It's almost Christmas - Yikes!

Geez, Christmas is coming so fast this year. Fortunately, I am not doing much knitting for Christmas, but I still want to get some projects finished before the end of the year. I did finish the hat for my husband. I used Kraemer's Summit Hill yarn in Black and Pearl (he is an Oakland Raiders fan) with a size 6 needle. This was a fun knit and I really enjoy knitting in the round.

I couldn't stop with one hat, so now I am making another one in Green and White for my father-in-law. I should have it complete in time.

I knit two dishcloths this month. One is Grandma's Snowman using Peaches and Creme yarn in Ecru. I used size 6 needles for this cloth. It's cute, but there were quite a few problems with the pattern.

The second cloth was the final dishcloth in for the year. The pattern is the Doily Style Dishcloth. I used Peaches and Creme cotton in the Mar Di Gras colorway with size 7 double pointed needles. I really, really liked this pattern and especially the color. It was a great project to end the year. I like the color so much that I want to get a cone of it. But, I will have to wait. Shipping on just one cone is high and I really don't need any other cotton yarn. I will wait until later in 2009 to get more of this colorway. But that won't stop me from making more in another colorway.

Speaking of dishcloths, I like to knit dishcloths because they are small projects and you learn new stitches with them. I have been knitting dishcloths since 2004 when I began knitting again. I have them all over the place and have never used them. So, I dug them out and kept the ones I really liked and my husband took a lot into work to pass them out. I am saving some too for when my family comes up for Christmas. This will give you an idea of the pile that we are passing out to anyone who wants them. I don't have too many left, so I should be able to get rid of them all.

Maybe in 2009 I will have a contest and see who can come close to the number of dishcloths in the pile and give away some yarn to reduce my stash.

Of course I had to buy more yarn. I got another skein of Malabrigo sock yarn in the Lettuce colorway. I love this yarn. I am working on one sock now, but I need to take a picture. I'm just at the ribbing though, so I'll wait until I get a little further. Sock knitting has been on the back burner this month.

From Knitpicks, I got some of their Cotlin yarn to make some dishtowels. The colorways are royal plum, glacier, and key lime.

In my knitting class at Kraemer's, we are going to have a sweater project starting in January. I am going to knit the Central Park Hoodie using Kramer's Tatamy Tweed worsted yarn in the purple colorway. I am looking forward to starting this project.

I also couldn't resist buying Fannies Fingering Weight Yarn in the Arizona colorway from Kraemer's Yarn Shop.

And, the Loopy Ewe drew me in again. I bought Toe Jamz - Happy Hands Yarn in the Mr. Bojangles colorway.

Also, I got the new Creatively Dyed Calypso Yarn in Travel and Quick Step as well as Jo Jo Land Melody superwash wool in two different colorways (005 and 001). I believe that Jo Jo Land caused quite a stir at Stitches this year. You can use it for socks or scarves. I may have to make one of each.

I think that's enough for now. I need to go knit and get ready for Christmas. I am having family for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. I am just about ready, but need to do some cleaning. Yuck, I hate to clean. I have better things to do than that (like knit and read).