Hello Fall and Holiday Crafting!

I love this time of year. Fall is my favorite season followed closely by spring. The seasons of transition are so marvelous. As a kid, I loved raking the leaves into a pile and playing until I had to put the leaves into the special giant paper bag. Growing up in the Midwest usually meant the leaves were dry. Here in Portland the rainy weather can limit the fun quickly. Slippery, squishy, wet leaves do not make for the same fun and the build up of leaves in the storm drains can lead to some short term flooding. For kids the flooding can be fun, but for the rest of us there is more concern than joy.

This time of year brings my most favorite edition of Interweave Knits...drum roll, please...the Holiday Edition. I was taking a peek at the magazine stand yesterday and was so pleased to see it. Before even looking in the magazine I said to myself, "it's mine." I used it as a carrot to get a few more things done at home and for a moment my apartment looked so clean (kids were out so it lasted a few hours). Then, I sat in my cozy chair and pored over the pages. Each year the styling and focus is a bit different and editors have changed since I originally started eyeing this magazine in 2009.

The magazine is filled with accessories and the "Modern Scandinavian" knits are fabulous. There are four lovely stuffies that different folks in my family are eyeing. It brought to mind the yeti from last year's magazine and I really want to find it so that I can make that specific stuffy. After looking through my magazines I found 2009 - 2012, 2015, 2016, and now 2018. I purchased the 2014 copy via the digital version. It's possible I never bought 2013. However, where is 2017? I laugh that I can't find it. Should I buy the digital edition? I would never lose the digital edition, but I hate paying for the magazine twice. Much to ponder. Here is the Yeti for Bed (Interweave's image from Ravelry):

This is typically the kickoff to the heart of gift making season. I've finished the pumpkin doily and I'm halfway through the ghost doily for my mother-in-law. I've made a good start on Gilly's birthday present and I found a hat pattern in the holiday magazine to coordinate with it (possibly for Christmas or my nephew's birthday). I was thinking of sizing it down for their kiddo too. The pattern uses the same weight yarn and would look lovely in the muted teal I'm using. I was think the pom pom in each person's favorite color would be lovely instead of  using the same yarn.

Here is lovely double sided lace of Gilly's birthday present (spoiler alert):









I've decided that in addition to the Stephen West MKAL that I want to make a cropped sweater for myself during the Nurtured KAL. It's the most recent pattern that Andrea Mowry of Drea Renea Knits has put out and I have just enough yarn of various colors. I'm debating which one to use and how long to make the body. I have so many blue greens and teal like colors. I was thinking of a spunky yellow too.

I'm excited to get through the tax deadline and enjoy the trip to my cousin's wedding and then (of course) Halloween. With year end tax planning and the kids being busy, 2018 will end rather quickly. I'm thinking that knitting a stuffy for each kid including my nephew would be lovely. Ethan said he wanted the musk ox and french bulldog (I'm still thinking the yeti would be cooler), Jeffrey wants a raccoon, the french bulldog would be great for my nephew and my mother-in-law. There is a sweater I started for my sister-in-law that I hope to finish too (the back is getting close to completion). I should probably get back to knitting/crocheting!

We had a great group last week at Tigo Knitting. I'm expecting a very light crew today. My younger son will be joining me, so we'll see how long I can last.

Happy crafting and hope you all enjoy the first days of October.