The Big Reveal

I hope everyone had as great a Christmas as I did, and that you've all recovered. This should be the first post of the week, probably have 2 more later, at least that's what I'm planning. We'll see if I get them done. Anyway, this is my ode to all my Christmas knitting that I'm sure you all grew tired of hearing about. Now you get to see it all. Well, almost all of it. There's a gift that hasn't been gifted yet. And another that gets it's own separate post...

Alright, knitting. I made a lovely scarf for my sister-in-law Rachel for her birthday. What? I know I said Christmas knitting, but Rachel's birthday was the 22nd, so it's close enough.

It's the Diagonal Lace pattern, out of Elsbeth Lavold's Silky Flamme. Amazing yarn - merino, alpaca, silk. I love the way it came out, and by reports so did Rachel.

Next, we have a sweater for my beautiful niece Sarah.

It's the Garter Yoke Baby Cardi. Easy peasy pattern, much like the February Baby Sweater - just without the lace. I used Cascade 220 Superwash for ease of care. I'm hoping that it fits - or will fit. Not sure that Sarah was accomodating enough Christmas morning for a fashion show. I almost didn't want to send it off, it was too dang cute.

Speaking of knits for kiddos, Mason and Elliott both got hats. Mason got a Toasty Topper made from more Cascade 220 Superwash (it's a great yarn, what can I say?)

Really quick to make, got most of it done in an evening at Ellie's watching Home Alone and then Santa Claus (a favorite of mine from when I was a kid). And it does its job - in the 20 or so minutes that it took for Paul to load up the car that Mason had it on, he was unable to remove it from his head. I'm sure he'll figure out a way, but initially it was stuck on, he just didn't want to pose for photos.

Elliott got a Hot Head Hat. I made some modifications from the original pattern, knit it top down and sized it for a small one.

It turned out great - but I'm biased. I used Encore worsted double stranded for the top, and then for the flames I used a strand of Swish DK in a bright red (the actual name of the colorway eludes me and I can't find the ball band) and two strands of a fingering weight yarn dyed by my friend Rebecca in "En Fuego". Worked perfectly.

Onto some footwear. I made my sister-in-law Peggy some Fuzzy Feet slippers.

No, she doesn't have feet the size of a dragon, the slippers are knit huge and then felted down. I just didn't get a pic of the finished product before gifting them. I'll get one when she brings them back to be non-slipped. I was crunched for time and didn't get to put on some latex caulk as a non-slip bottom. Next year I'll plan better (hahahaha!).

Sticking with the footwear theme, I made my Mom what I consider to be a bit of a gag gift. Anyone who knows my mom will understand why I laughed when I found this pattern and knew that I had to make them.

Ta da! Felted Flip-Flops! Well, in that photo they're not yet felted, and I haven't gotten a pic with them on Mom yet, maybe next post. I found the pattern on the Loopy Ewe a few weeks ago (yes, this was the late addition to the Christmas knitting list I was griping about) and had to have it. I thought that they would be super quick (not so much) and super easy (not hard, but not as easy as you would think). Still, I think they're great. They're also awaiting the non-slip process.

So, that's about it for the secret knitting. I survived, almost made all my deadlines (stupid Moose Mittens - they'll get a post of their own, they've earned it). The gift yet to be gifted will get face time after it's been gifted (Liz, if you're reading this, you need to come visit! It's your turn!) Tune in later for the post about my amazing Christmas present!

Christmas is coming....

Ever notice that time flies when you need it not to? Only 3 days til Christmas. Yikes. Glad to report that all but one knitting gift is done. That's right, I'm good to go, except for the Mittens of Doom. But now I can't put off working on them any longer. Wish me luck.

So onto things I can show you. Here is the Christmas tree decorating sequence.
Just the tree, all plain looking.
Jazzed up with some lights.

Ornaments too.

Some felt that I needed to be decorated as well.
All sparkly and done.
Fun huh? In that last photo, I hope you all noticed the mandatory lean, and that the tiny star is touching the ceiling - even though more than a foot and half was trimmed off before it was put up.

Other stuff I can show... ooohh, my Christmas cards! They've been mailed, probably not yet received, but I'll show them anyway.
I think they came out very nice. But I might be a bit biased.

Yarn acquisitions. Last week at Knit Night, we had the gift swap. I got this from Maggie:
It's a cotton bamboo blend, very cool and I love the colorway, haven't seen anything like it before, and I've seen my share of hand dyed yarn.

And this is a photo of the two Amazing Race presents I've gotten so far. The green is some fabulous alpaca silk from Blue Sky Alpacas, and the pink is some suede yarn that came with a pattern for a little bag. Yay fun!
Yesterday I got to baby sit for Miss Kaylee, first time in ages. I can't believe how big she's getting. She graciously allowed me to stage some photos. Even smiled, what a well behaved 2 year old!
She's starting to talk more and more, and not just talk, she first attempts to spell out new words before she will say them. That's right, my 2 year old god daughter spells more than she talks. for instance, "Kaylee, can you say balloon?" She responds "B-A-L-L-L-O-O-N" (She tends to add extra L's). Seriously. "Kaylee, who's that? (me pointing at dog Seamus)" She responds "D-O-G, dog" Crazy.

I'll leave you with the fun photo mistake, this is what happens when Annie plays with her camera attempting to take a pretty pic of the tree and accidentally puts on a timer.
Merry Christmas if I don't get to post again before then!

Overextending

So I might have over estimated my knitting ability. See, I just took out the Gift Knitting Calendar I made way back in October (see I had good intentions) and I am very very very behind. Oops.

Why? Because I didn't stick to the schedule. I got ahead of schedule in early November and stopped pulling it out every couple of days - bad me. And then there was the incident with the knitted item for the hand that I've already talked about. Yeah, I just can't seem to make myself knit that particular item.

The week of Thanksgiving didn't help either. Knitting time was limited (happily so) due to the kiddos, and the fact that recipients were present most of the time. And I just haven't gotten back on track with my knitting. Very bad me.

It would also help if I would stop adding things to my list. Or decide on what a recipient is going to get so that I could just knit the thing. I don't think that my lack of Christmas spirit is helping me either.

All of this stops today. I have revised the knitting calendar. And I will be sticking to it - no matter what (who needs sleep anyway?). No more excuses. There will be much knitting in the 15 days remaining until Christmas. Much knitting.

Holy crap! Do you believe that there's only 15 days until Christmas? Where is the time going? Guess that means I need to get to shopping for everyone that I'm not knitting for. Yeah, sleep is definitely overrated.

PS - On a happier note - my couple won the Amazing RAce! Which means that I've got 10 presents of fibery goodness (or gift cards to fibery stores) arriving soon! I'm sure that I'll post the haul when it's all received. Yay! I love the Amazing Race!

Ta Da

*Apologies in advance for the crappy quality of photos. It's very dark and rainy today, and I'm not exactly a professional photographer. My poor little camera can only do so much, and I'm not too great with the photo editing either.*

So this is being written and posted much later than I had anticipated. Oh well, that's what happens when life gets in the way. This past Saturday, I finished knitting the FLS. Sunday, I sewed in the ends and attached the buttons. Ta da!
Sorry it's not a live action shot, but I didn't manage to get a pic of me wearing it, Sunday or Tuesday. Next time. I love it! It's so perfect and comfortable. To all you knitters out there reading - knit one, trust me, you'll love it.

I got around to finishing the first Upstream sock on Tuesday night at SnB. Fits perfectly. Just need to get around to the second one...
I know I said I would get it done by the end of last week, but I was distracted by this.
Stimulating, right? How could you not be distracted from a fun crazy colored sock when there is charcoal and white yarn to be had? (Note: that sentence was dripping with sarcasm, in case you hadn't noticed) Seriously though, I spent most of Sunday knitting a super secret project with the grey and white yarn, thus ignoring my sock. And if you could see the pattern, you'd understand my delight and fascination.

That's all of the super secret project that you will see for a while on this blog - due to the fact that the recipient of super secret project is a regular reader. Really wish I could show it to you because it makes me feel all clever and cool, but it's not fun to spoil the Christmas surprise. That's right, I just said Christmas. The holiday knitting has commenced here at Annie's House of Yarn and Pointy Sticks. Look out.**

It's not all gift knitting though. Because this week has been especially trying on the professional level, I treated myself to a happy knit. I cast on the Hidecote Garden Shawl, using my recently acquired Jojoland Melody yarn.
Isn't it so pretty? It makes me happy just looking at it. When I get a little farther, I'll pin it out to show you the stitch pattern. Click on the link above if you can't wait that long.

And in more recent yarn acquistion news, I got enough of this,
Valley Yarns "Northhampton" in Dark Green Heather, for a sweater. I think that having at least one sweater's worth of yarn in the stash at all times is important. And as reward for using my stash yarn for the FLS (I got the Cascade in 2006) I let myself order some yarn for me when I purchased Ellie's birthday present (no photo, but I got her enough Mission Falls 1824 Wool in Raspberry, to make her own FLS).
The color isn't really showing up very true here, but I love the greeny heathery-ness of this yarn. Now all I have to do is find the perfect pattern....

And now for the yarn I'm currently drooling over...
Fleece Artist Trail sock in "Hercules". O. M. G. This yarn, is so amazingly gorgeous and rich and deep in color, I can't even explain it to you. This is my first Fleece Artist yarn, I found it at Simply Sock Yarn Company, and had to have it. It was the first time I'd seen this line of yarn from them, it's 80% merino 20% nylon (which is what I like for my socks), previously I'd only seen 100% merino yarn which I hesitate to use for socks due to the wear and tear they are subjected to. The nylon gives that bit of strength to make them last longer. I had to unskein it to try to convey to you it's true beauty.

As for spinning news, there isn't much. I haven't been doing much spinning lately. I got most of the Wander done though. It's about 230 yards.
And you'll notice that ball of singles next to it, that's what was left over on one bobbin after plying. Guess I wasn't so even after all. I'm working up to trying to ply it, but my history of plying from a ball is not so good, and I am procrastinating, big time.

Alright, that's it. That's all I've got. Big weekend ahead - homecoming is tomorrow at work, ND plays Michigan, Liz and I are going to the Indians game tomorrow night, Mason's birthday party on Sunday afternoon, and THE game, Steelers-Browns, is Sunday night. I'm busting out my Roethlisburger jersey and Steeler socks for the occasion!

**Family members - if there is something you would like me to knit for you for this holiday season, please place requests now. These things take time. All unreasonable requests will be laughed at, and dirty looks will ensue.

Merry Belated Christmas

Here's hoping that everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I know I did. Lots of great gifts, and most importantly, a day spent with family. Here's some snapshots of the best bits.

So, after midnight Mass, and the second half of Baryshnikov's "Nutcracker" on PBS, we realized that Dad's stocking was somewhere packed away in the attic. Hmmm. Improvisation.

It's a referee's sock! How appropriate.

Ellie got a ski bunny outfit - she was very excited. So excited that she decided to model it - with props.
Here she is showing us what it'll look like when she falls.

And we of course, had to take plenty of the babies! It was Mason's and Joelle's first Christmas.

The reason to have a baby girl. So cute in the party dresses!

A tradition continues.

And then, after all the gifts were opened, I forced my family to do a fashion show of handknits.

Peggy's Toe Socks (aka CP 4)

Ellie in her new career as a hand model, with her Dashings (aka CP 2)

Mom in her gorgeous Clapotis scarf (aka CP 1)

And speaking of handknits, I had Christmas with friends on Sunday. Gave Bridget here headband and mittens. And Kaylee got lots of plates and utensils and cups (it was what was asked for - I included a book for fun, and made sure that Elmo made an appearance on cups and plates and forks, she loved all of it). As you can see, the knits were a huge hit.Please, no photos.

Annie, you're between me and my crack! Get out of my way! (crack = Elmo's tv special)

The Home Stretch

In response to my brother Tommy's comment on the last post: You should know that all Algier Family Christmas trees lean, a bit. It only leans a little, not nearly as bad as some in the past. This year's is an example of a good pick. Seriously, do we all need to be reminded of the Christmas tree that was wired into the wall? And it still managed to look like it was going to fall forward. A real tree has imperfections, that's what makes them so great. So back off pal!

I finished Bridget's Mittens (aka Project 3-modified) yesterday. I also managed to crank out a Calorimetry to match. Just have to attach a button and they can be wrapped.

Still chugging along on Project 4. It'll be done tomorrow most likely. Debating on whether or not to go forward with Project 5 - several comments by the recipient have me rethinking. We'll see.

Speaking of finishing - take a look at Wrapping Central.
And as for cookie baking, go have a look at Ellie's blog to see how I spent my evening yesterday. Let me tell you the story of the Green Christmas Tree cookie dough. We decided to double all the recipes. No problem. Let me say that Ellie does not have a mixer. "This one thing you must remember or nothing that follows will seem wondrous." (from "A Christmas Carol") So I start with the butter. All three sticks. Then add the sugar, 2 cups, and 2 eggs. Then the almond extract.

Then, I pause and try to remember how mom continues with her recipe. Does she add the green dye now? Or wait til later? Hmmm. Ellie and I conclude, it goes in at the end. So I begin to mix in the flour. All. Seven. Cups. By. Hand. After 5, I gave up on the spoon and started with hand kneading. By the time it's all in, we've decided that it's going to be tricky to get the food coloring in. Hmmm. Call mom. Mom says she adds the color before the flour. Mom would have been laughing if she hadn't been sick and feeling yucky. Can you hear her laughing? So, food dye kneading commences. And continues. And continues. And continues. And finally, after 20 minutes with both me and Ellie working on small chunks, it's green enough.

And then, we pull out the cookie press. Now, I won't mention the brand of the press, but they like to throw fancy smancy little parties where you feel compelled to spend more money than you should on kitchen supplies. The dough goes into the press. The press is properly operated (we checked the directions). No green Christmas trees come out. Repeat. Same effect. Grr. So the endeavor is abandoned. For another day, when a KitchenAid mixer is available to beat it into submission. And the cookie press from mom (circa 1972) can crank the little devils out.

The evil green tree dough is still in time out in the fridge right now, soon to be dealt with. So I leave you with the promised photos of my Christmas cards, hope everyone enjoys them!
P.S. I found some absolutely gorgeous yarn at KotS yesterday. So pretty! It's Cascade Pastaza. Like my favorite color ever.