Holiday Gifts 2019

The biggest holiday of the year is over ! Now we can all relax for a while. I had some cooking to do on Christmas but not a lot.  I was able to relax and enjoy myself.  How did your day go ?

I did fairly well with getting all of my gifts completed.  I made eight items total and was able to pull an extra gift (the cabled cowl) from last year to give away.  I made 6 hats a pair of fingerless gloves and this cable scarf for my doctor. It was not hard at all but took up a lot of my knitting time because it was just shy of 70 inches. He was touched and loved the scarf though.  I started my gift knitting July 14, 2019 and if all goes as planned I'd like to begin making gifts in April, 2020.  That way I can take more time to make better quality gifts. It would have been nice to make cowls to go with the hats or to make a couple of fair-isle items such as hats or mittens.  I'm hoping my 2020 would not be as hectic as 2019.  Did you make gifts ? When did you begin and were you able to complete them in time ?  Do you have plans for 2020 to make gifts for family and friends ?

I guess I can take a break from crafting now.  Enjoy the rest of your week !

WIP Wednesday

I'm working on a few planned WIPs.  This one was unexpected as it was requested out of the blue.  My physician hinted that he wanted a scarf.  I'm happy he was not looking at me when he dropped the hint because my jaw dropped and in less than 40 seconds I had in mind which 3 colors from my stash I would use, what style, and approximately how much time I would need.  I knew his project would be started immediately because scarves tend to be pretty long.  I was ready. ~ Now the second part of the story behind this WIP is that I found what I thought was the perfect scarf pattern.  It was a paid for pattern that did not work for me.  I've done cables a gazillion times but the authors directions were not very good.  I think she only had one pattern and not too many Ravelers made it.  This happens sometimes.  So I ended up making my own pattern that is similar to hers but mine makes sense.  It's cables for goodness sakes.  They are time consuming not confusing. The photo with what looks like swatches were start and fails from her pattern. The cables you see that's my pattern.

Happy Crafting to You All !

;-) 

Knitting and Gardening WIPs

August already can you believe it.  Four months and 2017 will be no more !  Speaking of August I've chosen this Patons Kroy in the colorway Flax as a trimming for my August socks.  Patons sock yarn is a guilty pleasure of mine.  Some of my knitting buddies snub it but it knits up really nice.  

I was compelled to choose a nice cable pattern but decided to do another vanilla pair.  I've chosen Yellow as the main color and the pattern worked will be Vanilla Latte.  

In between working on my socks I'm sneaking in a couple of holiday gifts.  I don't need a pattern.  This is a 2X2 rib done on US 6s.  I will make two or three with little cousins in mind or for other relatives in case I need extra gifts.  I learned this trick a few years ago.

It's interesting going from US2s to US6s.  Feels like I'm knitting with oars.

Now about my garden

My pink hydrangea have taken a few steps backwards.   Not only was it not thriving in the garden but it caught something so the leaves were covered with spots.  I cut off the diseased leaves dug it up and planted it in a large pot.  It actually looks brighter and happier.

I mentioned a few posts ago about purchasing the half dead Bee-balm (Monarda).  It is thriving somewhat but not at all how I'd hoped for.  There are new leaves which are bright but the plant hasn't grown much.    I'm getting the feeling the Bee-Balm doesn't like Georgia clay. 

When I lived in Michigan Bee-Balm was one of my favorite plants.  It was hearty and invasive  but not in my Georgia garden.  I'll dig it up and pot it this week.  Everything else in my garden is doing fine.

The snippets of blue hydrangea are coming along slowly but surely.   They've done so well I'm sure I'll be gifting them to neighbors

Have a Happy rest of the week.  Back to my knitting...

I can't be the only One

This is a poster I and many knitters put on our Instagram and Facebook pages making light of the stress we go through before the Holidays.  It is quite funny when you think about it.  We knit, crochet and craft all year long yet two and a half months before December we’re sweating bullets to get those gifts done on time.  I’m laughing as I type this.  I did fairly well last year with not as much rush knitting before the Christmas.  I resolved this year to be different though.  I should have began gift knitting the beginning of June but it will have to be July.  I'll begin my first Holiday gift the first week of July.  Yes.

Socks

I love Holiday socks and especially Christmas socks !  They’re so cute and put me in the holiday spirit even more.  What I’ve noticed though is knitters seem to have their holiday socks done at the same time.  With projects on and off the needles all year when do knitters begin working on their holiday socks ?  You can laugh but this is all a mystery to me.  I’m determined to become a knitter that organizes and completes her projects within a reasonable timeframe.  Well.  I can try. 

My latest drink

There are many ways to make a parsley cleansing detox but my way is this.  

• Cut up a bunch of parsley

• Slice up a lemon

• Put them both in a pot of 32 oz more or less of spring water

• Boil for approximately ten minutes then drain

• Refridgerate

This is a detox that will help to cleanse the liver and kidneys among other things.  It’s great for clearing up the complexion which promotes youthful looking skin.

In any case have a great and wonderful week !