~Yarning along with Ginny and the gang... ~
It's amazing how much difference a week can make. The temperatures have risen and the sun is shining. On Monday I was suddenly compelled to make an emergency run to the yarn shop. I was actually headed there to buy yarn for the Infinite Loop pattern, since it's lovely, and the designer has generously committed to donating 85% of her pattern sales to relief efforts in Japan. I did find some lovely laceweight (I'll show you soon), but then my eye fell on this, and I was smitten. It is Austermann Step in the romantically named 0134 colourway. It actually first caught my eye in the fall, when I was longing for a reddish scarf, but then I was caught up with Christmas knitting, and forgot about it.
I came home and instantly cast on for Multnomah, a free triangular shawl/scarf pattern with a garter stitch body and feather & fan lace edging. I can't keep my hands off of it! I'm really loving the way things are looking, and the colours are just what I need right now.
I'm also really loving this book! I picked it up thinking it was about having a frugal, handmade holiday, but it's so much more. Starting with a review of the history of Christmas, it talks about why the season has been celebrated the way it has through the past, and what implications that could have on how we enjoy the holiday today. It has put into words much of what I've been feeling about the Christmas holidays, and given me a lot to think about as we prepare for the season in 2011.