Gifting Season

Up until a month ago, I don’t think I had ever knit something (that I was proud of) to completion and given it as a gift, and I have been knitting for a few years now, so to finally do that feels really, really good. I completed my Mamluke Socks and gave them as a birthday gift. I’m told that the recipient wore them on Thanksgiving and showed them off to their family & friends. This made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside

The second knitted gift given recently were two baby bibs for my friend’s new baby, Hank. I love his name by the way. The bibs were a pattern from the book Mason Dixon Knitting – a really easy pattern. I found some cute buttons at Michael’s to match the colors (which are…umm….just a little bright! I wish I would’ve chosen more natural looking colors). One bib is a little bigger than the other, and they’re both a little large for the baby at the moment, but that is okay, because he will quickly grow into them.

I’ve also started another baby project, and one that is making me learn a new technique: yarn overs! I found the pattern on Ravelry, but it’s from Craftster – Diamond and Smocked Baby Blanket. I’m having a lot of fun knitting this – even though the first couple rows of the pattern are messed up (I don’t think it’s too noticeable though). I’m enjoying it so much that I’m not getting any of my holiday knitting done! And it’s a baby project – so who’s having the baby? My sister in law is expecting in May! They don’t know if it’s going to be a girl or a boy yet, but the blanket I’m making is green-ish. People keep telling me that green would be okay for a girl – but I’m not sure I agree, it seems more like a boyish color to me. Ironically, my favorite color is green.  And this looks pretty blue-ish to me.  But people tell me I’m color blind, so, what do I know?

Now on to the “Holiday Knitting” section of this blog post. Oofda. I had too many things planned for what little time I have. I think the only thing I may actually (and better!) finish are the Finnish Socks for the father in law. I would really like to make this hat for my niece, but I have yet to buy the yarn. I had also planned on a fair isle hat for a few other people, but I don’t think there will be time for that.

Oh! On top of all that – I promised the man of the house that I would make him a new, brown, simple, ribbed hat. Probably not until after Christmas.

How’s that for an update? Happy holiday knitting to you all.