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I thought these Evergreen socks would be a great start to a stash of Christmas themed socks I want to knit this year. They are nice but the yarn doesn't show off the lace trees quite as well as I'd hoped. I will knit another pair in a stark green yarn to see if that will pop the pattern. Another hack I made on the socks was to knit them from the toe up. Because they were written as cuff down socks, and I only knit toe up, I just started knitting at the bottom of the printed tree pattern and flipped the K2tog and SSK stitches.(meaning if the pattern said K2tog I SSK and if if said SSK I K2tog) Pattern: Evergreen Socks by Madeline Gannon Yarn: Knit Picks Tweed Colorway: Sequoia Tweed Needle Size: US Size 1

I loved knitting the pattern but the yarn was just the wrong choice! I've turned into such a yarn snob, acrylic just won't do. It was cold and we were more or less snowed in and so I dug around in my stash and found this acrylic yarn. The i-cord bind off was new to me and a very nice finish.  I think I'll knit another sometime in wool and make it even larger for December and January's cold days at home. Pattern: Jamie's Shawl Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Sport Colorway: Cobblestone Needle Size: US Size 10

Originally I had started knitting this yarn in another very similar pattern to the Groovy Socks but the rhythm of the stitch pattern just didn't work for me. I ripped out 2/3 of a sock, which I never do,  and started over with this pattern. I just love how it knits up with striped yarn! Pattern: Groovy Socks by Caroline Hegwer Yarn: Carlton Yarns Sock Weight Colorway: Dahlia Garden Needle Size: US Size 1

I cast these socks on thinking I'd be able to gift them to Hubby for Christmas, but sadly I was still knitting the second sock on New Years... He doesn't want me knitting for him but they looked like some really tough, long wearing socks. I thought they might be a good pair to keep the Hubby’s feet warm this snowy January. We’ll see if he wants and will wear them! Pattern: Vanilla with a Fish Lips Kiss Heel Yarn: ONline Supersocke 6-fach Nero Color Colorway: 1871 Needle Size: US Size 1

Adult Sweaters; 2 Socks: 37 pairs Slippers: 7 pairs Baby Sweaters: 4 Baby Quilts: 7 Toys: 1 Christmas Sweater Ornaments: 9 Hats: 5   Preemie hats: 69 Cowls: 1 Scarves: 2 Mittens: 3 Cat Beds: 21 Grand Total of knitting in 2017: 161 items Favorite items: So proud to have protesters in the family! Favorite photo prop for knitted item: Knitting on our trip to China 2017 Craziest thing knit this year: Favorite hand dyed item: Only hand dyed item I knit this year Dumbest mistake: Starting and ripping out 3 sweaters. ( So bad there are no photos!)

The Chick came home a few days before Christmas and told me she had a friend who was going to have twin boys and surprise! They were born a bit early, the Wednesday before Christmas.   Pattern: Five Pound Baby Cardigan by Carole Barenys Yarn: BernatSoftee Baby Solids Colorway: Blue Needle Size: US Size 3 and 5 I love knitting quick, impromptu, projects over the holidays and so was more than happy to knit up these little sweaters for the new babies. The projects aren't finished, finished, finished…I still have to find 10 little buttons sew on the two sweaters but I’m currently snowed in and do not mind staying home one little a bit!

Another wonderful Christmas is in the books. We missed the California Family this year but the ballerina was busy performing in not one but two Nutcracker ballets. She was Mother Ginger in her school's performance and King Mouse with the Oakland Ballet Company. She spent several days  including Christmas Eve dancing. The Chick came into town on Wednesday and we planned out meals and did the shopping. (What a great help) I was pleased when she wanted to get yarn to knit a baby sweater. There isn't a more satisfying way to spend a snowy holiday than to cuddle up and work on knitting. The NorDak Family arrive Friday and we decided with all the decorating I had done around the house previously, we could forgo having a tree this year in order to have kittens who didn't electrocute themselves! I was relieved to have SadieLou around to make Chex Mix and decorate cookies.   We enjoyed putting puzzles together, playing cards and renew an interest in Mexican Train Domino...