« Merry Christmas '07 | Main | Guess What I Got? »
December 26, 2007
Twas the Day After Christmas
Thank you all for the Christmas wishes. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Some really fabulous gifts were exchanged, we ate terrific food, drank a fair amount of champagne, played silly games, and laughed a lot. There were moments of sadness as we missed those who weren't with us but the over all tone was one of gratitude and happiness.
Nevertheless, last night as Dale and I were getting ready for bed we took a moment to enjoy the Christmas tree together. It was a quiet time in the midst of all the crazy-holiday stuff and I found myself thinking that while it had been a really nice Christmas, I was relieved that it was over. Even when we keep it simple - which we did - there's still a lot of preparation and planning that goes into this holiday. It will be nice to not have anything to do for a while!
The good news is that I can now show you the things I knit for Christmas. Yes, you heard me right, I knit for Christmas. Most of you know that I don't knit Christmas gifts. There's too much pressure and stress to get things done and I've learned over the years that many people just don't truly appreciate hand knit gifts. However, the two I knit for this year were two of my dearest friends and I knew they would be thrilled.
A Fake Isle Hat for Blogless Sharon.
She loved it and put it on immediately, despite her fancy Christmas Eve outfit. It looked really cute on her and she has promised to wear it while feeding the sheep and the alpacas.
And a pair of Serpentine Mitts for my dear friend Wendy.
Wendy was also very pleased with her gift. I made them for her to wear at reenactments but she has declared that she doesn't want to save them for just that and I suspect she'll be wearing them much more frequently.
It felt really great to gift my friends with items. But I still don't knit for Christmas.
Posted by Carole at December 26, 2007 8:00 AM
Comments
Since no one knew it was for Christmas, and you had them done in time, you can say it was just because. Love them both but the hat is very, very cool!
Posted by: margene at December 26, 2007 8:47 AM
The hat is really pretty--it looks just like stained glass! Glad you had a nice holiday. :-)
Posted by: Jen in CT at December 26, 2007 9:14 AM
Those are both great gifts! I'm glad you had a nice celebration.
Posted by: Beth at December 26, 2007 9:27 AM
Your last statement is somewhat akin to the infamous, "I can quit any time I want to." Hee.
Posted by: Norma at December 26, 2007 9:32 AM
I usually don't knit Christmas gifts either for the same reasons. It's different when you know it will be appreciated though. Love both the hat and the mitts!
Posted by: Wool Winder at December 26, 2007 10:02 AM
The hat and mitts are lovely. It's always fun to knit for people who get it.
Posted by: Karen at December 26, 2007 10:03 AM
Both are really pretty. I'm glad you had a great Christmas.
Posted by: Karen at December 26, 2007 10:10 AM
Sounds like a wonderful Christmas. I LOVE the fake fur isle hat!
Posted by: Susan at December 26, 2007 10:33 AM
Very special gifts! I rarely knit for Christmas either. That makes these all the more worth it :) I know your friends will cherish them!
Posted by: Lolly at December 26, 2007 10:34 AM
Of course you don't ;) !
Posted by: Deb at December 26, 2007 10:42 AM
Gorgeous! Both!
I know. I "don't knit for Christmas," either...
lololol
(((hugs)))
Posted by: knitnana at December 26, 2007 10:53 AM
I only knit for my daughters for Christmas. My friends and the rest of my family have no clue how much goes into a handmade gift, and don't appreciate them. My daughters got mitts and socks, and ooh'ed and aah'ed appropriately. :)
I keep meaning to make one of those Fake Isle Hats (for ME, 'cause I'll appreciate it!)
Posted by: DebbieB at December 26, 2007 10:57 AM
Those non-Christmas gifts are both lovely. The hat is especially pretty. I'm with you on not knitting for holidays. It's so much nicer just knitting gifts "just because" and coincidentally delivering them during the holiday season. Much less stress.
Posted by: Hillary at December 26, 2007 10:58 AM
What a lovely mitt pattern.
Posted by: claudia at December 26, 2007 11:04 AM
BEautiful! I love that fake-isle stuff. I'm eyeing some nice sock patterns that do that.
Glad you had a good holiday. I was thinking this morning that many must be glad that the pressure is off.
Posted by: Laurie at December 26, 2007 11:19 AM
There are always exceptions to be made, especially for people who appreciate their gifts!
Posted by: Cheryl S. at December 26, 2007 11:21 AM
You won't be surprised that I really love that Fake Isle Hat. :)
Posted by: Chris at December 26, 2007 11:24 AM
Beautiful gifts for your friends. Isn't it nice to have people who really enjoy your knitting?
Posted by: Cookie at December 26, 2007 11:54 AM
what a fabulous hat - and lovely mitts.
I really enjoy the image of you and Dale sitting there quietly enjoying each other and your tree -
that kind of appreciation for all the beauty makes it worth while, doesn't it :-)
Posted by: Teyani at December 26, 2007 12:16 PM
I am also very glad it's over even though I had a wonderful Christmas. It's a very stressful time no matter how simple you try to keep it.
Love the hat and mitts! It's so nice when someone truly appreciates your knitting.
Posted by: Julie at December 26, 2007 2:07 PM
Sounds like you guys had quite a nice time! I too, do not knit Christmas gifts, just can not add that kind of pressure to the holidays. Your ornaments are great and so are your gifts! Love the colors in that hat! Hope you continue to enjoy the holiday season!
Posted by: Carol at December 26, 2007 2:10 PM
Glad you to hear you had a nice Christmas. The gifts you knit are beautiful!
Posted by: Kelly at December 26, 2007 2:41 PM
Sounds like a wonderful Christmas. And what fabulous gifts. No doubt they will be well used and well loved.
Posted by: Leah at December 26, 2007 5:00 PM
What lovely gifts! I bet Sharon loves her hat! It's nice to read that you had a nice Christmas!
Posted by: Kim at December 26, 2007 5:36 PM
A belated merry Christmas to you and yours! I've been taking a short holiday blogobreak, but it's almost time to get back in the saddle...
Posted by: Lucia at December 26, 2007 5:58 PM
Those are great! I like the fake isle with the changing color as the background. I did one recently the opposite way, and it didn't show very well (plus the changing colors had some similar to the background). Love the little elf hat on your tree... will have to try to remember that.
Posted by: lisa at December 26, 2007 8:06 PM
That hat really POPS! It's beautiful.
Enjoy the rest of the holiday season.
Posted by: Jill at December 26, 2007 8:40 PM
Merry Christmas, Carole!
I agree that even a low key Christmas is exhausting!
Posted by: jessie at December 27, 2007 6:35 AM
thank you Carole. you are a great friend and I love the hat
Posted by: blogless sharon at December 27, 2007 10:39 AM
I absolutely love the Fake Isle hat! What yarn did you use?
Question: I am going to participate in my son's 5th grade Williamsburg Day with knitting and spinning. Which is more true to the time period: drop spindling or wheel spinning? I have an Ashford Joy, so I figure that won't be period accurate but at least it will show the concept. If you have any websites to suggest, I would be grateful. It is Jan. 4th and I just found out last week.
Posted by: Dawn at December 27, 2007 12:04 PM
Lovely! I especially love the hat.
Posted by: Kat with a K at December 28, 2007 3:52 PM
