Well, folks, we’re yarnin’ along here again.

Really, do I have to? You know I love to but, yikes, every week I seem to get myself all hyped about my dream projects and then the reality of whatever I spend the rest of my day doing (by which I mean no disrespect to the lovely people who would rather me not sit around knitting) hits and I realize my knitting awesomeness was more imagined than real.

But that’s me. Whereas I’m generally pretty realistic in my expectations (perhaps Dan would prefer to disagree) when it comes to knitting I’m all talk.

Case in point: Of the projects I mentioned last week two haven’t been touched and one was pulled out (albeit from a very early stage). Instead I cast on a Rae (see my Rae Noel here) to finally get started on a gift which I had deliberated over for far too long. I felt certain it was the right knitted item for the intended recipient, started knitting, returned to deliberating, and finally decided it’s too late to change my mind.

Oh, hand-made (by me) gifts, what a tremulous relationship we have. I love to make you but fear for your rejection.

So that’s that. I have a list as long as my arm of projects I’d love to have done as Christmas gifts…but you know how that goes.

Reading on my own has been scarce this week. I’ll admit to spending more time gathering far too many Christmas ideas while browsing pinterest than reading the books I have started. The kids and I have been enjoying lots of Christmas themed stories lately.  We pulled our Christmas books from the boxes in the basement and then raided the library shelves for more. Tonight we enjoyed Great Joy, Merry Christmas, Amelia Bedelia, The Story of the Nativity and The Berentain Bears’ Christmas Tree.

And off I go to finish the increase portion of the Rae – fingers crossed I’ll be on the decreases by tomorrow!

::

joining with Ginny for another Wednesday yarn along

Knitting and reading have taken somewhat of a backseat to the felt project I’ve been working on (hoping to share a peek at that soon). I did however whip up a sweet cowl for the birthday girl. She loves it! I used luvinthemommyhood‘s mallory pattern. A simple ribbed pattern with just the perfect squishy wool (you can spot another skein I’m using in the photo below).

I’ve also been working on the green tea sweater. I’m on to the straight stockinette stitch of the body and wondering if there’s a possibility I may have it done for Christmas. Then I remind myself of the long list of knits I’ve dreamed up for gifts and think I’ll just take it as it comes.

I’m also working on, ahem, three other knitting projects. All secret gift knits (if you are NOT related to me you can spy them here and here), all causing me to think too much and knit too little. I must admit that with all that’s been going on lately I’m much more inclined to stick with the straight stockinette of the green tea sweater.

While I have not yet surrendered my reread through the Harry Potter series but I’ve also picked up An Irish Country Christmas from the library. I read An Irish Country Doctor a few months ago and enjoyed it but haven’t gotten far enough in this one to form an opinion. I have a feeling my evenings are going to be preoccupied by knitting and hand-stitching with a Christmas movie or two thrown in for good measure so reading may take a backseat once again.

::

joining with Ginny for another week of yarn along

Well sadly I have no knitting victories to share this week. After all the bolstering support I received last week, the birthday sweater remains very much unfinished…Dare I say hardly started? Somewhere early in the increases at the yoke of the sweater I miscounted. I have a tendency to misread every pattern at least once but usually I notice it. This time I didn’t and it required quite a lot of sweater ripping. A lot as in nearly the whole sweater. Alas, the birthday sweater is not to be. Well not quite yet it would seem.

I had a chat with the birthday girl who supposedly thought I was knitting her a scarf…hmm, I do have the perfect scarf yarn for her. I may just be able to squeeze out a cowl before the big day.

As for reading, I feel rather unaccomplished on that front as well (what have I been doing this week?). I’m onto The Prisoner of Azkaban as I’m revisiting the Harry Potter series (I really am a geek about them). I’ve also checked a favourite browsing book out the of library. I’ve checked out and renewed Hand-Stitched Felt countless time (at least by my estimation) and although I’ve yet to tackle any of the projects it’s wonderful eye candy – especially when I think of the present to myself that’s in the mail.

Anyone have a quick cowl pattern to share for a seven year old?

::

joining with Ginny for yarn along

It’s yarn along eve once again and I’m wondering what knitting I’ve gotten done this week. I think I used up all my best knitting intentions last week.

Let’s see, I finished the blooming puerperium. Yes, the same puerperium I was planning for my sweet three month old fits my sweet four-year-old. The same four-year-old I just finished a plain vest for…in nearly the same colour. I’ll pretend I was going with a theme.

The sleeves I tackled on Red Boy’s Blue Raglan have many inches yet to go but at least one sleeve is on the double pointed needles. Sometimes I find that’s half the battle.

My project finishing spree came to a halt when I realized I had knit sweaters for each of this year’s birthdays but hadn’t started on one for the soon-to-be seven (seven???!!) year old. Okay. I’ve got two weeks and a tiny tea leaves on the needles. Barely on the needles but on nonetheless. I’m not going to put the pressure on, just see where I get…and hope I just might get there in time.

Tonight Sarah picked Runny Babbit off the shelf for her bedtime story. My sister picked this book up for the kids a few years ago and we love it. It is Shel Silverstein wonderful. When I began reading it this evening I suddenly found myself surrounded by four littles edging in for a closer peek. And of course hilarity ensued along with a few Runny Babbit-esque verses of our own. Although ours veered rather more to the risque potty talk…hmm.

But since you really need to read it to know how great it is here’s a little excerpt (and very suiting it is):

Runny Babbit knearned to lit,

And made a swat and heater,

And now he sadly will admit

He bight have done it metter.

Oh, Shel Silverstein, you were wonderful.

::

joining with Ginny for yarn along

I had to get tough on myself this past weekend. I sorted through my yarn – stash, donate-ables (there wasn’t much) and unfinished-ables. My head has been a tangle (pun intended) of knitting conundrums and I needed a good organizing to clear it up. I wound and rewound some balls on my favourite contraption – that toy is paying for itself in free therapy, cleaned the crumbs and crayons from my project bag, and sat myself down to complete some of the unfinished projects.

I mostly finished (minus blocking and and buttons) the Plain Vest, added the button to the colorimetry, messed around with a mitten that will not match its partner, finished a gift, and nearly cast off on a blooming puerperium. Phew.* (Forgive me if you can’t follow those Ravelry links.)

Now I’ve got sleeves to add to Red Boy’s Blue Raglan and then I get to start something new.

When I haven’t been tackling my woolly addiction I’ve found a few minutes to continue reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Tonight, though, as I was fiddling with wool in the basement I pulled out my Grandpa’s old copy of Tennyson’s poems. Maybe I should pick up poetry more often – I found it just the thing for a tired mind.

*That may sound like bragging but I needed that pick-me-up.

::

joining with Ginny for yarn along