Festive Traditions

It's always fun at this time of year to find out about your friends' Christmas traditions. I am always amazed at how few folks include napping in their laundry list of activities, but never mind, I digress. I have observed that Mrs. Peeps added a new tradition this year: last minute knitting. Knitters of course know this tradition well. But as Mrs. Peeps only really learned to knit this year, this was new to our house this holiday season. In true knitter form, she started with an unseemly list of items that she wanted to knit, edited this list drastically for logistical purposes (although of course she purchased all the yarn, plus back-up projects), settled on a four potentially do-able projects (and some dreamy back-up potentially do-able projects), and then only actually completed half in time for Christmas (mitten and hat set, sorry only mittens shown in these photos).

I am happy to report on some of the completed Christmas projects. I am particularly happy to report that I was not required to model these items! You don't understand how happy I am about that. You will admit, I am sure, that the photos are not as good as they would have been otherwise, but I can live it.

For Grandma Mr. Peeps (express-posted on Wednesday and was to have arrived on Friday, so hopefully this is not a spoiler!): another Hand Maiden Maid Marion vest. Completed December 26, 2006! That's close to Christmas, right? Of special note: inaugural use of the blocking board and pins purchased at the Knitters' Fair in September. Of course Mrs. Peeps TOTALLY forgot about the blocking wires which she also purchased at the same time, not to mention the second ball of Wool Stretto tucked away which would have prevented some impromptu substitutions of yarn in the collar...


For Mr. Peeps: a cashmere hat from Hand Maiden (Devin's Toque). Cast on at Buddy & Gerry's Boxing Day dinner on December 26 and completed minutes before departing to Yvette's festivities on December 30, 2006. Mrs. Peeps loves that cashmere!

And, not yet shown, but in progress, Christmas mittens for Mrs. Peeps in natural cashmere from Rhineback. One mitten down, one to go. First mitten cast on in November on the bus to Elora. Second mitten cast on at Yvette's party on Saturday!

So, that's one of the new festive traditions at Casa Peeps! There is another important one, namely Christmas Day Kitchen Disasters or When Good Plans Are Poorly Executed, however, I will spare Mrs. Peeps the indignity of that post at this time. Plus, she says this post is plenty long enough and it is seriously impinging on her knitting time...