A Little Shopping and a Bit More Knitting

It is a very cruel winter storm, indeed, that can keep one away from time with the Stitch 'n Bitch grrls. Several of us were unable to make the meeting last Tuesday due to icy roads.  A few of us made up for it on Saturday by meeting for a day of shopping at the Wool Cabin where they were giving a 10% discount off every purchase.  It was fun to not only see the grrls, but also to visit with the owners of the shop, sisters Annette and Suzie.

There was very little need for me to shop for more yarn, but the recent IK had a fabulous pair of socks that I must knit, and with little stash yarn in a solid color, I had a good excuse.  Nature's Palette by Hand Jive is a new yarn in the shop and this color, Odd Duck (?), should work up well. It looks a bit like Koigu with its tight twist, but it is so soft!

We all had a great time, bought a little of this and that, made sure the shop knew what yarns we wanted them to carry and then headed off to lunch. It was a fun meet up! And last night we were able to have our Stitch 'n Bitch fix as the weather cooperated. 

A little knitting did go on this weekend despite meet ups and Tree party.  I finished Emilie's socks and bought a bar of her very favorite deep dark chocolate. She's going to be very pleased, as soon as I can find her home to drop them off. She is always on the go.  Seaweed and the Funnel sweater did get some quality time and I knit a few rows on the Jaywalkers, too.  Seaweed is now just over 24" and I've knit one full ball of yarn into the Funnel sweater (from Sally Melville's Color Book).

Susan had a small felted bag on her blog last week that could be knit from 50gm, or so, of yarn.  I used an unknown alpaca from my stash and worked it up in a couple of evenings.  It was easy to do, took little time and felted quickly. It would make a lovely gift bag for anyone, but a knitter might love it with a skein of yarn, a bit of candy and needles or a spindle sticking out of the top.

Maybe you can make some up for next Christmas.  Plan ahead and be ready when the season comes around next year, as Cassie said in her post last Saturday.  Let's not put more pressure on ourselves this time of year. Vicki dubbed me M.A.C.K. Margene Against Christmas Knitting, but it is only in December that I am against it.  If you really want a fun gift for the knitter on your list, or for yourself, check out this new T!  Now that's a great idea!

Enjoy your Holidays, keep your knitting fun, and if you must knit gifts, do it all year round.

Comments

[Laurie]

I love those socks, also. I've been eyeing HandJive's website covetously. Maybe it's time....

[Carole]

Great job on the socks and the candy bar looks yummy. I'm planning on making some of those felted bags, too. But I'm with you on the Christmas knitting - don't do it to yourself! All I had to knit for Christmas this year was a Branching Out scarf and it's done.

[Vicki]

That basket is adorable with the needles and candy canes! And I'll bet that it's one of the quickest knits ever, perfect for gifts... next year! Hahahahaha. I have only myself to blame. There's one Christmas FO as of last night, and that now leaves me with only two. I will do better next year.

[Kim]

You HAVE been busy! I agree, those are great little socks in IK and the yarn you chose is perfect!

Hmmm......maybe I will give one of those little bags a try, very cute!

[blossom]

oh, i wanted to knit that pattern when i saw it on the new IK! can't wait to see yours.

[Kathleen]

I did knit some holiday stuff earlier...this summer. I tried. Of course, now I am thinking I could whip up some of those little bags and fill it with homemade candy for the teachers--like the pretzels on Susan's, Imagine Creative Name Here, blog. Somebody stop me.

The last socks my mom knit me were in Hand Jive. I don't like it as well as Koigu. It seems pillier and hazier.

[Norma]

The gift bag is adorable. Susan has her shit together, doesn't she? I tried to leave her a comment telling her how much I loved hers, but her blog was hating me at the moment (kidding -- but comments were down)

[Lolly]

Lovely socks! I like the ones you have planned too. Those were designed by a friend/knitblogger of mine - they are so pretty!

I love your point about knitting gifts all year. So true.

Take care, M!

[Cara]

Great yarn - LOVE the name! Odd Duck. Love it. Thanks for the link to the new tees. Pretty cool.

Oh and Vicki can dub me C.A.C.K. I'm not even knitting for myself anymore. :(

[susan]

Guess what. I checked the Vogue Knitting magazine that Eliza used for Laurie's scarf. And the stitch pattern for the scarf is the same as the one for the socks in IK.

[claudia]

M.A.C.K. is better than "C.A.C.K.", so I will leave the spreading of sanity to you.

;-)

[Beth]

You often mention yarns I've never heard of before. Like a public service announcement.

[Katherine]

I was thinking about knitting the same IK socks with my purple "Orchid" yarn from Nature's Palette. I've been nervous to start because I've never finished a sock (I turned a heel in a sock knitting class, but only with someone babysitting me through it). I've been waiting for foolproof instructions, but obviously I should just jump in. And now that the yarn is all balled up (thanks to you!), I've got no excuse not to. You saved me last night!!!

[eliza]

Too funny. I picked up Nature's Palette in the same shade of purple as Katherine to knit those socks! After Laurie's scarf, I already have the stitch pattern memorized.

[ann]

I guess that makes me AACK ---- which is entirely appropriate!

[nona]

We are of like minds when it comes to Holiday knitting. My preference is to gift my handknits throughout the year -- there's nothing like receiving a pair of socks in October or a scarf in February.

[Beth S.]

I covet those leafy socks, too. So pretty!

[Laura]

MACK also works better than LACK... which isn't quite true this year... I'm crazy trying to get my knitting done (then why am I reading blogs?).

You say this was an unknown alpaca... like you usually only knit yarn from alpacas you know? :)

[amanda]

the finished socks look great (better than the chocolate bar and that is coming from a chocolate lover!). and those socks in the new IK are lovely---can't wait to see yours.

[Mona]

Hello Margene,

thanks for visiting my blog - I can only encourage trying the tubular cast-on, I know it can be nerve testing.

I am thrilled that you - and apparently lots of other people - like my socks! You picked lovely yarn to knit them, and your finished socks in the picture look great.

Happy knitting!
Mona

[julia fc]

Good idea: the perfect vessel for better pal goodies I'll bet. And the socks, the socks will be delicious.

[Birdsong]

Well, I am envious of you already having your issue of IK, mine hasn't come in the mail yet. Glad you have discovered Hand Jive; Darlene is one of the women I camped with last summer at Black Sheep - smart, witty and very into both knitting and the planet. No, you are NOT the scrooge of Christmas knitting, just a better planner when it comes to avoiding stress!

[Wanda]

I have a couple of Christmas knitting gifts, but the deadlines are really self-imposed and I'm not stressing about it either. It'll either get done or not and that's that. Besides I keep casting on new projects for me, so that rate, it's unlikely my Xmas gifts will be finished in time!
Odd Duck, such a funny name, but a pretty color. With patterns like that, you do need solid colored sock yarn and you obviously have to buy it. I have no solid-colored sock yarn in my stash and if I wanted it, I would surely have to buy some too.