Stocking & Stuffers

Let's start by saying that these 2 stockings are certainly not my best work.  I crochet so little, that I don't feel daring enough to get creative.  I'm also running out of time and have a knitting list longer than Santa's good list.  (I probably should have skipped playing around in Photoshop for a half hour just to create this little graphic.  Prioritizing isn't always my best skill.)

I have one more stocking to make and then it's time to get creative!  I am going to embellish them with maybe some pompoms (trying everything possible to use up scraps and reduce my stash), and little wooden clipboards that I bought at the craft store the other day.  The clipboards will have their names on them and a magnet on the back so that they can use it on their refrigerators after. 

What's a stocking without stuff in it?  Well these aren't even really wearable - unless you're into the ski boot look.  So I need to knit at least 3 dishcloths and put one in each stocking.  I started one today and instantly regretted it.  I detest cotton yarn (I'd rather knit with twine on chopsticks) and I am not a fan of Mission Falls 1824 Cotton because the nubby texture doesn't allow for a smooth knitting experience.  Why can't I remember this before I cast-on?  ... I think it has something to do with wanting to knit down my stash.  

One Row and Only One Row

I am exhausted.  Completely exhausted.  I barely have the energy to knit (or crochet).  Our Thanksgiving holiday was jam-packed with lots of family activities, plus food galore.  My hands always seemed to be holding some tasty treat, a child, or a dish towel.

My sister-in-law and I did manage to find a few minutes to knit (though not uninterrupted) and go to Kaleidoscope Yarns (completely childless and quite).  During our brief knitting session, my row counter only moved once.  Just one row!  Luckily our LYS field trip provided me just enough of a knitting-high to last the rest of the weekend.  Come Sunday night that high had worn off, my hands were shaking, and I just had to knit AND crochet.  I worked a few rounds on the second Incognito Cowl, and many rounds of a Scrappy Crochet Stocking.

My husband's family is coming to stay with us for Christmas and 3 adults don't have stockings.  That's just down right sacrilegious.  So I dug deep into the bellows of my stash and found some variegated yarn that I purchased back in 2004 at a tent sale.  (Who can pass up discounted yarn?)  I've crocheted a stocking before using the Scrappy Crochet Stocking pattern and it's super fast, and super cute.  This one won't be made with yarn scraps tied together, so it should be even quicker.  They have to be - I need to make 2 more stockings, plus finish 3 cowls, knit 2 more pair of Bella's mittens, and 2 dishcloths all before Christmas.

This means less typing and more knitting (or crocheting).