Christmas Eve at our house

As usual, we celebrated Christmas with Roger's mom and family. I always have a craft for the kids, but htis year I included everyone in the activity - decorating teeny-tiny sweaters! But first, on Thursday Lisa and Alicia came over to make tamales.

We made a whole bunch.

I finally finished my hooked rug. I designed it myself from a Christmas card Brenda gave us two years ago.

There's no artist listed on the card, but if you know who this talented person is please let me know.

The children and the grown-ups enjoyed the sweaters. Jeff used one as a beer coozie.

So nice to see everyone together.

The Final Count

The final tally of my "Fifty-two pairs in 2010" is less than planned but doesn't match my enthusiasm for my project. I think I may have made it into the double-digits. I am able to knit a pair in a few days tops, which gives you an idea of how busy I am otherwise.
Some current projects have been the teenty-tiny sweaters. We have a huge party each year on Christmas Eve with Roger's family and I always have some crafty activity planned for the kids. The little girls in the family outnumber the boys - which always makes a huge difference in how one's craft project is received. The boys are usually bundled up and thrown outside to the wolves until it's time to open presents. Because of technival difficulties, I'm unable to post my picures at this time but will ASAP.

A new pair, and giving thanks

We celebrated in Tampa with dear Zada.
A new pair for Jon - not cashmere as promised, unfortunately!

Time for Teeny-tiny sweaters

First, a PSA for the Rogers Rocket stick. "Rocket" stick - yes, if you're in Bizarro world. Sometimes I think my dial-up was faster. I'll shlep down to the library later on and post the photos - which are adorable, BTW.

Here are the instructions:
Materials: worsted weight yarn (I used Leti-lopi for the fuzzy texture and vibrant colours)
size 6 needles
size 6 dpns, the shorter the better.
No gauge, unless you're knitting these for Stuart Little.
Sorry for the delay in getting these instructions to you. The following is from the 2008 edition of Holiday Crafts.


Cast on 17 st. Work in St st for 3 1/2 in, ending with a purl row.

Next row (neck opening):

knit 6 sts, place next five on a stitch holder. At the same time, cast on 5 st on right needle using backward loop method. Knit last 6 sts. Work even in St st until piece measures 7 inches from beginning. Bind off all stitches.

Sleeve (make two):

Measure up 1 3/4 in from bottom /front and place stitch markers. With right side facing pick up and knit 14 asts between a pair of markers.

Work in St st for three rows, ending with a purl (WS) row. Dec each side of next row - 12 sts. Work three rows even. Dec 1 st at eacch side of next row - 10 sts. Work eve until sleeve measures 31/2" from pick-up row. Bind off al lsts. Rep for 2nd sleeve.

Neckband:

Join yarn at side of from neck opening. Using dpn, k across 5 sts from holder, pick up and k 5 sts across back of neck opening - 14 sts. Distribute sts onto three dpn and place marker to indicate beg of rnd. K next 7 rnds. Bind off all st as if to purl.

FInishing:

Sew sleeves and side seams. Fold up sleeves to shape cuffs. Weave in ends.

Embellish these little sweaters with ribbon, tiny ornaments, Christmas buttons. Hang sweaters as ornaments using miniature clothes- hangers. For a garland, attach to length of twine with miniature clothespins.

People will go nuts over these!

My Halloween Ribbon Wreath

You can find out how to make it here. Let me add, I appreciate this nice lady sharing her time and talent!
It was lots of fun to make and I had enough ribbon left over to make one for my SIL/dogsitter, Joyce.

Cascade's two-button flared cardigan

Warning, Will Robinson!

This is a beautiful design that has  many flaws in the pattern instructions. I did a search on Ravelry and found that others have had the same problem, so it's not just my inability to read and count. I'm bummed. I started this dog three times, and three times I frogged it, the last for good. So now I'm making  little booties in camo-yarn for my new little friend, Ayden Hough, who was born into a family of camo-wearers.

What I do instead of writing

I knit and bake. Non secret.

I go to the library.

I order obscure titles off of Alibris.

I take photos of my pets.

I exploit my pets by doing insulting parodies of famous mommy-blogs.