the trouble with Christmas knitting....

you're so busy trying to get it finished in time (and in some cases mailed to England) that you forget to take pictures! As well as the gifts I sent home to England, I knit a cowl and some mittens for my neighbor/friend, a golf club cover for my father-in-law to add to his stocking, and I forget to take pictures of them. I'm hoping that some of the recipients might send me some 'modeled' shots of their 'wears' but I don't know when that will be. In the mean time I do have a picture of my sweet Mam not quite modeling her shoulder wrap....

I mentioned on my daily blog that my dear Mam had her pacemaker replaced a few weeks ago but due to some complications she was in hospital for 3 weeks instead of just a few days. I thought she might not even get home for Christmas. And of course not being able to get to England and be with her just breaks my heart. She came home two weeks before Christmas and is still having some 'not so good' days. She spent all day Christmas Eve in bed, not feeling very well at all. The above picture was taken on Christmas day at my sisters. She's 84!

I mentioned in a previous post how 2010 would be all about ME when it comes to knitting.... can I be honest and say I think I've changed my mind! Honestly, I love knitting small gifts for others (and sometimes not so small when you think about the cabled throw) that I just don't want to stop. I've already cast on for this .... (haven't taken a pic yet, so this is from Ravelry)

It's the beautiful 'Fresco Basket Whip Cowl (Ravel it HERE) I'm using some Caron Simply Soft that I have in my stash in a lovely soft blue color. I'm just about finished, so in a few days I should be able to post pictures. I'm not even sure who it will be for yet, but there are plenty of gals I have in mind. I won't even say here who it's going to be when I decide (they might be reading!). I've got lots of little nephews and nieces I can knit for too (actually they're the kiddies of my nephew and nieces!) so I'm browsing all my knitting books and magazines to see what I fancy casting on next. If I knit for everyone in my family back home in England it should keep me busy for most of the year ;-)

and you thought I hadn't been knitting...

Back in October it looked like this.....

Today it looks like this.....

I finally finished the Cabled Throw, with not an inch of yarn to spare! I think my neighbors will love it though. I know hubby does, he keeps hinting how nice it would be if we had 'one of our own'. Guess I know what I'll be knitting in 2010!

I got lots of little knitted goodies out to my family this year, some just quick knits like cowls and mittens. I didn't take pics of them all though. Hopefully the recipients will mail me pictures after Christmas?

One of my favorite little knits this year was the Hedwig cowl and mittens I made for my nephew's wife. She's a huge Harry Potter fan and I know she'll love the owls on these. I wish I could see her face when she opens them....

I also knit my sweet Mam a shoulder wrap... she could probably use it right now, she's in hospital having some complications after her pacemaker was replaced. We're hoping she comes home this week, after 3 weeks in there!

Didn't get a good picture of this, so hopefully Mam can model it for me after Christmas :-)

Ravelry Pattern can be found HERE.

I'm already thinking ahead to what I can knit next year. I know I said I might knit just for me... but I'm just not sure anymore? I get so much pleasure knitting for others, I find it hard to stop. I'm already planning on knitting toys for the kids.... I bought Susan's new book 'Itty Bitty Toys' and can't wait to try some of those cute things out. I also plan on finishing my mystery socks, that sadly got left by the wayside while I was trying to finish up the throw, and lastly I still have one small gift on the needles for a sweet friend for next week ;-)

SO, what will be your first knit of 2010?