Homes For My Treasures

Well, here it is.  Christmas is over and my little beauties are safe and sound in their new homes.  It was a struggle this year since I didn't have much accumulated.  I gave away a couple of things I was sure would never leave my house.  They both said, "Come on Jan! You know Carmen/Ann would really love this."  Since I loved making both, I knew it was not out of the realm of possibilities for me to knit them again.  Let's get on with the stories.  

Treasure #1 went to Linda.  It's the hysterical Anemone Hat designed by Cat Bordhi made from the Noro yarn I rescued from the Yokohama Jacket I made years ago.  Linda and I knit our Yokohama jackets together.  My plan is to make another Anemone Hat for me (I could make many. many from the left over yarn) so I can feel closer to Linda with her far away.  She wears it when she takes Chip her chocolate lab for a walk.  I can't wait until she gets her first smile or laugh when somebody realizes what a fun hat it is.  Every time I put the sample on at Ann's By Design, I get many broad smiles and chuckles.  It is the perfect gift for Linda.  

Treasure #2 the Beacon Scarf went to Carmen Wigman, the beautiful magician who keeps my hair looking fabulous.  I really didn't think this would ever leave my house, but one look at it said, "CARMEN!"  She loved it.  This was so much fun to knit that I will make another.  

Treasure #3 went to Ann.  It is my Knit The Day scarf where I knit two rows of the high and low temperature in Adrian each day  from July 1 to November 30.  I thought this was mine but realized it was Ann's.  She is Adrian's biggest supporter.  Besides, I've already started making another which will go from December 1 to April 30.  I've Knit The Sky and Knit The Day for so long (since January 1, 2016 that I can't imagine a day that doesn't end with recording the day in yarn.  I am toying with Knit The Day for Andi with temperatures in Lawrence, Kansas.  

Treasure #4  a Bandito scarf went to Kathy Tripp the quilter extraordinaire I met through Ann's By Design.  She is so creative and talented.  I love to work at Ann's By Design with Kathy because we cover all bases.  She knows everything about quilting, I know lots about knitting and I don't have to cut fabric.  I love making things for Kathy because she gets the time commitment to something handmade.  We are going to work on a project together this year where she's interprets a concept to quilting and I interpret it to knitting.  I can't wait.  I think it will be over the moon.

Treasure #5 another Bandito scarf went to Erin.  I wasn't sure if Erin would like this so for our Christmas dinner, I wore this with all black.  It looked stunning if I do say so myself.  Erin said, "I love that scarf."  That was all I needed to hear.  I whipped it off and said, "It's your's!"  It's made out of the fabulous Cascade Melilla.  I love the popping colors.  I know there are many more Bandito scarfs in my future.

Treasure #6 Bulky Bliss made with Gusto will go to Evie.  We were supposed to meet in Ann Arbor at Weber's for lunch and Christmas tomorrow but Evie has the crud.  As I was knitting this, it just screamed "EVIE! EVIE!"  I love the delicate color and the invisible cables.  I still can't believe I am in love with this bulky yarn.  Go figure.  I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.  

Treasure #7 became a White Elephant gift at Ann's By Design Christmas party.  This isn't the scarf that became the White Elephant but I don't have a picture of that scarf. Let me tell you the story about the White Elephant Bubbles scarf. "One day I was searching for the next, great knitting pattern.  Eureka! I found the fabulous Bubbles, a double-knit, Lucy Neatby creation.  It was love at first sight.  It was a double WOW because Lucy knit the fabulous scarf in Kauni, one of my very favorite yarns.  I began knitting and I loved it.  Somewhere along the line, it became obvious this was  perfect for my knitting buddy Linda Kaufman.  It was knit in the fabulous Kauni EQ which is a rainbow yarn with a very, very long color change on one side and Kauni in cream and tan on the other.  It was fabuous, it was perfect and I couldn't wait to give it to Linda for Christmas. One night we were knitting together and I was working hard to get Bubbles done for Christmas.  Linda looked at it and said, "That's a cool scarf but if I was doing it, I would knit color on both sides."  WOW! What was I going to do!?!?!?!  I decided to knit Linda the scarf she really wanted and give the first scarf to my Mom.  Soon after, Mom moved into Grand Court now Brookdale and never wore it because she doesn't go outside if it's cold.  So this wonderful Bubbles scarf is my White Elephant to you.  Merry Christmas."  I love White Elephant gifts, I love knitting stories and I love Bubbles.  This was the perfect gift for Ann's By Design Christmas party.

I will write next from Sunset Beach, NC with my knitting goals for the year.  I am busy packing and trying to cut down on the number of knitting projects I'm taking.  Maybe the next blog won't be from Sunset Beach but before we leave introducing you to my vacation knitting projects.  Who knows?!?!?!  I hope you all had a Merry Christmas.