Hard to believe we’re already halfway through January, isn’t it? The holidays were such a blur of family and friends and food and knitting and driving to places! It was wonderful! But also kindof tiring – I’ve been back at the shop for two weeks and I feel like I’m just now getting back into the swing of things…
While I was on holidays I knit up a few new things…
This is the “Orchids and Fairy Lights” hat pattern by Tiny Owl Knits. I knit it with stashed Malabrigo Worsted, but the Malabrigo Rios we have in stock would work quite nicely. One skein for the hat AND the pompom! (I’m quite fond of pompoms this winter!)
I also finished a pair of Stephen West’s Splitbark mittens. I knit a sample of these a while ago for the shop, and ever since have wanted a pair in a more grellow-friendly colour. When this awesome “Chicken Beak” yellow yarn was brought back from Rhinebeck for me (thank you Hannah!!!), I knew it was just the ticket. Still trying to decide on buttons though!
And this was my totally-stress-free holiday knitting I toted around with me on the Southern Ontario Holidays 2012 family-visiting tour – the BIGGEST COWL EVER. This is knit in the Cascade Magnum, a SUPER bulky Peruvian wool yarn. I grabbed one skein of this, a pair of 15mm needles, cast-on 24 stitches, worked in garter stitch, slipped the first stitch of every row purlwise for a nice clean edge. Did that until it wrapped comfortably around my head, cast-off, sewed the ends together, and Bob’s your uncle. And my neck has been toasty warm ever since!
The only knitting I had to get done before the holidays (for gifting purposes) were these mittens: Robots Vs. Downtown by Annie Watts, which some of you may have seen me working on in the shop in the weeks prior to Christmas. It was a close one, but I got them finished and blocked and wrapped before Christmas! They were a gift for my sweet boyfriend, Will, and he loves them! And was totally surprised!
Speaking of surprises, *he* surprised *me* with the gift of a dulcimer!
What is a dulcimer, you might ask? It’s a lap instrument from the Appalachian Mountains, and I’ve wanted one for a very long time. I likely won’t have much time to experiment with it until after sweater-knitting season is over, but at least I have a reason to look forward to summer, sitting on my back patio, playing a little bit of mountain dulcimer music… 
Loved your blog as always, especially the cute picture of Will.
M.
Thanks Mom!
Cool. I got to know a dulcimer maker when I was young, Walker Fanning, a great guy and musician. Always interesting. I play guitar now and uke and some bass. Great for jamming.
Very cool! I started learning guitar last year, but I think I’ll take to dulcimer much faster. I’m pretty excited about it.