happie holidays to you!

Dobby's socks, from Charmed Knits, in Knit Picks Comfy Fingering, in red and green, complete with broomsticks and snitches.  In the spirit of giving and friendship of the season.

Happy holiday wishes to you my friends, and blessings for an awesome new year.

big snowy owl

Two good friends of mine recently got a house, and immediately made it their own with a purple accent wall, a tree of art, and a reading corner with a shag rug.  In the reading corner, on a tree of shelves, sit some little owls, which they said were inspired by the owl fireplace at my Grandma's Ranch.  So, when I saw this pattern, I cast on to knit if for them before even stopping to think.

In Wool-Ease Thick and Quick on two circular 13s, this went together quickly and beautify.  Just give this guy a big squeeze and try not to smile.  It's impossible.

this winter morning

 late sun.  early frost.  gift knits. 

 

Checkers and Chess, for my Grandpa, to match the Asherton Scarf I made him last year, in Lion Brand heathers and twists, Chestnut Heather.

the great christmas tree hunt

The Christmas tree is a long (and tall) standing tradition, and finding it is serious business.  Every year after Thanksgiving, the whole family (Mom, Dad, brother, SOs, cousins, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents) makes the trek into the high country National Forest.  We enter the park with our tree ticket, choose our path carefully, and then set out on foot in our epic quest.  Every year, we come home with an 18-20ft tree.  It is no easy task; selecting the right size tree, with a good face of full branches, as close to the road as possible.  When we have finally found the one, the men set to work swinging the axe to bring the tree down.  Then, we all help to carry it back to the truck and load in on the trailer.  Our prize in tow, we head down to the fireman's station to support the local community and buy steaming plates of chili cheese hot dogs and soda, greatly enjoying the awed looks of fellow tree hunters as they view our grand tree.  This hat and gloves are to honor this, one of my favorite Christmas traditions.

The hat is a Norwegian Star Earflap hat, knit from the top down with a garter st brim, and the gloves are made using the Cigar pattern, but I knit all the fingers to the top.  These are both excellent patterns, and turned out great using Lion's Brand Loden.

What are some of your favorite Holiday traditions?
Happy Holiday knitting!

cowls

I have two cowl patterns to share with you today. 

The first I am calling coffee grounds: a sophisticated pattern with just enough visual interest, perfect for the casual wearer.  The pattern is Basalt, and it knits up quickly in Lion Brand's Jiffy Caffe.

If you are feeling a bit more funk, then I recommend the next pattern: Wonky.  Also in Jiffy, this pattern is fast, fun, and a little silly; a much less serious version of the Basalt. 

Whichever you choose, your neck will be warm and cozy!   The high is 18 degrees here today, with more snow on the way again.  Is it cold where you are?  Stay warm, and have a happy Monday!

PS: Let's go wander in the woods.... 

falling snow

The pattern is Falling Water, and is available on Ravelry as a free pattern download.  It's a lace pattern, but I wanted a warmer scarf, so I chose a thicker yarn, one of my Lion Brand favorites. The pattern came out wonderful, but required some serious blocking.

Winter is in full swing, and so are the Christmas knitting projects!  I will show you more as they become FOs....

More bad weather on the way!

san isabel

The pattern is Forbes Forest, from the wonderful book Scarf Style, and made with Knit Pick's Wool of the Andes, which is the perfect soft wool for a winter scarf.

The winter season is fast approaching!  Can you believe it's almost Thanksgiving?  I will be headed down to spend time with all the family, and with me I will take my new recipes for gluten free pumpkin bread and stuffing, and my next knitting project for the football and parade watching. 

What are your plans for the holiday?  Do you have a favorite recipe to share?