Off the socks.

It's been a week now since I knit so much as a stitch on a sock. I am feeling a little twitchy, but holiday projects require my attention. And no one is getting socks - I could try to knit a pair with good intentions - but I know myself...no one is getting socks.


I have been working primarily on fingerless mitts. Seems like I spiraled into these babies last year around this time - the Fetching had me by the ears - but this year is the Kolenya after seeing Elemm's holiday gift version for his friend (scroll down). I am not as excited by my colorway choice, but it was stash diving, so I feel accomplished about that. This pair, and several like it,will be teachers' gifts - along with a few other goodies and of course a note thanking them for having my daughters in "good hands" - I can't forgo the pun.

And my next Koolhaas is on the brain. I have the pattern laid out before me now and just finished surfing Ravelry for inspiration. I initially bought a vibrant blue Sheep Shop 3 for this project but it may be a bit thin...I could double it up? Then I see Jared himself is using Malabrigo for his latest - hmmm. Look at that, I write "Jared" like I know this knitting/ spinning/ designing guru - I hope he will forgive my familiarity - just knitters are amazing, we - are - fam-i-ly...right?

I have enjoyed hats - quick knits - well, Koolhaas is a bit complicated but still, it's not a socks-long project. How many hours does a pair of socks take you? I'm thinking 15-18 hours per pair - so am I slow or just about right?


Anyways - the Meathead, now there is an Instant Gratification (IG) project. I made these several months ago for no one in particular, though one daughter has staked claim on the Manos version. I am still considering embellishments...a felted flower would be about perfect, like the one from Susan B. Anderson's Itty Bitty Hats - but I must admit that my own childrens' needs are a bit lower on the priority list than those pesky holiday give-a-ways, as a consolation, their needs may be just above socks. But barely - a junkie needs a sock fix once in awhile. Maybe I could knit and give some bedsocks, something more IG? What IG's are you knitting? (please tell me, so I may steal your ideas - so shameless)

Other holiday knits...Stella probably needs a new outfit and my youngest daughter should probably get a doll or maybe Grumpy Old Bear (though I'm guessing I couldn't give him away either...I'm nothing if not a realist). Maybe we could start a new holiday on New Year's Day gifts-from-mom's-needles-to-children's-hearts - a.k.a. gifts that didn't make it for Christmas because of teachers, aunts, uncles, grandmas, friends, mail ladies, dog groomers - lest I forget buying, gift wrapping, Chistmas cards, decorating, dinner making, party going, make up applying, sparkly dress shopping, over indulging...gosh, that just seems all backwards when I really think about it. Maybe if I throw in church going, elementary school concert attending, caroling and volunteering - yep, that sounds a little better. Does your heart palpitate at the thought of everything that's coming? My gosh, I felt so in control and now it's December?! crap.