Kay's Korner - A Knitters Notes

Every year, I turn to knitting for help with holiday gift giving. A hand made gift gives a piece of your most valuable resource, your time. Year after year, my most well received presents are the ones that I have made myself. I remember glowing when the "ooh's and ahh's" were breathed around my mother's living room last year, as my sister pulled open the cream mohair throw I had wrapped up for her. The black mohair poncho that I had glammed up for the holidays with a strand of metallic copper, prompted a rave review from my niece. But start those projects now! You can't expect much of a positive reaction from a single sock, a half finished sweater, or the worst, some balls of yarn and a promise. Quick knit patterns abound, time saving chunky and self patterning yarns are plentiful, and you have nearly two months to get crafting. Don't forget your fellow needle artists. A gift of luxury yarn, a project kit, or one of the many, great new books available will delight any knitter or crocheter. We have added another incentive to get those needles flying, a huge sale on all of our Cascade 220 (including their 50 most popular colors!), arguably the most popular yarn available today. See below for details.

Scarves and hats are the usual items whipped up for gift giving and stocking stuffing. But why not stretch your imagination and make a handbag, wrap, belt, or throw? There is no worry of making the wrong size and there is a plentiful array of patterns available. (One of our five favorite Noni handbag patterns stitched in Cascade 220 will delight any girl on your list.) There is still time to start a sweater for your favorite toddler. Adding length to the body and sleeves (think cuffs) will add a year of wear to your efforts.

Why not include yourself on your gift list? Whip up an awesome wrap in some yummy alpaca in the season's high fashion colors - silver and gray metallic. It's a perfect time to try knitting with beads or sequins or to splurge on cashmere. Look for some great ideas in the 25th anniversary issue of Vogue Knitting, full of holiday trappings, sure to turn some heads at any gathering.

On Kay's Needles this Week
This has been a busy week! I began the front of my work in progress, an Elsebeth Lavold striped pullover in Hempathy. (Did you know the Brits refer to pullovers as "jumpers"?) This weekend I started a Louisa Harding pattern for a cozy, cotton hat, an item on my gift list. What a headache I had trying to find a substitute yarn for Harding's Fauve! After five yarns and three needle sizes, and yes, I swatched all of them,
Elsebeth Lavold's Cable Cotton came to my rescue. I am amazed at the softness of today's cotton yarns. Hopefully, I will finish the crown, and thus the hat, tomorrow.

Copyright 2007 Karen Mather