When I was 12, I got a white board for my birthday. I asked for it�??I just loved white boards. The problem was, I ran out of things to write on it. A few months later it was Christmas time and I finally had an idea for the white board. A sign inviting my two younger sisters to spend Christmas Eve in my room, anticipating the coming morning together. I called it Sister’s Night.
We just celebrated our 18th annual Sister’s Night. The tradition stuck. Since about the 3rd or 4th year we have exchanged gifts. Our way of getting two Christmas presents from each other every year I guess. This year my knitting sister Kara gave me “Handknit Holidays” by Melanie Falick. This is a really wonderful pattern book with plenty of beautiful knits. Kara also gave me some gorgeous yarn in my stocking�??2 skeins of Classic Elite Miracle in orange (color 3385). It is a 50% Alpaca, 50% Tencel (whatever that is) blend. I decided to use it to make the Accessories Pouch version of the Counterpane Carpet Bag found in Handknit Holidays. See the two sides I made below:
I love it. I made it with one more round of scallops so it would be more like a clutch. This week I need to find the right fabric to line it. Now, I am NOT a seamstress so I am pretty nervous about sewing this all together but I have a few friends who can help me. I think it will be pretty.
Now I have a few other projects I have targeted. Here is one that I am currently working on:
These are the Gauntlets from Sally Melville’s “The Purl Stitch.” They are made with Koigu PPPM�??I got mine from Knit Happens when I was on a trip to DC. I am about half way through the first one and am really loving how it is turning out. I heart Koigu.
On Saturday, I visited my LYS to buy yarn for a couple upcoming projects, both from my new book. The first are the Over-the-Knee Socks:
I am going to make them in simple black since I think they will be more wearable. I also think I am going to adjust the pattern to make them only knee high instead of the less practical over-the-knee.
Another project is the Stained Glass Scarf:
I am excited to see how this will turn out with the colors I chose.
So a lot of non-sweaters in the queue. I think I just need a little break from my seeming inability to make a great fitting hand knit sweater. I will get over it. I just need some healing time.
Up later this week…my knit gift obsession of December 2005 and then the book. Thanks for reminding me that people do read my blog. You are right, sometimes I forget people do. 
The following 5 comments were originally left at blogspirit:
I just had to say that accessories pouch is gorgeous!
All of your yarn is so pretty!
Wow, those are some ambitious knitting plans there! Those socks look like they’ll take forever! Good luck!
P.S. Your clutch is beautiful!
oooo…I got the same book and really think it’s got some great new patterns and ideas. Love that little purse you’re making and thought the scarf was really interesting too.
I love the stitch pattern on your accessory pouch! Tencel is made out of wood pulp, or something like that. There was an article about it in Interweave knits summer 2004 (I think)