I changed my mind

I've changed my mind regarding Ryan's Christmas stocking - even though the stocking itself is done except for weaving in ends, I think I'm going to put it away until after the first of the year and work on it next year. We're hoping to have one more child, so I thought I'd go ahead and made one more stocking and then decorate them at the same time. Plus, I just don't have the time next year due to stretching myself a tad thin. I am still going to make Ryan's stocking - I'm going to get some sports material for the stocking and then a white material for the top and then sew sequins on for his name. I've got the pattern and idea, I just need to get the material now. I think he'll love it as anything even remotely round shaped is a 'ball'. He's very into sports and not yet 2 years old.

Ok, so what's stretching me a bit? My friend is getting married in May and I'm planning on making her a variety of different patterned dishcloths. I've started them, but now I think I'll need to put them away until after Christmas. I drew my sister's name for Christmas and guess what she wants? Dishcloths! So, I'm hunting for some cute ideas and will probably make her 10 in different patterns. Plus, I joined a Christmas knitting exchange and am working on what I will make for my pal. I had a great idea last night while trying to fall asleep, but I'm going to hold on to it and surprise my pal with it. I'll also join the next international tote exchange, but phew, they've put it off until after the holidays. So, I really need to quit typing and get knitting. But first, shower, laundry, trip to grandma's and maybe making some sugar cookies with Ryan. :)

Such a long time

It seems like such a long time since I've posted. I've been busy with school, reading, knitting and Ryan. They all keep me very busy. I just finished reading our book club book for next month: Water for Elephants. It kept me mesmerized. It's an interesting, sad, intriguing, wonderful read. If you're a huge animal lover, it might not be for you as it does get cruel, but the truth and the history of the story kept me going.

I finished the shell of Ryan's stocking. I still need to embellish, but figure I have about 2 months to do that. Most of it is simple i-cording, I have a few things I want to finish first but I'll get to it soon.

I'm working on knitting some dishcloths for a good friend who just got engaged. I am having more fun planning her shower and wedding gifts - I think she'll really enjoy and appreciate them. She also knits, but sticks to blankets, scarves, and granny dishcloths. I just sent her 2: one had a diamond ring pattern and the other had a heart on it. I'm waiting to hear how she liked them.

The Christmas swap I'm a part of starts soon- I'm so excited. I have so many great ideas and things that I'd like to send to my swap partner. I haven't started any kind of Christmas shopping yet - yikes! Usually I'm about done by now.

I better post this and get back to things. I have to tink the last row of the dishcloth as when I got to the end of the row I realized there was a mistake in the pattern. Not a biggie, but easier to do when Ryan isn't around. :)

Christmas Around the World Questionnaire

1. Are you religious? Yes, I’m Catholic.
2. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider yourself a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced? Knitting about 4 years. Intermediate
3. Do you have any other hobbies besides knitting? I love to read, I scrapbook a little – mainly pictures of my son; I know how to cross-stitch and crochet, but don’t do much of either
4. Favorite color(s)? Favorite color is green; but I love blues and purples too
5. Do you collect anything? Magnets and willow tree figurines
6. Are you allergic to any fibers or animals? Highly allergic to cats
7. Do you have any pets? no
8. Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate? I like all but prefer coffee or hot chocolate
9. Cookies or Sweets? I have an extremely intense sweet tooth, but don’t care for dark chocolate in the least
10. Do you knit socks? I’m working on my first pair of socks right now – we’ll see how they turn out
11. If not socks then what? (tell us about your favorite knits) I love to do dishcloths for gifts; I’ve also recently discovered mittens and love making them. I also love knitting scarves. I am very excited about knitting anything that I can felt.
12. Do you put up a Christmas tree? If not then what do you do? Yes! (fake)
13. Favorite holiday treats? Chocolate covered cherries, egg nog
14. Favorite holiday smells? Cinnamon & apples; I cannot tolerate the smell of evergreen – our tree has to be fake
15. Do you celebrate Christmas in a traditional or unconventional way? Please elaborate. I would say we’re pretty traditional with tree, stockings, Santa, gifts, lights, etc.
16. What are your favorite holiday traditions? I love filling stockings and listening to carols; My parents got us a new ornament every year and I have continued that with my husband and son
17. Finish the sentence: “For me Christmas is all about....” family togetherness
18. If you were a Christmas ornament you would be…….? They’re not really ornaments, but I’d be colorful, blinking Christmas lights.
19. What was your favorite gift you've ever received? Or given? I’m a 2nd grade teacher so often get gifts at holiday time and I love the ones the kids make or have a part in. When I was teaching junior high, I had an 8th grader who told me she had spent her own money to buy my gift which was an adorable favorite teacher ornament – it meant the world to me and still hangs on my tree 13 years later.
20.When do you start your Christmas? I put up decorations the day after Thanksgiving
21. Do you send Christmas cards? Do you make them or buy them? Yes; I’ve made and bought them in the past. Now with my little one, we’re doing picture cards
22.What is your favorite Christmas dish? Not sure, I like most of them
23.Carolers are at your door. What do you do? Listen and enjoy
24.When do you open presents? Christmas eve or Christmas morning? We open one present on Christmas eve and the rest on Christmas day.
25. Do you celebrate with family or friends or both? both

Frustrated!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so frustrated. I worked long and hard yesterday on Ryan's stocking. I really want to get the stocking part done, then I want to work on a few other projects . I thought I'd take yarn with me everywhere and work on i-cords for the stocking decoration in the car, etc. Well, I was all proud of myself because I've never knit socks and I managed to do the heel and it was looking really good. Well, there were these 10 stitches that kept bugging me - they were between the 2 pieces of the heel and I was pretty sure that wasn't right but being a novice, I kept going. I was right! They didn't belong there. Earlier in the pattern it said to knit 17 and put on holder - it should have been 27!!! Grrrr.... So, today it's my mission to knit a dishcloth for my friend who just got engaged (I got one done yesterday) and then tink back to before all this nonsense. I hate doing that! It means I wasted hours yesterday when I first did all the knitting. Oh, well, I really want him to have a cute stocking and I've already invested way too much time and energy to give up. I'm off to shower and take Ryan swimming. Hopefully later I'll post the cute wedding ring dishcloth I made yesterday.

Ryan's Christmas Stocking

Ok, let's try this again. Here is a picture of the stocking I'm working on for Ryan. I've got the body of the sock done, and am just starting on the heel - yikes! This is a first for me. See the link in the last post for the author and pattern.