Deck the Halls with Yarn Balls

Deck the halls with boughs of yarn balls!!

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'Tis the season to be distracted from knitting...

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Don we now our brand new mittens.... *

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And defend the tree from kittens....

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Start a project you won't be finishing! **

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And find it hard to make the time for knitting....

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Follow me while I attempt to measure

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I'm trying to make a yultide treasure

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* I finished the mittens I was making for me!!

Pattern: Sydanmaa Mittens by Hanna Levaniemi
Yarn: Illimani Yarn Silky Baby Llama in 9208 "beige"
Needles: US 4
Notes: This is such a great pattern and the yarn is SO warm.  I am loving this yarn to death.  It is so soft to the touch!  I haven't made anything for me in such a long time and I love these!  I might make myself a matching headband or hat too... who knows?

** I also started working on an original pattern (!!) for arm warmers for my sister, after I couldn't really find what I wanted in patterns.

It has been a slog.  I've written in arm shaping, which I feel is very clever of me, but also means I've had a slower go at what is essentially a "tube" and should be simple.  Once #1 is knit, I get the sense that #2 will go faster.  I am under no illusions that this will be done for Christmas so I'm not counting on them under the tree.  But I do think I can get it done before the holiday is out.

Getting ready for Santa's visit this year has been fun... but also time consuming.  Things are starting to wind down as we approach the holiday and I'm hoping for some cozy nights watching movies and working on projects.  I'm not sure I'll get in a Dec 24 post or not... so if we don't get there- MERRY CHRISTMAS... and if we do get there... I guess you get TWICE the Christmas greetings!

Busy Season

It seems like all months could count as our "busy season" this year- and our approach into December (how is it December?!) has been no different.  Apologies for the brief interlude.  There was a very brief down time before we got busy again and thankfully I managed to crank out the last of the 12 hats for the year.

Pattern: Cabled Teddy Hat by Marinda Lariz
Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby in Solids & Marls in 30044 "Flannel"
Needles: US 6
Notes: The hospital will cut off pom poms and any accessories... including adorable ears... so I couldn't make them.  I've made this pattern so much- it always... ALWAYS, looks smashing.

I did run out of yarn for the very last one- and had to join in some extra grey yarn that is obviously not a match, but honestly this slight imperfection bothers me less than I thought it would... so yay!

I also managed to cast on another pair of the Sydanmaa mittens because I decided I really liked them and I wanted a pair.  It's so weird to make MYSELF something, but here we are and I'm enjoying it!  (Also yay- QUICK!)

AND, I picked up some lovely alpaca/silk blend and I'm planning to cast on a simple pair of arm warmers for my little sis.  I'm not going to commit it for Christmas.  (I would like them to be for that... but I'm not going to add that kind of pressure to my life right now.)

I love the look of freshly wound "yarn cakes" because they represent what can be, and the glorious knitting time I can have.  All of this is alpaca/silk- and it is just so lovely and soft to knit with.

So what's been taking up my time?  For one thing... the tree.  When we set up the tree this year it wouldn't light.  It was a pre-lit tree and despite my best efforts I couldn't figure out what had happened.  It became obvious the only answer was to pull off the pre-lit lights, and re-light the tree in a manner so that I could (hopefully) plug in and go next year.  I didn't really realize how many lights were going on the tree, until I really took stock of the situation- after I nearly got to the top AND THEY ALL WENT OUT.

I was despondant.  I thought I have maybe over-loaded the circuit?  This was DAY THREE of lighting it and I was so done.  I very nearly pulled off the lights and began again when my Father in Law intervened and calculated the wattage for me and said I should be totally fine.  THANK GOODNESS.  I managed to find the strand that shorted out- set back to work, split up the strands more... and finally- FINALLY got the tree done.  (1,360 lights- it is likely visable from space!)

Now to find a way to keep the cats from wrecking it....

Aside from the fact that it took me, in total, FIVE DAYS to decorate our Christmas tree this year, we have started "party season".

Look how dapper he looks!  This year we were invited to the Candy Cane Gala- which conviently had a "Star Wars" theme.  All 3 of us were pretty excited.  It's basically a family friendly BLACK TIE event with all kinds of activities.  I even pet a snake!  (I AM SHOCKED at myself!)

Then last night was another Christmas party for husband's company and next week two more parties.  I'm hoping in the quiet moments (when I am not obsessing about Christmas shopping) I will be able to fit in a few stitches here and there and continue having some progress to show for.

Hoping to be back a little more often with more stuff to show you!