Hiding Gifts

Where is she hiding all those socks she's been working on forever??

Knitting and writing

Here's how my spot at the dining table has looked most of the month. The SIP changes, the coffee cup, and maybe the tablecloth. I've been trying to stay focused on National Novel Writing Month, so the basic set-up doesn't move. The knitting helps me with imagineering, the coffee is for my muses (yes, I have two and both are java fiends), and the Alphasmart is my constant companion. I can write an entire book on three double A batteries. So how is it going? I'm on schedule with Christmas socks. I'm 24,000 words behind on the book. I have until the last day of November to cough up a total of 50,000 words. I wonder how many stitches a sock has. And I wonder why I'm writing at the dinner table instead of in my office where I have a desk. Not that I have a choice about it. The muses are in control of that.

Sheep Musings

Can anyone really be enraptured with yarn and wool and knitting and spinning and carding and all the various aspects of this avocation .... and not have the passing thought that maybe one should acquire a sheep of one's own someday? The idea popped into my head again as I was reading The Tale of Hawthorn House by Susan Wittig Albert. It's the fourth book in the cozy mystery Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter series. And it's for grown-ups.

Beatrix, of course, is much admired by me and generations of other Peter Rabbit fans for her lovely artwork. This series focuses on her life upon her move to Hill Top Farm in the beautiful Lake District of England. She is still writing and illustrating her little books, but she has become very serious about preserving farms as well as the native Herdwick sheep.

Herdwick wool is best for rug weaving and insulation, being a bit scratchy, though the author provides this hat she made of Herdwick yarn and states that it's as waterproof as an umbrella. Nice-looking, isn't it? At any rate, the book has me thinking of what heirloom sheep I would acquire, if I got one, which of course I won't..... still we can think about it, can't we? One never knows what life will bring. I doubt that Beatrix Potter would have imagined the astounding impact her life and writings would have on future generations. It's quite a fascinating story in itself.

To learn more, check my Blog Book Tours site for an interview with the author. You'll find links to the other blog stops, each more fascinating than the next.

Step by step

Those Christmas gifts are getting knit. Here, a couple more, their mates are OTNs. Is it time for carols yet? What about some holiday cheer? These kids are getting tired of just watching me crank out socks. Mom is sooooooooo boring.

DAL

That stands for Designalong, and Donna Druchunas just announced she's having one after the holidays. It's based on her knew book, Ethnic Knitting Discovery, so get your hands on a copy. We'll be designing our own sweaters using her tips, and she'll be coaching us along. You can sign up at the Ethnic Knits yahoo group for more information, or just stay tuned here and I'll give an update as soon as I know more. I'm in though!

Maybe this sweater with some modifications? I've certainly got enough wool in my stash to work with, and I'm thinking I'll try my art project using a least favorite color, the most favorite, and black. Maybe I can redeem that hideous yellow I found.

Tiny stash enhancement

I know, I know. I swore I wouldn't buy any more yarn until I put a dent in my existing stash. But, I had to get some dark blue to finish my nephew's kiss-my-big-toe socks, and I so loved the Trekking that I got last time, I had to buy some more, and then the Cashsilk screamed out my name and I knew I had to make myself a pair of those gorgeous red gloves out of .... which knitting book were those in? Anyway, I've made good progress on the gift socks for Christmas. How are you all doing with holiday gifts?

Coveting lace

I spent a little time going through pattern books looking for fast holiday gifts. I'm always drawn to lace, and wish I could see and count well enough to crank out a nice shawl or scarf. Like the ones in Victorian Lace Today. So Old Buddy, here in his favorite pose, kept me company while I drooled over the pictures and patterns, and then cast aside any crazy ideas of casting on. He just drooled all over my wool scarf, perfectly content to let me have my little fantasies. He's a grand old cat, Buddy is.