosewarmer for Drea, a felted bag for my sister-in-law Mary, and if there's time, one of those silly wine-bottle sweaters for Joe and Linda. Ok, so the nosewarmer is a bit silly, too. But I think Drea will appreciate it.

Also a hat for Stella, but she isn't getting back until December 28, so I get a grace period for that one.

I wish I could knit something for everyone, but everyone is an infinite set, isn't it?

Time to go peek on that headband.

Gotta figure out this blogging thing.

Not sure why I haven't gotten into blogging yet. I am a techno-weenie, compulsive writer, and exhibitionist, so it seems the perfect medium for me, no?

I am thinking I want a true-confessions blog for my knitting adventures. Just need some time to figure out the whole blogging thing. Without small children crawling all over me.

Here is a photo, because I just figured out how to do it!


Brian's yellow scarf, my design (snort), Lion Brand Chunky USA.

Is it against the ethics of the blogosphere to edit posts several weeks later? If it is, then full disclosure: the photo above was added January 6, 2005. It is most significant as a test of my ability to post photos to my blog.

The significance of the actual knitted item is only that it is the first thing I knit, ever! I made this cheery yellow scarf for Brian (my 4 year old) last March. The yellow was his idea. The curling was a surprise, and a disappointment at first, until Brian declared it cool. So I suppose it is a design feature.

Over the next few weeks I'll add more photos, just as soon as I figure out the @^#*!& trick to adding photos to old posts with the bloggerbot. I kludged this by creating a new post, copying the HTML, pasting it here, and deleting the new post. That's just dumb.