I would love to say that I knit all my Christmas gifts. It doesn't happen. However, I do try to support the handmade world when I can. Here are a few of my favorites.
My friend, Keana, (knitting!) wearing a hollyhawk bracelet.
Jules. I really love her id tags. This is a grandmother bracelet. Perfect for your, um, grandmother, of course!

With the holidays fast approaching, my mind races on what to all those people that deserve something in my life. I can't seem to leave the house without taking along one of these projects. I just wanted to share them again in case you needed some ideas on what to make. Seriously great stash busters. Just one skein is all they take. And a no brainer, so they are great to do while you wait just about anywhere.
For some reason I have made a lot more pairs of toast, then toasty's. For me, I love that toast doesn't have the thumb.
And, those mitts. My favorite yarn to use for all three of these patterns is Classic Elite's Portland Tweed. Not only do I love the tweedy appearance, but the wear of this yarn is FANTASTIC!

It is really hard to believe. Ten years ago we heard those wonderful words, "It 's a boy"!
And, what a boy he is!!!

It didn't take long to fix my mistake.
And now I have a pair of socks to fit either Libby (size 7) or myself.
Truly one fun knit. Knowing so many others out there are knitting this right along with you makes it even better. Thanks Kirsten for putting this together.
I used Cascade Heritage, color 5631 on size 2 needles.

I wear a size 8.
In both feet.

There were twelve balloons, her favorite soup in bread bowls, along with the requested lady bug cake (what? it doesn't look like a ladybug to you?) filled with mint chocolate chip ice-cream.
Zero to six...the speed of sound.
Six to twelve... the speed of light.

I could live in this season all year long. It's such a shame it goes so fast.

So, with a clean kitchen, one boy reading, the other two at youth group (I love youth group... for more reasons than one) I sit to blog at night. (Laundry machines and baskets are full... but who cares?)
This weeks cookie: Grandma Mollie's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, from Jane. I left out the raisins simply because I didn't have them. (And the walnuts simply because they don't like them.) After school, all twelve cookies from that dish were gone in a matter of minutes.

So, you know when you are so busy but can't explain what you are doing? Yep, that pretty much sums me up these days. Running in circles would pretty much explain it. I'm a little behind on my mystery socks. Hope to change that this weekend.
I did start a new project. Something for Libby. Fast going on size 8 needles holding two strands (check out those colors!) together.

Camping on Assateague Island.
Desolate beaches.
Wild ponies that roam free.
Charred dogs.
Knitting. Always knitting.
Everything cooked over the fire.
Swimming. Fishing. Beach football. Crabbing. Exploring.
It really was so beautiful.

I mentioned before how much I love nest. This year they were asking for donations of hats, mittens, cowls, scarves and socks. Well, Cosy's book pretty much has patterns to cover all of those things. Basic patterns that are quick, easy and great for all levels. There are also plenty of ideas for embellishing. Gotta love when you can embellish something with a little star to make a child feel just like that...a Star.

The VOGUEKnitting long coat.
I finished it right before my trip and ended up wearing it a lot. Like I said, I am not happy with how the photos turned out. After tasting wine, I simply forgot to check the settings on my camera and also forgot that little rule about how photos turn out better if not taken in direct sunlight. However, I really don't feel like retrying to take photos, so here you go.
I love so much about this sweater, the long ribbing in the sleeves, the ribbing in the back waist, the low neckline, the circle pattern on the side, and of course the yarn. I even thought that if you wanted to omit the asymmetrical aspect on the right side, it would still look great. And on size 8 needles it was a pretty fast knit.
Pattern: VogueKnitting Fall '09, #1 long coat

I just wanted to mention Kirsten's mystery sock knitalong. Maybe you did it last year, maybe you didn't. If you haven't heard of it, it really is a ton of fun. Kirsten will post new directions every Thursday. It is pretty great to have a weekly goal, accomplish that goal each week, and then have a pair of socks at the end of it. (If you work on both socks!) So, check your stash, shop your local yarn store or order some sock yarn on-line. She will be posting the first clue tomorrow!

Hi there!

If only I had two hundred and twenty two twinkle books along with some yarn. Yes, I would really love that. Then I would be able to send everyone a book and yarn. Unfortunately, I don't. So I had the random number generator choose a number for me. Number 58. Asia, you won! Please e-mail me with your address and as soon as I get home I will pop it in the mail.

It's official. Fourteen balloons means we now have a fourteen year old in the house.
Charlie turned fourteen yesterday. Hard to believe. So, so hard to believe.

This weeks cookie of the week. Big. Big peanut butter cookie of the week.
Honestly. Check out the size. A true treat to find one of these after school or in your lunch box. All three kids said they were the best peanut butter cookie they ever had. I'm thinking they were really loving the size. Out of this same cookbook. I couldn't find the recipe but it is basically this except with creamy peanut butter and made into cookies.... not cookie sandwiches.

Some time ago, I made this:
Unfortunately, I didn't like the way it fit, so I gifted it to my sister. I had every intention of making it again in order to fit me. However, two years later have never done so. Well, this past weekend while in my cleaning frenzy, I came across the yarn. And thought since I probably will never get around to making another one, maybe one of you would like to make it. I have enough yarn for a medium. Of course, you will need the book, so I will include that also.
If you would like a chance to win this, please comment here by midnight, Friday the 18th.

So, again, I was going to try to get over here all weekend. But I got a little preoccupied. Not with any mice (haven't spotted anymore, yet) but with an empty house. Did you hear me? An empty house! My husband took the children to an LSU game (were you there beki?) and I had the house to myself. I must say, it was wonderful. It is amazing how much more you can accomplish while alone....for an extended amount of time. There was organizing, closet purging, music listening, sewing, movie watching and of course, knitting.
I spent a lot of time thinking about parts of this sweater. The pattern is written so that the top back half of this sweater is done in the reverse stockinette. As are the sleeves. And when I saw this piece finished, at the show, I liked that. It added a bit of interest and texture. However, this weekend, I decided to rip it back to the rib and do the top half in stockinette. As well as the sleeves.
A friend of mine recently gave me the Foster's Market cookbook. There are some amazing recipes in there. Of course, I flipped straight to the desserts to look for some new cookie recipes. First up were the blondies. The batter makes so much (hello 4 cups of brown sugar) that I ended up dividing it and using half of the dough one week (with heath toffee bits) freezing the other half and using it the following week (last week) with chocolate chips.
The kids liked the heath toffee bits so much better then the chocolate chips. The chocolate chips ended up being more like a chocolate chip cookie.... pie. Which has me thinking. I would really love to make an apple pie.

I tried to get over here all day yesterday. To share some knitting. And the last couple of "cookie of the weeks". However, instead I found myself keeping watch on this:
You see, in my eyes, there was a ferocious beast under the towel, under the laundry basket. A heavy (needlepoint) brick made sure that he couldn't escape. But, I didn't trust that and spent the next few hours checking in on it to make sure there was no way he could get out.

So, school has been back in session for a week. And I think I am finally feeling good about the new routine. I'm not sure why, but I felt a little lost when they went back this year. Even though I was able to jam my music, it still seemed quiet. A little too quiet. Suddenly it seemed as if all that "stuff" I really wanted to do didn't seem nearly as important. In fact, I couldn't even remember what it was I wanted to do. I know, sounds crazy. Trust me, it didn't last long. Kim reminded me that I loved to bake. And knit!
This is the other side of the long coat. The side with the circular design. I know, it looks a little strange to me, also. I am trusting it will block correctly.
As I brought in these tomatoes on Sunday afternoon, Charlie gasped and said "please, no more tomato pie". I will make it again (for the third time) but I promised not to make him eat it. You should try it, though. It is really fabulous.