Slogging Away

Can you believe there's less than a month left before Christmas? I must confess that I am one of those obsessively weird people that start Christmas presents in January. Really, though, when one hand-makes almost all the presents, one needs 12 months to get ready! (Now, some of you might be impressed with the fact that I hand-make all my Christmas presents. Those of you who really know me, realize that I'm just too cheap to actually buy my loved-ones something. Hand-made is cheaper. Woo-hoo for cheap!)

Anyway, midst the hustle and bustle of the Thanksgiving holiday and the aftermath of horror (i.e. the flu) I managed to get two stocking hats done. The pattern is from the holiday issue of Interweave Knits, and I must say, is very well written.

I first saw the pattern from Brooklyn Tweed's site. He takes the most lusciously beautiful photographs of yarn and knitting. (Knitters refer to such pictures as "yarn-porn", excuse the phrase). I not only fell in love with the pattern, but what really won me over was that it was inspired by a Dutch architect, Hans Koolhaas. (I must admit I'm half Dutch, and I've never quite gotten over the favorite Dutch saying, "You're not much if you're not Dutch.")

Woo-hoo, two more Christmas presents knocked out! Yes!

Oh, finally, here's a picture of some lovely deliciousness from the Plucky Knitter. Awhile back I did a test-knit for her, and she nicely sent me some yarn as a thank-you. Can I mention that it's cashmere/merino? Caaaaassshhmere. (To get the full effect, you have to prolong the first syllable with subtle overtones of smugness.) Now what do I knit with it? The yarn is fingering weight, so I first thought of socks, but I hate to waste Caaaaassshhhhmere on my feet. (Plus, I can't gloat if they're on my feet. It's not very impressive to stick your feet in someone's face and say, "I'm wearing caaaassshmere"!) So what do I knit? Knitters of the Internet, HELP!

Do I knit mittens? I'm afraid that they'll felt if they get wet. I don't really feel like knitting another finger-weight scarf. Perhaps the best solution is just to put it on my shelf, and pet it when I'm stressed. Yes. That sounds like a good idea. The perfect knitter's therapy.