Christmas in May

A few posts ago, I was bemoaning the loss of the craft mojo. While I haven't made a whole lot of progress since then on . . . well, anything, really . . . I am feeling more in the spirit of things.

Here's my current favorite project:
















Yep. I'm knittin' myself a Christmas stocking. In May. After last year's Christmas knitting angst, I decided two things:

1. "I'll just make all my Christmas presents this year! Who needs shopping?" These are the words of a crazy person. If you ever hear these words from a person you care about, get thee to a pharmacy. Stat.

2. Any knitting intended for the Christmas season should be started no later than February 1 of the preceding year. No exceptions, even for scarves and dishcloths. You may think there is an exception for the "Starving Children in the Desert Who Really Need Hand-knit Mittens More than Water or Food" project, but there isn't. An exception, that is.

That said, I'm really pleased with my stocking. It's from a great sock book (there's a link over to your right) that I bought with a Christmas gift certificate from my sister-in-law, who understands about yarn.

This is my first attempt at fair isle, and I can't tell you how surprised I am that it actually looks like real live fair isle! And it's not that hard, really. I had been told by a certain experienced knitter that I know that you need to be able to "knit with both hands" to do it, but to that I say, "hooey." I've managed just fine with one hand . . . well, actually, with two . . . what the heck did she even MEAN?!

All I know is: Hey! I made stars!

It's enough to make me want to make myself a hot toddy and head for a ski lodge . . .