I’m hosting my first ever giveaway this week! If you missed it be sure to leave a comment here! For those who have commented, I’ve very excited with all the challenges I’ve received – thank you!

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We’ve left the balmy weather of last week for the reality of winter. It is cold, cold, cold…but there is no better time to cozy up with knitting and reading.

I’m just a few rounds away from finishing the gaptastic cowl. I’m enjoying this second one more than the first – I can read bedtime stories quite easily to the rhythm of the seed stitch and it moves so quickly with the chunky wool. This one is being sold to a friend of a friend. I am certainly not a quick enough knitter to make a business of it but it feels kind of nice to be knitting on commission.

I’ve also been working away on a darkside cowl. I’ve loved watching the pattern emerge. It requires more counting than I’m sometimes up for (or rather have the attention for) but it is quick and simple to follow.

The biggest excitement in my knitting week was an offer I received from Jen. I appreciated all the wonderful suggestions I received on my request here but seeing all those lovelies side by side put me into a wool induced stupor. Jen came to my rescue with the idea to exchange knits. She is going to knit me a thistle cap (a pattern I will tackle one day…perhaps when I have a little more focus time) and I will knit her either a hurricane or a wurm hat (it’s going to be a surprise). She’s generously (and bravely) given me the choice of colour and I think I’ve picked the perfect wool from my stash. I’ve been holding onto for the perfect knit and I think I’ve found it! How exciting! Fingers crossed I get the fit right…

In reading this week I finished Wildwood. I enjoyed reading it and I must admit I enjoyed finishing it. I think I should really have loved but as I mentioned last week it just didn’t grab me. In comparison though, I started a new book this afternoon which pulled me before the end of the first chapter. In keeping with my great love of kid lit I’m reading The Red Pyramid. This one promises to be devoured rather more quickly than Wildwood.

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joining Ginny for yarn along

I’m just hopping in here quickly for yarn along as I’m cherishing the last evening with my family before they fly back east.

This week I finally finished the Rae. It’s so lovely. Warm, soft, luxurious alpaca. I may forget it was going to be a gift. The body of the Green Tea is nearly done. I’m excited for the change from the stockinette…but sleeves are my nemesis so wish me luck.

In new knits, I’ve cast on another Gaptastic Cowl – a commission of sorts from a friend of the friend who received the first one I made. I’m actually timing myself on this one to see how long it takes me. It will be interesting to see – I pay so little attention to how long I spend on a project but Dan has an app on his phone which may help me keep track. I do enjoy this knit. Seed stitch with chunky wool on big needles does lose its appeal after a while but I love how quickly it progresses.

Wildwood is still following me around the house. I’m enjoying it quite a bit although its magic hasn’t pulled me in (I should probably blame the post-Christmas brain numb for that). My geekiness appreciates that the author is the lead singer/songwriter behind a favourite band and that I’ve noticed some similar vocabulary between the album and the novel. The illustrations are beautifully done by the author’s wife, Carson Ellis (no wonder I love her illustrations so much she also did the illustrations for this wonderful book). They are so lovely and compliment the story so well.

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joining Ginny for yarn along

My week in knitting and reading has been nearly the same as last week‘s. I’m still working on the Rae (which has grown to mammoth proportions and is starting to look more like a giant triangular blanket…) and the Green Tea. It’s a whole lot of the same but I’m trying to keep on task and finish them (remind me of this resolve when I cast on three new projects by next week).

I’ve been carrying Wildwood around with me and reading a page or two whenever I get the chance. I’ve even been propping it open to read while knitting. No, it’s not a perfect system but it does break up the garter/stockinette monotony. I may need to steal a couple hours to snuggle up and finish it off.

Meanwhile the girls and I been enjoying On The Banks of Plum Creek (oh that Nellie Oleson) and my sister has been charged with reading lots of Tintin.

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joining Ginny for yarn along

I’ve been caught up in a haze of family, festivities…and flu. So much so that I forgot what day it was completely…but here I am, joining yarn along again, a little later than usual.

There was a blur of last minute crafting and knitting as last week ended. Sadly, I didn’t finish the Rae. There was not enough secret knitting time and the days got away from me. A birthday gift it will be. I also have quite a few other unfinished projects taunting me. Their time is coming. First I’m tackling the green tea.

I did finally add buttons to the puerperium and plain vest I did ages ago. They were gifted to daughters who look lovely in them (the verdict is still out on whether or not they will be firm favourites).

Also, as a last minute addition I knit a windschief (ravelry notes here) cowl for my eldest. She melted my heart with her speech on how she values handmade gifts most – along with making me sweat as I really hadn’t been able to do as much as I’d planned. I modified the pattern somewhat for her eight year old self and love it. I’ll be revisiting the pattern soon.

As for reading, I’ve only just found a moment to read the first few pages of Wildwood. It so sounds like my kind of book although I do find myself drawn to the stack of used classics my sweet hubby picked out for me (the fact that he found them used makes them even more dear). We’ll see if I carve out some reading time with my family around this week…on second thought, maybe I’ll just stick with the chocolate. Hooray for extended holidays.

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joining Ginny for yarn along

Wow, I almost missed this week. How did I forget….perhaps it’s the many projects I’m preoccupied with at the moment.

Although there is still some Christmas crazy happening in my head I’ve tamed my wild plans quite a bit. I’m still working on a Rae. I’ve been trying to squeeze in a few rows here and there. I’m hoping I’ll have it done in time – although done and blocked is a different story.

There are many other gifts I’ve been hoping to finish but unless it only needs buttons I’m trying to let it go. Although maybe Mira will have one of these on Christmas…maybe.

We’re still enjoying picking through our basket of Christmas books but I am most excited with the title that Dan found on the holds shelf at the library today. Lori recommended Wildwood a few weeks ago and I couldn’t wait to check it out. The illustrations have captivated me before I’ve even read a word. I think it will be the perfect post-Christmas read.

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Are you busy crafting for the holidays? Or perhaps you’ve already dived into wonderful holiday read? Do share!

And for more yarn along posts visit Ginny at Small Things.