I've been knitting all along even though I haven't written or posted much about it. I guess you could say I'm not an organized blogger. You see I knit things and then give them away before I even take any picturess. And it's not that I don't use the camera. I've probably taken 400 pics of Sarah and Sophia. So I don't know why I knit and forget to take pics.

Sunday I started the Central Park Hoodie from the Fall 2006 Knitscene magazine. I vowed to use something from my stash and found 8 seins of Bartlett yarn in Bracken. The pattern is so easy but I'm not sure I'm liking this yarn. It's barn type yarn and it's just not what I enjoy gliding through my fingers. I prefer Cascade 220 or Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. The back is almost completed and I keep wondering if Bartlett yarn softens after washing. I sure hope it does becasue right now I'm feeling that its way too itchy.

I also completed two pairs of socks. My favorite is in Lorna's Laces. I don't remember the colorway because I bought it at the NY Sheep and Wool Festival a few years ago. It goes nicely with Denims. The pattern I used is Jennie Townsends Falling Leaves.

The second pair I finished is made with Austerman Step Yarn. That's the sock yarn with Jojoba oil and Aloe in it. This one of those self striping yarns which I find impossible to make the second sock
look like the first. In some blog (I'm sorry I can't remember to give credit for the term) I read that these can be called "fraternal twins" since the stripes on the two socks don't line up. I thought that was a good phrase.

As I'm writing this post, I suddenly realized that these are the first two pairs I've made for myself. Yes it's true. I've knit a dozen or more socks and given them all away!

I didn't make as many Christmas gifts as I usually do this year. Primarily because I was dealing with my Father's terminal illness. But I made my niece, Lindsey, a Booga Bag. I actually have another one made but not felted. The second Booga Bag I made larger. Once it gets felted, I'll post pics.

Felting in a front load washer hasn't worked well for me. I know some people have been successful but I can never get the felting process to really work well. So for the Booga Bag I washed it in my front loader 5 times. Then I boiled it and stirred constantly. That didn't work either. So I went to a friend's house and washed it 3 more times. And it finlly worked. The stitches disappeared and it looked like felted fabric.

The girls and I are settling into a routine together. Today I took them for a walk and they loved it! They found so many new scents, sounds and textures to explore. When we came home they fell fast asleep on Ryan's lap.

And when they woke up they were ready to play again. So they started wrestling with Maggie, who I must say has been great with them. Maggie and I are the Mature Ladies of this house. (I tell her we're the old gals) For a 13 year old she has handled the puppy invasion quite nicely!