Tag Archives: Christmas

My 2020 Advent Calendar

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I have completely unboxed my 2020 Advent calendar from A Girl and Her Wool. I ended up with the quite the collection of minis!

I have hemmed and hawed over what to do with these. I did some pattern searching and pulled down some possibilities. I had been leaning toward a cowl of some sort because the minis are all 10 grams I need something small-ish so that I can see good sized blocks of the different colors.

But then I threw that all out the window and I decided to make my own “advent” socks. I am going to use the full skein to make the heels toes and cuffs. And for each mini I will split in half and knit concurrent socks on two different needles. I think I won’t attempt any color management and will just use them in the order the dyer presented them.

And to keep myself motivated I am going to make myself finish my Carbon Sprinkles Vanilla Socks before letting myself cast on this new project.

Christmas Baking

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I was looking through my camera roll on my found some of my favorite photos of the season and I wanted to share.

First up….baking with a 6 year old and 2 year old equals flour EVERYWHERE. Including all over the two year old who got too close to the mixer when we added flour.

Next up the 6 year old’s version of sugar cooking decorating complete with extra frosting.

And finally about 1 bazillion almond bark coated pretzels. These are the reason I need legging post Christmas :O

The chaos is *almost* worth the memories! I sure hope my kids remember all the fun when they are bigger. Anyone have a favorite christmas memory to share?

Christmas Eve Cast On

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I admit I am struggling to get fully into the holiday spirit. I knew I wanted a Christmas Eve cast on but I just couldn’t decide what I wanted it to be. So I decided to make up a kit from stuff I already had. And it worked out nicely

I pulled out last year’s Christmas pajamas and I’m just praying they fit after my COVID weight gain. And then I grabbed a bottle of wine off my wine rack that I have been meaning to try.

Next up was the yarn and pattern I received as part of my 2020 Nomad Yarns retreat back in October. I grabbed the Transforming Mitts pattern by Erika Kempf Broughton and the yarn of Tweed Rocks from Nomad Yarns. It feels good to use this yarn with the pattern it was designed for.

It’s not the perfect AHA project I have had in years past. But it’s good enough for 2020. And I mostly can’t wait to put the world aside and just watch Christmas through my children’s eyes. We are going to “bubble” with my parents and isolate from the world on their property. All I want for Christmas is knitting, a good wine and not to be the primary adult for a little bit.

What do you want Santa to bring you?

Cast On: Annapurna Scarf

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It’s the day after Christmas and I’m blogging from an over crowded mini van on its way back to post-christmas reality. I’m finally casting on my Cornbread and Honey advent minis project. Jellybean is watching a movie and PB is snoozing (for now) so here goes nothing! Come along with me and let’s see what I can accomplish today.

I’ve already seen all 12 minis but here is the first one! It’s a gorgeous tonal purplish pink. I put on some knitting podcasts with my headphones and hand wound my yarn. I’m casting on Annapurna by Aspenknits. This pattern is specifically designed for 12 or 24 advent type mini skeins.

I’m back! The three hour car ride is complete and the kiddos are asleep in bed after a terrible sugar crash. I managed to knit half? of the first color section. It’s a pretty wide scarf so between the purling and number of stitches this is taking me a bit to make progress.

For now, I’m off to bed. It’s back to reality tomorrow with work and daycare. This momma is happy and tired. I hope everyone else is re-entering from Christmas safely and slowly!

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Dad’s 2019 Christmas Socks

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I have to be honest. I didn’t think these socks would ever be finished.  These were started in FEBRUARY. I knit a whole sock only to find out that it was insanely too big. I ripped back and started over. I knit these traveling, in hospitals and traveled miles and miles in my purse. DK weight socks shouldn’t take eight months but they are DONE now!!

Pattern: My own toe up vanilla sock “recipe” and afterthought heel for a US Men 13 foot. This is a DK weight yarn so I used a 64 stitch count

Yarn: Viking of Norway Aurora self-striping

Needles: US 3s

The hubby tried these on for me since my Dad wasn’t around. He thinks they are a little loose around the ankles. But Dad likes his cuffs to be on the shorter side a little looser in case he wants to scrunch them down inside his boots. I ended up using roughly 303 yards or 111 grams of yarn and did not need contrasting yarn for the heels.

I wish I had more to say about these socks. But honestly I’m just happy they are done and ready for the gift box. I was ready for this point. But now I don’t have a sock on the needles and I’m at a bit of a loss to know what I want to pick up next??

I have a couple of sock tubes in the stash but also a ton of great sock yarn just waiting to be socks. Do I make shorties or do I make more traditional sized socks? I think I have analysis paralysis, lol.

Happy Knitting!!

Christmas Eve Cast On

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As the mom in this house I am pretty much in charge of Christmas. The presents, the schedule, the food and the holiday cheer. It’s been a little rougher this year with stress at work and then not sleeping a whole lot because my kids are anti-sleep. But this year I NAILED one thing….the Christmas eve boxes.

The hubby is getting new fleece pants and a bottle of whisky. Jellybean is getting new jammies, a book and his knit Dinosaur. PB is getting new jammies and a teething book. And me…..well just look at this glory!

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New fair isle pajama leggings (paired with nursing tank I already own), some liquid holiday cheer and MY CHRISTMAS EVE CAST ON! I pulled my Treasure Goddess Super Toes Cashmere sock gradient set and some Cascade Heritage sock to make the Mini Solutions scarf by Kelene Kinnersly. I am in love because A) CASHMERE and B) squishy garter stitch that requires very little brain involvement. I cannot wait for tonight to bust open this box and get to knitting!!

Merry Christmas to all!!

Grinching

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Jellybean is OBSESSED with Grinches this year. To the point that he dressed as the Grinch for Halloween and PB was Max the dog. Add this to my desire to have rolled sugar cookies at Christmas meant we made frosted Grinch cookies!

The Santa hats were harder than I thought they were going to be…

And we attemped hair and beards. Professional cookie makers…..we are not!

Some cookies are more grinch-y than others. But they are all tasty and wonderfully festive. Now we are ready with cookies for Santa…Bring on Christmas!!

Christmas Treasures

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I was a very good girl this year based on what Santa and others left under the tree for me! And it was a very knitty Christmas! I received blocking wires, a new ball winder, stitch markers, knitting t-shirts, yarn and stitch markers. It was so much more than I expected and I feel very blessed.

I wanted to share a few of my favorites from the bunch. My new winder is amazing! It’s a Starwood Needlecraft hand operated ball winder for those with inquiring minds. I have only done one skein but it was smooth and made a very tight neat cake. I can’t wait to play with it more!

I also received some Bis-Sock yarn from Biscotte Yarns. It’s a lovely mix of pinks and black that will make a lovely variegated project! This is the skein I test wound.

Next up is some Heathers Favorite Sock from T&H Fiber Works in a lovely mauve/pink color. My mother picked out this color so it might grow up to be something for her….

Lastly is a a pair of funny socks and a new wine opener. My current one falls apart every third use and I guess my parents got tired of putting it back together for me! So I have a new one to test out after PB is here and wine is okay again, lol.

Did any of you receive any cool knitty things?