Did I mention that I am still trying to catch up with my virtual life and right now my virtual life is still stuck on Christmas? I spent so much time on Christmas knitting it is worth being almost a month late. As long as I have been knitting I have had grand ideas on presenting my loved ones with beautifully knitted items. Sometimes my success is spotty, but I hope each item is at least marginally better than a spray painted macaroni necklace.
My count was four mini mochi scarves, three pairs of fingerless, lace-up gloves, and one adorable caplet. I was very happy with the fingerless gloves pattern I got out of Alterknits by Leigh Radford. Not only were the finished objects pretty, but the pattern was so much fun I made a pair just for me. Every recipient cooed over the gloves. The caplet was another fun project, and the choice of Mission Falls Yarn was perfect for the pattern. The yarn is so yummy it almost knits itself.
But those Mini Mochi scarves are horses of very different colors. Crystal Palace, a company I usually like, sent me a pattern for scarves with its new Mini Mochi yarn. The pattern was nice and I thought good Christmas knitting projects. I was not expecting so much betrayal from the yarn. I bought 4 cakes of yarn, two in rainbow and two other colors for my friends Barb, Kim, Tammie, and Fiona. Three of the four balls had knots in the ball. One of the balls had a knot about 5/7 of the way in. The fiber had been space dyed (long color dye areas which fade to the next color) and the knit completely ruined the colorway. I struggled and struggled to make the change less noticeable, but the scarf just did not turn out as I had envisioned it. Another ball had uneven color repeats. Again a little randomness I don't mind, but these repeats ranged from 2 to 3 inch bars of color to a sudden 6 inch color bar. Maddening, I tell you maddening.
All of the giftees seemed to love the presents (or at least they gave good performances). I am questioning whether or not I want to do this again next Christmas. The pressure is just so intense. Remind me of this next September when I start looking wistfully at patterns and yammering on about Christmas knitting.
I got so many wonderful presents this year, but these are two that surprised me the most. My thoughtful wife made my kitchen wish come true. For a few years I have longed for a corner shelf to relieve some of my space issues next to the stove. I envisioned a beautiful rounded shelf to fit my Fiesta canister set. I had hinted and pleaded and even bought an IKEA one for the space. 
