Tag: gifts

Surprise gifts

I love surprise gifts … you know, when it’s not your birthday or Christmas so it’s completely unexpected. Who doesn’t? I love giving them (in case you hadn’t noticed with all the giveaways I do – ha!) but I certainly don’t mind receiving them either.

This sweet thank you note along with a tatted ring and bracelet made by Billie arrived in the mail yesterday.

Tatted jewelry from BillieBillie won the last round of paperback giveaways celebrating the release of Dowser 5. And the super cool thing? Other than the totally classy thank you note. I’ve never laid eyes on tatted jewelry before. I’d heard the term tatted, of course. But I hadn’t associated it with jewelry, etc.

So Billie, thanks for the surprise present and for the new knowledge! Look for an upcoming character wearing tatted jewelry somewhere, sometime. 😀

Gift Knitting…

Now I am not a very big gift knitter.  I am ultimately selfish with regards to projects that take so much of my time and are usually made with yarn that I am totally in love with (and therefore have no wish to just give away). Debates about gift knitting can go on for days on Ravelry, and non-knitters really seem to have little grasp of how much time and energy go into knitting, so a lot of knitters fall into the same category as me: only give handknits to those you think will appreciate it.

With that said I thought I might quickly flash some of my recent gift knitting here:

Pattern: TTL Mystery Sock by Kirsten Kapur
Yarn: Sweet Georgia CashLuxe Fine in the Tourmaline colourway
Cast on: September 3, 2010
Finished: October 16, 2010
Pattern Rating: 5 stars
Yarn Rating: 4.5 stars
Ravelry Project Page

Quick thoughts – made for my lovely friend Janine who, fortunately, has smaller feet than me, because, as you can see, these are a little tight on me in the modelling shots. I found the pattern challenging and ended up ripping out the first sock THREE times and the second twice – I kept dropping stitches or making the socks WAY too small (the cables across the foot really cinch in the fabric). Ultimately it was worth it because I just loved them. I thought the colour was amazing – perfect for my friend Janine – the yarn was luxurious, and the pattern was another beautiful and well-written one by Ms. Kapur.

Pattern: Tangled Vine Socks by Chrissy Gardiner
Yarn: Fearless Fibers Merino Cashmere Nylon in the “Grass is Always Greener” colourway
Cast on: October 27, 2010
Finished: November 20, 2010
Pattern Rating: 4 stars
Yarn Rating: 5 stars
Ravelry Project Page

Quick thoughts: Christmas socks for my sister – the perfect colour and absolutely decedent yarn. A fun, pretty, under appreciated pattern – though I couldn’t figure out the short row heel (which was  new to me) so after making one that turned out awfully I opted for a regular slip stitch heel.

Pattern: Twisted Mockery by Lisa Stichweh
Yarn: The Sanguine Gryphon – Skinny Bugga in the Tufted Jungle King colourway
Cast on: November 1, 2010
Finished: December 7, 2010
Pattern Rating: 5 stars
Yarn Rating: 5 stars
Ravelry Project Page

Quick thoughts: I belong to the Sock Knitters Anonymous Group on Ravelry. They, among other things, host a Sockdown: Ravelry challenge every year. This is a KAL (knit along) for anyone who wishes to participate (and, as long as you follow the rules, you may win a prize). As apart of this KAL different designers design mystery sock patterns every second month. These, pictured above, are the results of my very first MOCK (Mystery Sock) with the SKA group. I had never attempted such “difficult” socks, but the pattern was clearly written and easy to follow and I adore the results!  These became a Christmas gift for my mom Laurel and I hope she likes them as much as I did!