No muppets were harmed in the making of this scarf

Though the cat wasn't exactly amused... I don't think he likes pink.

I whipped up this scarf over a couple of lunch hours, and a part of an evening.

It's knit with Baby Monkey - my absolute favourite novelty yarn. It's so soft and fluffy! It was like a gateway yarn for me... totally the reason I got into knitting. I actually have a whole bunch stashed away to make an afghan - but that's another story.

This particular batch was bought at the Needle Emporium's Tent Sale a few years back. I thought it would be perfect for a scarf to go with the beret I made.

So that's another project off the Christmas list. Now I have a nice four-day weekend (using up my last vacations days), so it's nothing but knit and clean this weekend!

I lied

 I said I had only one pair of socks to complete before Christmas, when in fact I have two. I've made zero progress on Dave's Christmas socks... remember these?

They have been slotted into the Christmas spreadsheet, but I won't be touching them for a little while if I follow the schedule.

The other pair of socks however, are slated to be started next week. I looked in the stash - I only have one skein of yarn that's suitable. And then Mom went an put some new yarns in the shop - all Alley Cat... and I'm sorely tempted to sneak in a grab one.... just check out what Mom has created:

Embers:

 Nightwish:

 

Daydream:

 

 Maori:

There's also some stipeys left, as well as new Top Cat Aran, Twinkle Cat and more! All in the shop now!

Socks ahoy!

The last family birthday present is complete!

Dad's socks are done. Just plain old vanillas in Alley Cat BFL, colour - Pirate's Cove.  I started these in September, and they've been knit almost exclusively on my lunch hours at work. As you can see - I need a better pair of socks blockers for men's socks... maybe Santa will bring me a pair.

I do have one more pair of socks to make for Christmas, so I guess I better go raid the stash and see if I have anything suitable, now that the dpns are free...

Pixie-d

Many readers will know that I have long hair. Well - for the last little while, it's been getting too long - almost-to-my-waist-getting-caught-in-my-armpits-ideal-nesting-place-for-Rocky too long. It was definitely time to get it cut. But since I never do anything by half measures, I was planning on getting it bobbed - a nice little sculpted bob with bangs. Kind of a softer Cleopatra look.

I even took a photo of what I wanted to the salon.

Now I should have been concerned when the hairdresser said that I had some natural curl in my hair. I have never had natural curl. My hair will barely hold a fake curl.

I should have been really concerned when she started putting a whole bunch of layers in the back.

I should have been really, REALLY concerned when she said she needed to add some texture.

What I ended up with was some sort of weird boycut-bob hybrid. Kinda like Justin Bieber meets Dorothy Hamill, and all bad.

I thought maybe it would look better when I washed out all the product she put in it.

Then I thought it might look better if I gelled it back.

Then I thought it might look better in the morning.

When I woke up looking like my Dad in 1984, with it all winging out at the side - I knew I needed to do something drastic.

So I got in the car and drove to the city (because nothing is open in this small town on a Sunday.)...

...and I got pixie-d. Even this is a little shorter than I wanted (it does a weird Alfalfa thing at the back), but I can live with this. I just have to make sure I wear make up every day now - otherwise, I look like my brother.

Voila!

Give me a few hours, and a small recipient - and there's another project off the Christmas list!

This is the Perfect Beret in Twinkle Cat DK (colour is Fairy Petals), for a little fashionista I know. I knew I wanted to make her a beret, but finding a pattern that would work with the variegated yarn was tricky, and in the end I opted for simple.

I love this hat and want to make one for myself... I have some lovely handspun that would be just perfect....

Sale! Sale! Sale!

Tomorrow only (Friday, November 23, 2012),
use the code FRIDAY15 at checkout
and save 15% off your entire purchase!

And Happy Thanksgiving to all our American friends!

When in doubt - map it out!

While I usually live my life in a state of creative chaos, I'm actually fantastic at organization. I was looking at my list of  Christmas and birthday projects still left to do, and admittedly, I was getting a little worried. So -  time to whip out those organizational super-powers!

Today, using excel, I mapped out all the projects on my list (including ones I've already completed - just to make sure no one was missed, and give myself a little ego boost) Then I mapped out all the days until Christmas.

Then, I scheduled which projects I'll be working, on which days. Those are the little light blue and pink boxes (blue for projects worked over my lunch hour, pink for at home). This is just page one - the calendar goes all the way to December 31st.

Naturally, it's not set in stone, but it gives me a much better idea of what's left to do, and how much time I have left to accomplish it.

I'm feeling much better now. I'm sure something will come along to throw a screw into the works - but it's always nice to have a plan!