Christmas presents with my family have been getting increasingly practical. Every year my mom screams “I don’t want any more STUFF!” I always endeavor to give useful gifts to my family, and with knitting that has become easier.  

Things get harder with my presents. I just want knitting related things, and my family is happy to encourage my addiction. However I like to be surprised so the best way to do that is to make up a long list of things I’d like and let my parents pick from it. I’m having trouble with the list this year. I’ve got some books on an Amazon wish list but I’d like to make a yarn wish list. This is what I’ve come up with so far: 1 ball of Rowan Cashsoft DK to make Odessa., KP KIP bag (medium), STR.

I clearly need more if I’m going to stand a chance of being surprised, plus these are all things I might get for myself. I’d like to put things on my list that I wouldn’t get for myself but I’m drawing a blank.

What would you get if you didn’t need to worry about money?

Austermann Step footsies (started)

Koigu hat/glove set

My FA hat

Mom’s mittens (FA mohair and Cascade)

Bulky Cardi (started)

So this weekend I went to visit Heather and Jonathan who were just in town for a couple of days and staying with Jonathan’s family. I guess they had told his mom that I was a knitter because when I arrived she handed me a shawl and told me that it was knit by Stephanie Purl-McPhee. I was confused; I assumed she meant it was from a pattern by the Yarn Harlot. But when I asked, Nancy (Jonathan’s mom) said no, it was actually knit by her. Yes, that is right. My friend’s mom is friends with the YARN HARLOT!!! Apparently they both lived in Brampton at the same time and were leaders in La Leche. Nancy went on to say that Stephanie and her daughters had surprised her for her 50s birthday recently. I got to sit in the same chair as the Yarn Harlot had and fondle the shawl made by her. So very very cool! I was giddy for the rest of the day :)