Gift Knitting.

(aka "Queue Management").

Yes, you heard this from me. The one time of the year I knit for others is now. Well, I usually start a bit sooner to get something done for Sara's birthday, and a lot later (after Thanksgiving!) to get Christmas gifts done. And this year I wasn't going to knit anything for the birthday, and then had the thought that I should knit her a sweater for Christmas, which means the flip-top mitts I'd planned for Christmas - the one thing she really really needs, will have to be for her birthday. And that's next week.  I was thinking I'd reknit the snapdragon mitts with the matching beret out of madtosh DK (which Theresa has ordered but won't be here til early December). If I want to knit something now, I need a different pattern. Isn't this one cute?

Oh, the sweater, I want to knit her Fair Enough (again) with gray, brown and purple. Don't you think she'd love it? I wish I'd thought of it sooner and it could've been for her birthday instead. Oh well. Now she'll be really surprised!

I've been trading emails with Katie for a few weeks about knitting for her and for Rob. We settled last week on a scarf for Rob and yesterday I selected the pattern and the yarn (in the Andean Coal colorway - it's lovely). Even treated myself to new lantern moon straights to make scarf knitting a bit more pleasurable.

This morning I had an email from Katie with her input. Two Jared Flood designs (I knew she had good taste!) autumn leaves and celes . I really love them both, and if I start "soon", might be able to finish before December 17 without going completely insane (?) - so now I need to pick one, and decide on the yarn. Would love your input!

autumn leaves - maybe leaning toward this one - in venezia?

celes - it is lovely, isn't it? (maybe for her wedding?!)

And for Marc, new golf club covers. He's darned and re-darned the ones he got for Christmas 2008. It's time for new ones.

So.... I have a sweater, a scarf, socks, mitts, and a shawl all on the needles (and getting somewhat active play time :-). And a cowl that I really want to have now. and a new KAL for the shop that will start November 12. And Hawthorne for the Duke v. GT game on November 20.

How do I fit in these other projects? Here's what I'm thinking:

1. I finish the scarf and the cowl by tomorrow (which is possible), and cast on Sara's mitts Friday. I think I can get them done by next Thursday, and make progress on my sweater, if I don't let myself get distracted by any new yarn (hello! the scarf and the cowl weren't even on my radar this time last week!!)
2. When I finish the mitts, I cast-on Rob's scarf. And knit it until I finish it (which will hopefully be a)before Christmas; and b) before I die from scarf boredom).
3. When I finish Rob's scarf, I start Marc's golf club covers.
4. When I finish my sweater, I start Sara's.
5. And I'll finish something else of mine and start Katie's scarf. If that doesn't happen by Thanksgiving, I start Katie's scarf anyway.
6. ...and at some point before November 20, I knit Hawthorne. If this doesn't happen, I think the scarf might work...it has a lot of black and gold in it.

...actually, as I type this, and knowing how much time I have for knitting, I'm thinking this doesn't seem too impossible.

Am I crazy? no, don't answer that. But if I talk to you about a new project, please ask me how my gift knitting plan is progressing... I really can't start anything new for myself until I have it done!

maybe not together

had to break the blog silence-these do look great with jean-just NOT TOGETHER!

citron and luciole. The yarn for citron look really garish in some light, but i like it and i had about 6" of yarn left. don't think i'd use this yarn again, and definitely not for socks. it's got an odd twist. i am planning to knit both of these patterns again at some point-both were very easy and are great for social knitting (except the hem on luciole, that was a bit tricky-but not hard).

SAFF 2010

as promised here's a report from SAFF-we really enjoyed it-there were more vendors in another building (if you can imagine!) the weather was gorgeous, and the drive up very easy-but was still 4 hours. my mom and i left as scheduled, and listened to an ann perry book on the way up and back. we were here for about 2 hours, but next year i'd like to add another 1/2 hour. there were several stalls that had buttons, shawl pens etc., but we just didn't have the time to really browse. we had plans to meet friends for lunch so that's why we cut it a bit short. this was a well attended and well organized event. LOTS of knitters about with their lovely shawlettes and sweaters. many of these vendors were also at stitches south.
the show arena-they show animals here (was surprised that it was not animal smelly) this facility is the western north carolina agricultural center.

my mom plays with some roving. she also talks to angora bunnies and llamas-but that's my mom!
we hunted desperately for the animals-we weren't going to come this far and not see animals. we finally found them at the far end of the stalls- say hello to a llama-they are soooo soft and cute!
here's another-they're about the size of a pony. the colors were amazing.

say hello to an alpaca-too sweet
now what you really wanted to know about- from l-r: miss babs monochrome sock in lilacs, kitchen sink dye works luxe merino fine (10% cashmere-mmmmm) in meg, grass, and dexter, and knitting notions ruby. also got some cute stitch markers (resting on grass). it was great fun, and i'm hoping to go again next year-the weather being as gorgeous as it was really made it enjoyable. there's more photos here.

i also saw this designer, and had meant to go back to look at her patterns again, her hats are adorable.