A little self indulgence...

I've spent a few days hiding from the unusually frosty weather. Even though it looks pretty outside I'd much prefer to stay indoors and warm and indulge in... ... home-baked gingerbread cookies with icing ...

Socks, for me, in comfortably easy stocking stitch with Noro Kureyon sock yarn...... and some spinning; mixed batts from Laura Hogan named 'Give my Love to Rose'.I separated the fibres into 'mostly pinks' and 'mostly not pinks' for something sparkley, fluffy and not typical of the cynical & grumpy me. My handknit gift list was well-received by all - I think that must have contributed to the good mood.

Winter Solstice

I have been lamenting the lack of daylight recently; not because I dislike the darkness, but because I much prefer to take photos in natural light, and because I prefer spinning in natural light too. Fear not, today is December 21st; the Winter Solstice; the shortest day of the year. From now on, the days will start to get longer. My ancestors celebrated this time of year because the end of winter was coming.

I can celebrate this day safe in the knowledge that my Christmas Knit Gift list has been completed; all ends woven in; all presents purchased & mostly wrapped, and the gingerbread cookie dough is sitting in the fridge, awaiting baking.

I feel golden & glowey with the smugness :)
Photo taken at Newgrange by Alan Betson.

Sucker for punishment part II...

Yep.... more gift knits in the form of socks.

L-R; Broken Rib Slipper socks, in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran ; Gentleman's Half Hose in Lang Jawoll superwash ; Walking Cables socks in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran.

There is light at the end of the tunnel though...

I got to play with Beatrice (spinning wheel) and 'Tara' blended batts from Laura Hogan;
http://www.etsy.com/shop/lhogan

The colour & fibre combinations make me think of fairy dust. A nice break from the Gift Knit List.

Sucker for punishment.

For some reason beyond my understanding, I have decided that the vast majority of people on my giftlist for Christmas would like hand knitted socks. Considering that the average pair of socks, knit in plain stocking stitch, with 2.5 mm needles in 4 ply weight yarn, takes me approximately 15 - 20 hours of knitting time it would appear that I really am a sucker for punishment. To make this even more challenging I have decided that some socks, in teeny little 4 ply yarn, on teeny wee 2.5 mm needles also need some intricate decorative stitch patterns. In my defence I have also decided that cushy, soft slipper socks, in aran weight yarn, knit on 3.5 - 4.5 mm needles (for I am a slightly loose knitter) would also be acceptable gifts for those I care about. I'm also lucky that a couple of people on the gift list have very small feet!

L-R Horseshoe cable socks, in Brown Sheep Wildfoote Luxury Sock yarn ; modified Spiral Bedsocks for the family in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK ; Spider Socks in Dublin Dye Company Twinkle Toes; basic toe-up, short row heel socks in Schoppel Wolle Admiral Ombre ; a second pair of basic toe-up socks with short row heels in Schoppel Wolle Admiral Ombre

In sadder news, one of the extended family pets passed away yesterday, from suspected poisoning from something in a nearby field. Missy was taken in by my brother and sister in law as a wee stray kitten, two years ago. She has been a most adventurous cat who liked to be chased up the stairs, and who growled at passing crows.