Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Success & Failure

Tomorrow I will mail my Christmas gifts to family and friends. None of these said packages will include knitted items. I hoped to finish a blanket for someone special on my list but I haven't finished the border and their birthday is in February, so with that I've alleviated all holiday knitting stress!


Instead of finishing holiday gifts, I have been playing with patterns thinking I could design something. I know, who do I think I am to think that I could design a knitted item? It's not really designing per se but more of an adaptation of an existing pattern. Gotta start somewhere, no? The latest is this pattern, originally created for a dishcloth of all things but I thought with an amazing liner color to really show off the lacey parts, it could be an interesting bag. Simply put, I am challenged mathematically. I don't want the gusset of the bag to to be knit or stockinette and trying to figure the pattern in the round while getting a tighter gauge so that the size of the bag comes out as expected has given me a headache. It's still pretty though and I may actually finish it up and add it to the dishcloth collection.


I also knit these little wrist warmers but alas, I hate finishing (as is publicly known) even something that would take less than half an hour. I even bought these clip things to make it easier but even they haven't enticed me to get around to it. The yarn is a Superwash that didn't work for a scarf idea but worked nicely for this simple pattern. If I ever finish them, I may just keep them for myself or more likely, I may just keep them in the UFO pile like so many others. I suppose if I could actually wear these knitted lovelies, I'd finish them but that story has already been told. Florida's hot, poor knitguyla, blah, blah, blah. ;-)

I have a Christmas party to attend tonight and I'm torn between the red shorts or the green shorts. Decisions. Decisions.

Tree photos soon. I just can't decide -- garland, tinsle, beads, flowers or babies breath? Feel free to weigh in with a comment or two! Good cheer and Happy Holidays!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Snow Day

I've lived in Buffalo.


I know snow.


I know Winter can be a colossal pain in the ass.


I miss it terribly.

I've lived in a warm climate for too long, southern California and now Florida round out the last decade and I'm due a good snow day. I have tremendous holiday spirit this year but something so integral to the sensory experience of Christmas is missing. It's simply...the cold and snow.

I'm knitting the last of my holiday gifts with the central AC cranking and wondering how freakin' hot is this wool blanket going to get before I get to the cast-off edge?

If you're somewhere cold and it's working your last nerve, just know there's someone out there missing it more than you'll ever know.

These photos are from the Calgary Herald and I found them via www.sheepless.ca She posted the bus shot, isn't it incredible!
Photo credits: Jennifer Riddell, Oliver Ennis, Tim Bergmann