More Than a Little, Less Than a Lot

You probably guessed that I did not make all of the things for Christmas that I planned to make. Some plans changed, and when I re-assessed others, I saw that I was going overboard, so I crossed them off the list, too.  Overall, I did well with completion and went into the New Year with only one incomplete.  Yeah, it was the one I mentioned in the last post, but that was enough to motivate me to finish it.  

The last of the Christmas presents completed is a scarf I wove.  It is an easy-peasy plain weave with Knit Picks Imagination in the colorway Looking Glass.  The scarf is so soft and pretty and I think it is just right for my ever-cold sister-in-law.  I hope she likes it.  

You may recognize this yarn from my Color Affliction.  I do have a complaint about this yarn--it sheds like mad.  As in, wearing something made from it makes it look like you have too many pets.  Multiple cycles of tumble dry, no heat, yield full lint traps.  It is really rather ridiculous, but at least I knew what I was in for after the Color Affliction adventure, and I pretty much used up all of the yarn.   

Something else to tell you about the weaving of this scarf--I was able to use new tools!  I bought the boat shuttle at SAFF, then I bought this cheap little drink mixer, and now I have a bobbin winder.  It works so well, I love using the boat shuttle, and I feel super-smart because real bobbin winders are expensive.

Next up, we have the garter-stitch-scarf-of-never-ending-ness.  Of course, all garter stitch scarves feel that way to me, but I really like this and enjoyed knitting with my handspun.  The sister-in-law liked it, too, and her husband liked his new socks.  I knew he had been wearing the pair I gave him in October, so I felt confident in this gift choice.

Then one of them pulled a stunt that makes me feel like I might never knit for either of them ever again, but it happened during a time of stress, so I am just trying to let it go and not think about it.  If I do find myself thinking about it, I am trying to reframe it and put a more positive spin on it all, but time might be the best treatment.  Feeling like I might never knit for someone again sometimes just means that I have not finished processing an event, and that is the best way I can think of to deal with the negative feelings.  It is really a much better option than telling someone whatever pops into my head.  This makes it all sound much bigger and serious than it is, and I have gotten way off-topic, but that is nothing new around here.        

Maybe we can bring this post back in order a bit with something cute.  I knit this sweet hat for my niece.  The pattern is Ruffled Cloche from 60 Quick Baby Knits, and if you knit this pattern, I will note that you can work this in the round from the start.  It was hard to get a picture of her wearing the hat, but it was a hit with everyone.  Her mom hopes it will still fit at Easter.  If it does not, I am probably willing to knit another, but I am not making any promises today.  

Finally, we have the gift that tried to kill me, but that will have to wait for another post.