For those of us who love to gift knits, we’ve been knitting for weeks (or months!) for others in anticipation of Christmas giving. I have also been knitting baby hats in a sort of frenzied zombie state— they’re so tiny and knit up so quick but yes, one little head only needs so many hats.

   And so I’m going to indulge in what has become known as ‘selfish knitting month’ in January– when all your gift knitting is done and you can make some little treats for yourself. I have some beautiful yarn that I’ve been hoarding for months— one is a silk blend I got over the summer at a fiber show, and the other is a soft white-and-black blend that I bought in Salem when I was in New England this fall.

   I’ve been trying to decide what to do with these special yarns, and after looking through some of my favorite knitting books (Swedish Handknits and Norwegian Handknits are total gems, full of so much great information and history, as well as pretty patterns) and I have decided to make some fingerless gloves for myself— and yes, maybe a little matching hat for baby if I have leftovers!

   My cream colored skein of yarn came in that nice looking loop, but needed to wound, so I got to use a beautiful and very handy little piece my friend Holly got me for my birthday– a nostepinne made by local talented wood worker Nick Connor. 

   A nostepinne is a Scandinavian tool used to wind a ball of yarn that can be pulled at both ends and means “nest stick”, and does create a pretty little nest of yarn when its done (you can see the white yarn still wrapped around the nostepinne in the last photo).

   Now I’m starting on the first glove– wish me luck. I’m not following a particular pattern but am writing down what I do on the first glove so that I can do it again with the second! That’s the pesky thing about things that are knitted in pairs– they need to match! We’ll see how well I do. I am terrible at following patterns. I cant be made to pay attention, but I think I’ve gotten to where I can tell now what I need to do in order to make pretty things happen.

   And so, that is what I’ll be up to this coming month. Oh, and having the baby too! Can’t forget him! At this point in time, it’s looking like he’s too snuggled up to be inspired to be a December baby, and so January it will be. I’m trying to not be too impatient, but I’ll be honest– its getting hard. I’m so tired, I’m outgrowing all my clothes, am pretty puffed up and too tired to do much at all— although my mind is still buzzing and wishing my body could keep up. That’s probably why I’m so obsessed with knitting lately– atleast my hands still work. And I’m planning great plans for 2014. It’ll be so much fun….

   Until then– I will try to keep positive and know that this baby has to come sometime. And I do love garnets. What a pretty birthstone 🙂 And who knows, perhaps the next post will be about baby— whenever he decides to arrive!

~H