Although knitting is no longer my main crafting focus, it was still a pretty good knitting year for me. I completed 36 projects, which is about my average. Most of them were on the small side (no big sweaters or afghans this year), but that’s ok, it’s not the size that matters.

There were 15 pairs of socks

… including these three favourites.

Four were cardigans or sweaters for me

All cropped and cute (and mostly chunky, which is unusual for me, but fun!)

And there were hats, and shawls, baby knits and other whimsies

All in all another wonderful year, knitting with wonderful yarns, making wonderful things! I hope to do more of the same in 2020!

With Christmas more or less behind me, it’s time to get started on projects for the new year’s holidays. First up…. Valentines day.

Dave and I don’t go crazy for Valentine’s Day, but I always like to have a little something for him, usually a pair of socks… so…

It’s not much of a start, but it’s a start. It’s the men’s version of my Hamilton pattern(which I’ve really got to get my crap together on releasing!!!)

The yarn is some Alley Cat BFL I dyed up earlier in the year, just for Dave socks – colourway is Levi!

Only 46 days until Valentine’s Day, so I better get stitching on these!

 

Two more stars have been knocked out for the Royal Starts quilt. I have eight done now, but 20 total are planned

Even so, I couldn’t resist laying out the few that I have.

Burton says I better get back to sewing more stars if I want this one to become a top anytime soon.

Finishing up the year with a little early morning bird-watching.

Ah Boxing Day…

Okay… so it’s not quite a Burton presents it…

For our friends south of the border, if you’ve never heard of Boxing Day… here’s a little history.

In more recent time, it’s become much more commercialized, with Boxing Day sales (Like a slightly less insane Black Friday). Taking part in that aspect has never been a tradition in our family. When I was a kid, there was never any money leftover after Christmas, no matter how good the sale. As a teenager, I work retail, and spent many-a Boxing Day in the mall (and that’s enough to turn you off of it for life).

When we were kids, we usually gathered with my Dad’s extended family. Most of them still do that, but for Dave and I, we prefer to spend it quietly at home together, unwinding from the go-go-go of the days before.

It won’t be a complete veg day though, as I want to use the days between Christmas and New Year’s to go over the house, top to bottom and get rid of everything and anything we no longer need. And what better day to start then Boxing Day?

But I’ll start later in the afternoon. This morning is for reflecting on another lovely holiday! I’m happy to say Dave loved his quilt. The first words out of his mouth were “Wow! It’s a long one!” He was so happy to have some extra blanket to tuck under his feet last night. And of course, he was over the moon with the Celtic fabric.

The matchy matchy socks were also a hit too…

Or at least he pretended they were, in indulged me when I asked him to put them on so I could take a picture of our feet together.

From him I received more candles with more shiny things inside!

Opals and Emeralds and Snowflakes! Oh my!

Mom and Dad spoiled me with rainbow socks and a pair of toasty moccasins! My feet are always cold, but no longer!

There’s more gifting days ahead for us (My brother’s family on New Year’s Day, and Samantha and Co. sometime in the New Year), but I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Wishing you and yours all the best this holiday season, with more wonderfulness to come in the new year!

Burton opened his present a little early, and has been enjoying it ever since!

And all through the house, not a creature was stirring…

Not even this one, because from the looks of it, he ate all the mice! (And everything else!)

Today is a day of baking pies (mincemeat and pumpkin) and then we’re off to church tonight with Dave’s Grandma. Tomorrow its my parents’ house for turkey and all the fixings! (I fully expect to look like Relic by the time its over!) We  won’t see my brother’s family until the New Year, so that just gives us one more day to look forward to!

However you’re celebrating, we hope it’s wonderful and warm!

Well – the missing ball of Spice Twinkle Cat still hasn’t turned up, but I did finish the second glove from the second skein, yesterday.

The second skein is a touch darker and more variegated than the first – such is the nature of hand-dyed yarns – but not enough so that I’m bothered by it. Part of the reason that I chose this yarn is because it would look nice, not only with my light camel-coloured wool coat…

… but also a couple of my favourite hats.

I love hats almost as much as I love shoes. The above pretty wool and silk cloche was bought on a work trip in Niagara-on-the-Lake a few years ago.

And this more fanciful one was a birthday gift from Mom a couple years ago. It was made by a local artisan, and I think my humble stitchwork is a fitting compliment.

And these gloves are also my last knit of 2019. (We all know I won’t be finishing the poncho before the end off the year!). I can’t wait to see what knits 2020 brings.

I know…. I know… two days of cats and quilts… but hey, it’s what I’ve got on the go right now.

Pins and Paws is coming together with half the blocks completed. There will be 30 in total (two of each print). These blocks are super easy, and once all the pieces are cut, I can put together one block in under 10 minutes.

As you can see, some cats are facing left,  some right. I’m doing this completely random as I’m sewing them – so in the final layout, they will be random as well.

I may be pushing it, but I’m hoping I can turn this one into a completed top by the end of the year, and ready for quilting in January.

Of course, Relic doesn’t understand why I want to spend my time with fabric cats instead of furry ones….

It was time to turn attention back to Meow-lky Way. Since I was feeling pretty clear-headed, I decided to tackle the trickiest one first – the last block I had that included dreaded stripe fabric.

I’m happy to say, I took my time, double and triple-checked before I cut, and the pair went off without a hitch.

It went so well, I decided to whip up a few more. Because I didn’t have to worry about direction, they went much faster.

These six (there’s two of each), bring my finished total to 12. That means there’s only four blocks left before I start assembling the top.

Here’s where the rest of my projects are at:

• Spring Blossom – I’ve got all my pieces cut, so these blocks are ready to assemble
• Meow-lky Way – 12 blocks down, 4 to go!
• Royal Stars – Still buildings stars, two at a time
• Pins and Paws – Kitty by kitty, this one is  still growing
• Leader and Ender quilt – Making geese, lots and lots of geese!