What could be better

than enjoying my hot chocolate with a candy cane?

I love chocolate-mint combos, and this feels so festive :) So what could be better than my peppermint-hot-chocolate?

Ahhh, knitting a sock out of some very soft, sweetly striping yarn! And we all know how much I LOVE knitting socks, but what could be better than sock-knitting?


Perhaps finishing both socks. And then finding this cute, it-matches-the-gift, leftover-from-a-few-years-ago tag to use for all the pertinent sock care instructions.


So what could possibly be better than all that?


Crossing one more gift off my list. Actually, even better yet, I've been crossing several gifts off the handmade list this weekend! (Sorry, not gloating. O-kaaay, maybe just a smidge of gloating, lol!)


Thanks everyone for all the great feedback about the beading tutorial. Try it, you won't believe how easy it really is...and then you look like a finishing wizard :) There were a couple questions, so I'll answer them quick:

I was asked about knotting the tail after weaving...I don't bother with a knot and I don't worry about it coming loose. But if you want to knot the end, by all means, I think you should.

I trim the edges to within 3-4 "squares" (or 6-8 "threads). And I've never had any problems with those fraying once they're inside the ornament (or pincushion.) I backstitch the edges and that's it. But if you're worried about it coming apart at the seams, you can always use fray-check or such on the edges.

My tutorial is just how I do the beaded edges, I'm sure everyone has their own way. I think you should do whatever you feel comfortable with, that gives you the results that you want :)

And to answer a quick question about the dishcloths...I can get 2 dishcloths out of a solid-colored ball of yarn. There isn't much left over, so I only leave tails about 6-8 inches long to weave in at the end. If you use the variegated yarns, 2 balls will make 3 dishcloths. The washcloths I made use more yarn than the dishcloths because of the larger size.

The dishcloth pattern is a great beginner pattern, it's how my grandma taught me to knit. You learn how to cast on, increase, decrease and bind off. It's all knit stitch, no purling. Google knitting tutorials, there are tons out there. And so what if they're a bit wonky, they still work great in the kitchen!

Thanks for stopping by my neck of the woods! It's Monday, so I hope you have a great one! And if I don't make it back here before Thursday...Happy Thanksgiving dear friends, I have much to be thankful for and that includes all of you!!!