It's Friday! For a first week back things have been busier than I would have liked but being on the verge of a three day weekend makes it all seem a lot better. Maybe I'll even get my suitcase unpacked.

So how about that Christmas thing, eh? Let's have the complete rundown:

-Chunky scarf for Kricket. Check!
-Branching out scarves for Mum and Grandma Betty. Check!
-Heirloom bag for Rae. Check!
-Beau sweater for Natey. Check!
-around 30 Korknisse for various friends and family. Check!
-Aran Cardigan for Thunky. Um, not done. Here's where we left off. Like last year, T's sweater is going to be more a birthday/valentine's day sort of sweater.

So not too bad, right?

I took a couple of weeks off for Christmas to go to Michigan (my family) and California (Thunk's family), so there was a goodish bit of hanging with knitters over the holidays. Highlights included:

-My cousin Jessica!

she mostly crochets, but we still love her

Jess is the cousin that finally moved to Michigan AFTER I moved away, for which I'll never forgive her. Despite this cousinly slight, I love her dearly and have been dying to check out City Knitting in Grand Rapids where Jessi works (lucky). Cool place! You know it's a good store when you come away with a complete knitting trifecta in your bag (knitting book, yarn, needles).

I consider it a personal triumph that I managed to leave the 2006 Brondsema family Christmas party with the crocheted hat that Jessica contributed to the free-for-all gift swap. Now if I could just figure out where on earth I packed the darn thing I'd get it out and take a picture for you. I have this bad bad feeling that I left it at my parent's place.

-YaiAnn!

Why yes, I am hysterically happy to see yaiAnn. Why do you ask?

Thunk and I met up with yaiAnn and B. on New Year's Eve in San Francisco. We started off at Imagiknit (oh my...), and went on to eat really yummy burritos and ice cream, shop after Christmas sales, and then knocked around the city and generally had a lovely time. The day was gray and gloomy, but we got a few pics to prove that we both actually exist in real life.

hello! my bag looks an awful lot like your bag!

And lastly, but certainly not leastly...
-Thunk's Grandma Betty!

note the shifty, yarn-greedy look in my eye...

We got to stay with Thunky's Grandpa Carl and Grandma Betty for almost a week while we were out in California. Betty really did herself proud this year with the Christmas knits...she made a purse for each granddaughter-in-law and knitted enough cute little sweaters and things for Thunk's niece O. (the only great-grandchild in the family) to last her a few years. Almost made me want to provide great-grandchild number two. Almost.

On our last day Betty took us to her favorite yarn shop, Sonoma Yarn (see above). Despite not having any more room in my suitcase, I still wandered out of there with yarn and knitting mags. Oh well, how often to I get to this many cool yarn shops? Nevah.

So I'd say this vacation gets a rating of 10 for lovely knitters and stash-enhancement. Next stop, stash assessment! I bet you'll never guess what number one on my list of knitting resolutions for '07 is...

Posted by Elli at 1:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (21)

Back from Christmas now! Lots to blog about, but I think I'll start off with a Christmas gift that I didn't have time to blog about before I left...

mummy, in scarf, with stockings

The Specs:
-Pattern: Branching Out, by Susan Pierce Lawrence (from Knitty).
-Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool; one skein for each scarf.
-Color: Charcoal grey (color 19).
-Needles: Size 7 birch.
-Start to finish: December 10 – December 29.
-For: One for my mum and one for Thunk’s Grandma Betty.

Notes: This was one of those presents that works out just right. I started by buying two skeins of the Silky Wool to knit my Mum a nice Christmas scarf. When I got home I poked around a bit online and chose the Branching Out pattern before I realized I’d bought the yarn the pattern calls for. How often does that happen?

I had such a nice time knitting the first one (which only took one skein) that I just went ahead and knit another one for Grandma Betty.

The Yarn: This stuff is great. It has an interesting, slightly nubbly texture but it’s still nice and soft. Plus it’s a bit tweedy (yay!).

The Pattern: You know if I find a lace pattern easy you can knit it too. In fact, I had such a nice time with it that I’m thinking of going back and having another go with the Flowerbasket Shawl (the “easy” lace pattern that kicked my tookus and rendered me lace-meek). I’ll let you know how that goes.

Mods: The only thing I changed was to leave off row 10 of the last repeat so that the ends match up a little more nicely.

Final Verdict: Two gifts + one contented knitter = lotsa winners!

[Bonus shot: Mummy works it for the camera.]

Posted by Elli at 9:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (31)

This last week hasn't seen much knitting...I've only just turned the heel on the first Pomatomi. Mostly I've been staring into the UFO basket and dreaming about the new projects I want to start. I did make some stitch markers though!

For my friend Janis, whose birthday was in July (better late than never, eh?).

But back to new projects. Right now I've got patterns and yarn for the following:

Beau, from Rowan Vintage Knits (Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran in Muffin):

Why I should knit this: This is Christmas knitting...I could get it out of the way FIVE months early! Plus, it would be a pretty straightforward knit (good for lazy summer knitting).

Finn, from Rowan 36 (Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran in Tusk):

Why I should knit this: This one is also a good simple knit. It's a candidate for Thunk's X-mas sweater.

Saddle-Shoulder Aran Cardigan, from Wool Gathering 63 (Canadian Regal in medium brown):

Why I should knit this: the oh-so-clever construction is v. tempting and it would require some thought and skill to knit. Plus, I'd have to learn how to steek (eek!). This would obviously be the most challenging of the lot. Also a candidate for Thunk's X-mas sweater.

I like them all…they’d all knock a knit off the Christmas list...the question is, which one would you like to see me knit?

Posted by Elli at 1:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (23)