My xmas knitting has gone more smoothly than I anticipated. Don’t hate me if you’re scrambling and stressing. I’m only knitting small things for immediate family members because a).  I’m kinda selfish about knitting and b).  I don’t want it to feel like a chore.  I have just a hat left to do for my dad. The most boring of the projects. I won’t post any of those pics until I can show the fam modeling the items.

Two nights ago I got frantically feverish for sock knitting. I have three pairs of hand knit socks, the first pair accidentally made for someone with one clown foot and one normal foot, and I treasure wearing these mini feet heaters. I have enough sock yarn for at least 10 or so pairs, so I thought I should just get to it. Enter the Regia Nation yarn I’ve had sitting around for months that I got on sale last spring. I made a pair in green and white for Drew and mine are red and white:

Canada love

I suppose the colors represent Canada, or maybe Switzerland. I’ll go with Canada because I want to visit several places there. The boring background is a shelf that I cleared off in my office. Let’s call it “industrial” and make it sound artsy.

I’m really enjoying the mindless stockinette that is self-striping sock knitting. I started doing socks toe-up as a way to avoid the kitchener stitch and use up every last scrap of yarn. I no longer have a problem with the kitchener stitch, but making socks this way has really grown on me. I do a heel flap too, and magic loop. I’m rather stubborn about it. I’m willing to do some top down patterns, but I still want to do them two-at-a-time. Hmph.

I’ve noticed, as I’m sure that every knitter has, that when someone admires your knitting and you tell them you made it, many of them inevitably want you to knit them something. I’m pretty quick about saying no upfront with most people, especially people I barely know. I always tell them I’ll be happy to teach them how to knit. I rarely stray from this, and I was wondering if others feel the same way. I like the items I make to be admired, but I hate when people ask me to make them things, especially replications. I would do this for close friends and family, maybe. I just don’t like having little say in the creative process and make knitting feel like a chore. Bleh. That’s enough rant for today.

On the fun side: I went to a xmas party chez Whitney. It was a good time. There was a gift exchange that you could either bring a gag or serious gift for 10 dollars and under. I made a pair of turquoise mittens and threw in some sour Jelly Bellys. Here was my first gift and my reaction:

Animal trap at the gift exchange

It’s not a very flattering picture of me, but it’s funny nevertheless. It was a rusted small animal trap. Thankfully someone stole it from me and I ended up with condoms, Tough Guy cigarettes, and some Aristocrat vodka. I considered that an improvement, but maybe the trap could have been interesting as wall art…

I hope everyone is having a lovely holiday season filled with family time, warmth, excellent food, and creative gift-giving.