Now I Get It.

This time of the year holds a really weird energy for me.  Right around now of every year, when it feels like the whole country -- both online and off -- is deeply entrenched in fall and holiday craziness and shopping frenzies and steaming hot beverages in mitten-clad hands, I jump right on the bandwagon, promoting gift ideas and commiserating with the woes of endless gift lists that we just didn't get an early enough jump on.


But in reality, I don't personally celebrate any of these holidays, and haven't since sometime around middle school.  I get so excited about the excitement about the holidays that I kind of dissociate from the idea that all the family get-togethers and gift-giving and cookie eating actually does happen, while I'm at home enjoying a cozy night of cooking and knitting, or the cliche Jewish Christmas of Chinese food and a movie, in an eerily silent city.


Until I was invited to spend this Christmas in Wisconsin, with Jesse's family.  A real Christmas, on apparently every level imaginable, right down to the tree and stockings and snow.  And apparently a lobster dinner on Christmas Eve.  Is this normal?  I guess if we're going to do it, let's do it all the way, right?  I think there also might be sledding involved.  I need some new boots.


So here's the deal.  All of a sudden, there is a family (whom I've never met before, let me make clear) to get gifts for, and while my split personality of retailer and anti-consumerist plays an incessant game of tetherball in my head, I have to say, I'm excited about this idea.


And now I get it!  





I have a deadline, people, and things to knit and crochet for people I don't know (but special people, like moms and dads and brothers and sister-in-laws).  So here's my plan: supplemented with savory bath and home goodies from some of my favorite UCU vendors, his mom and dad get a set of knitted dish cloths, and his brother and sister-in-law get a set of crocheted coasters!

Now I've shared my enthusiasm with you before about dish cloths, but here I just have to reiterate.  Best project ever. There are few other projects for which you can have absolutely no plan, and just wind up six baby cones of yarn (two-ouncers!), grab a pair of needles, and three hours later find yourself with a beautiful gift set.

It's been awhile since I've indulged in the dish cloth, so in a selfish plan to explore not one but two different patterns, I went with two solid colors for a Ballband Dish Cloth (which looks fabulous in solid or semi-solid contrasting colors), and two blended colors for a Feather and Fan Dish Cloth (which still shows up really well, even if you've got a very heathered yarn like this one).

Total cost for this fabulous dish cloth set: $15.50 (great gift idea! I'm saying this with authentic enthusiasm now).

Want a little help getting started?  Wouldn't you know it, we have a Dish Cloth Class coming up on Saturday, December 17th, and there's still room!  Click here to join us.


You will be hearing all about the crocheted coasters soon...they require their very own post.  I'm so into this idea.