I thought it was probably time for me to get back to this space. We've had a lovely Christmas and we're looking forward to a few gatherings with family and friends for New Year's (my sister and her husband serve an Indian dinner every year for New Year's Day - can't wait). Our celebrations were everything they always are: happy, fun, exciting and exhausting. I love this picture of Abby from after Christmas dinner at Rob's parents' place:

Too tired to be in the thick of things anymore but too wired to stop watching. The toy she's using as a cushion actually belongs to Jasper (the little guy in the foreground) but he didn't seem to mind Abby taking it over.

I thought I'd share this year's sewing projects. There were only four and all of them were small and simple. All were made in the last few days leading up to Christmas using scraps from my sewing room. I think each one turned out to be just right.

First up was a new blanket/cushion for Zeke:

Zeke likes to sit in a few particular places on the floor, out of the way spots that offer a good view. He also, like most cats, really like to lie on top of something - even if it is only a piece of paper. I thought this would be a little cushier; our floors can get pretty cold.

Zeke's cushion is four layers of batting with a top and bottom and some binding. The outside fabric is left over from the schoolhouse tunic I made this summer (and don't seem to have ever blogged about); it's a little heavier than quilting cotton but still very soft. The "tuft" in the middle of the cushion is just satin stitch with the same thread in the top and bobbin.

Project two was a pillow for Abby:

Abby sleeps in her crate at night and when we're not home and has a tendency to scrunch up her crate liner (basically a thick quilt) all to one side and rest her head on it. She regularly uses the couch cushions or her toys for pillows when she snoozes around the house. Rob thought she might like a cushion of her own in her bed (crate).

I made a 12" x 10" pillow form with muslin and stuffed it until it was fluffy but not too full. The pillow cases are cotton prints and have an envelope back. I was really tempted to cut regular style pillow case (they'd be so cute) but realized the temptation to chew the loose edges might be a little much. I'll probably make a couple more pillowcases so I can wash them frequently. Maybe I can find something with squirrels on it.

Projects three and four were mug rugs for my sisters:

My family did a low budget gift giving this year - no one could spend more than $10 and we all had to get a bit creative (lots of making, thrifting and regifting went on). I told Rob about the mug rug I'd seen on Make Something a little while ago and we decided that that would be a fun gift for my sisters. Rob chose the colours for each one and I pieced randomly from my scraps box. They're 5"x7" - just big enough for a mug and a cookie. I love the way they turned out. We wrapped them up with a packet of nice hot chocolate and a Christmas orange each and both my sisters seemed to really like them when they opened them up.

Merry Christmas everyone!

I hope each of you is celebrating today with friends and family and whatever traditions make it Christmas for you. We've opened stockings and eaten a breakfast of mandarin oranges and chocolate and sometime this afternoon we'll be heading over to Rob's parents' place.

I've a little Christmas gift for all of you: Look up.

Rob spent some of his Christmas morning trouble-shooting for me and I've got four new banner photos for you to enjoy. You can use the little arrow buttons at the top of the centre panel to scroll through the photos or you can just sit back and relax and they'll change by themselves after a few seconds.

All the very best,

Shelley

My November sock yarn arrived last Tuesday evening but I wasn't able to find enough light to photograph it until Thursday afternoon. Like the last shipment this yarn is a beautiful dark colour. I didn't really see the colours in it until I was pulling it out to photograph. Delicious, warm and spicy.

You'll notice I haven't told you the name of this skein and that because it's The skein with no name. In her Dyer's Notes Tina explains that she just couldn't settle on anything for this skein so she decided to open it up to the sock club. Suggestions were due on Friday and the finalists are now up. I'm having a hard time deciding which one to vote for but I think I'm leaning towards "Velvet Crush". Something about the look of my skein really makes me think of the texture of velvet.

The patterns this time around are very similar but still different enough to make deciding which one to knit difficult. First we have the Checkerboard Socks by Nancy Bush.

These socks have a checkerboard eyelet pattern on the front, tiny cables down the sides and ribbing on the back. I love the snug feel of ribbing in a sock (I'm wearing my beet socks right now and love their general stay-up-ness) but I'm not overly certain I like the idea of completely different fronts and backs. I'm also being held back by the cable, not because I don't like the look of it - it frames the checkerboard beautifully - but because I've been doing quite a bit of cabling lately and I'm not sure I really want to have to fuss with it. The texture of the checkerboard is really tempting though.

Pattern number two is the Canopy Socks by Samantha Roshak. Eyelets, eyelets, eyelets! I love the cuff on this design. It's full of eyelets but not really lacy looking (I can't really come up with a better description) and if I don't knit these socks (or even if I do) I plan to use this cuff on a pair of plain socks sometime in the future. The rest of the socks is pretty much just a plain sock with a bunch of eyelets in it but it really lets the yarn shine.

Both patterns feature a totally plain, slip-stitch heel (a texture I've never cared for) and unusual toe decreases. If I knit the Checkerboard socks I think I'll continue the ribbing right down the heel. I'm a little nervous of the new toes. I find the regular toe shaping fits me quite well but the toe of a sock is so small that I could always frog it back and reknit it if I don't like the new shaping.

This was the last shipment for the 2010 Rockin' Sock Club and Tina hid a little extra in with our yarn. These itty bitty stitch markers make me want to knit some ridiculously complicated socks just so I have an excuse to use them. Too, too cute!

Since receiving my package I've been trying to decide if I'll join the club again next year and so far I think I will. I've tried a lot of new things this year - different toes, different, heels, top down instead of toe up, at least one of these patterns involves a totally new-to-me cast-on - but the thing I've really loved was participating in the community. I've never really gotten into any groups on Ravelry but this year I've found wonderful people to talk to - both on Ravelry and in the club forums. I'm not an isolated crafter but it's a wonderful thing to talk to people and have them be just as excited as you are about heel shaping and left leaning decreases.

Oh, and inside the ball band this time:

Didn't bode well for my contest entry but that's okay. Now to finish off Rob's second bug sock so I can cast-on something new.