I’m not one of those nice
knitters who knits for everyone. “Nice” isn’t really a word I would use to
describe myself, but that’s a whole different story.
I went to Purlescence for
movie night, and Tony read one of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s short bits from The Yarn Harlot- “It”, and I realized, that in the last seven years, I have NEVER
been defeated by “It”.
Maybe, it’s because one
year, where I thought I would knit for The Boyfriend’s whole family, my mother
sat down with me, and pointed out that I was killing myself over something that
wouldn’t matter to them. Fair enough. This whittled down the list from six
knitted items, down to two. Baking is faster than knitting- and more
appreciated by the non-knitters.
The first Christmas that Andrew
and I were together, I was so in love (in lurve, even) with him, that I knit
him a sweater. I knit him a sweater in Silky Wool on size US 3 and US 5
needles. I hunted down the missing color on the internet, and got it from an
online yarn shop that was closing it’s doors at the end of that week.
I finished it two days
before Christmas. Ends woven in, and everything, so that he could wear it to
the holiday stuff we were doing. I also didn’t knit on it in front of him,
which was a challenge. But I did it.
Since then, the only other
Feat of Insanity was when I decided that in the two months between Stitches
West and Andrew’s birthday, I would knit him SIX pairs of size 12 men's socks. With
colorwork. Clearly, I needed to up my meds. Those got finished, too- even
though I wove in the ends right before I got to the restaurant for the birthday
celebration.
For Christmas, I have
usually only knitted my father a hat, to match whatever running suit Mom and
Sam bought for him. This year, he asked for two. (Pictures to be posted when
they’re taken.) I’m also working on a Top Secret Project for _____ with _____.
______ totally kicked my butt on her half, so I have to catch up, or risk utter
shame and a wicked asskicking from both _______ and _______. I bought the tools
for success, so I should be able to get on that, but spinning has my heart for
now. And possibly my liver and kidneys as well. But the holidays are coming,
and I committed to doing this like two months ago. (My half is half done, so
we’re 75% there, minus the finishing.)
So, my Christmas knitting is
limited to two hats, and ½ of the Top Secret Project.
Not bad for having more than
25 days to finish, right?
