Tradition

Every year the Smallies and I choose a few new ornaments for the Christmas tree.  We always get the pretty blown-glass ones from Germany, and we try to choose the ones we think symbolize what was important to us during the prior year.

This year Lindsay learned that keeping a fish aquarium may be more work than a girl as busy as she is wants to commit to (we lost several specimens, and there were, um, discussions).  She thought this beautiful Koi might be the right sort of fish for her: sparkly, elegant, and non-biological.  Campbell took up the guitar this year, so we were delighted to find this perfect replica of his beloved six-string waiting for us.  I picked the owl, because a dear friend says I remind her of a baby owl, and calls me "Hufflett".  I'm hoping it will help me Wise Up.  Paisley (our black scottie dog) got a fire hydrant, because we already have a black scottie dog ornament to match her.  And the white scottie is our favorite this year, because it's our first Christmas with Bailey.  We think it might be his first Christmas ever - he's a rescue dog, and it's hard to imagine that he'd know much about festivities, based on where he came from.

So in a way, the annual ornament gathering is our Huff family Year in Review.  What was important to you in 2011?
 

Kid + Candy Store

Warning: The following images may be hazardous to your Yarn Diet.  But I have to tell you about some delicious sweets:

Colorway 1

Colorway 2

These are the freshly-dyed (and now fully-dry!) yarns for our Flight Path Mystery Knit-Along Kits!  Both are Abstract Fiber "Alto", 100% BFL.  Lip-smackingly good.

Colorway 1 is a tart and tangy blend of Pale Turquoise and Royal Blue, set off by accents of Bright Green, Soft Violet, and Carrot Orange.  Colorway 2 is a sweet and sugary mix of Carnation Pink and Deep Red, framed by the same Green, Violet and Orange accents.

Am I mean to dangle bonbons like these in front of you, when you can't get them yet?  Yep.  But I'm doing it for your own good:  How will you really and truly know how to indulge your sweet tooth when the time comes, unless you've seen the very best options?  Believe me, this hurts me more than you.  I know what it means to see something so tempting, get all want-y, and then feel the cruel pang of being made to wait.  But my dear friends, I love you enough to make sure you don't blow your yarn diets on any sub-par treats.  I can't have any of you falling off the wagon prematurely for some Hershey's Kiss, when there is a box of Godiva on its way.

I'm starting the sample today.  I'm going to try not to overindulge.  No promises, though.

Process Refinement

I'm still making bunny slippers.  THESE bunny slippers, to which I have added a few personalizations.  Mary Scott Huff Bunny Hacks, if you will:

First of all, as much as I love the original bunnies, I just couldn't leave their ears unlined with pink.  So I devised a cunning two-part ear plan, which worked out very well, thank you. 

Additionally, my overarching need to make bunnies for all the members of my family caused me to realize that they would have to be made in various sizes.  This prompted a bizarre side trip through the kitchen cupboards in search of wooden spoons, rolling pins, and eventually two mismatched soup ladles, with which to fashion some felted-bunny-stretching implements (no actual bunny slippers were harmed during this phase).  None of these slipshod attempts resulted in the precision device required for optimum bunny stretching.  Internet to the rescue:  I found THESE, which I wholeheartedly endorse for both bunny, and other, footwear stretching.  They adjust from a ladies size 6 up to an 11, which, augmented with some wadded-up plastic grocery bags, can make  bunnies even big enough for Phillip: (Shhhhh!)

You'll also notice that I added a few whiskers to Phillip's bunnies, which trend I think will continue on to at least the next pair.

And last, but certainly not least, I scored some Clover Pom Pom Makers, without which I am no longer willing to go on.  I used the larger of the two, FYI, for maximum tail-fluff.
 

In case you'd like to modify your bunnies as I did, here are my hacks:

Yarn:    Rather than DK weight as specified in the pattern, I used worsted weight (Patons Classic Wool, to be specific), holding 2 strands together. (I used the recommended size 11 needles for the bodies).  Bunnies to fit Phillip used about 1 1/2 skeins (220 yds each).

Bigger-ing:    For man's size slipper (Phillip wears size 10 1/2 US), I worked 40 rows in the body.

Toes:    Rather than garter st, I worked my toe pieces in st st, continuing to slip the 1st st of each row.

Ears:    With size 10 needles and one strand of MC, CO 9 sts.  Work 13 rows in st st, slipping 1st st of every row.  Next row (RS), sl 1, ssk, k 3, k2tog, k1. sl 1, p to end of row. Next row (RS), sl 1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1.  sl 1, p to end of row.  Next row (RS), sl 1, sl2 kwise, k 1, p2sso, k1. sl 1, p to end of row.  Next row (RS), sl 2 kwise, k 1, p2sso.  Pull tail through last st.  Make 4.  Weave in ends and felt. 

Linings:    With size 10 needles and one strand of CC (pale pink), CO 7 sts.  Work 13 rows in st st, slipping 1st st of every row.  Next row (RS), sl 1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1.  sl 1, p to end of row.  Next row (RS), sl 1, sl2 kwise, k 1, p2sso, k1. sl 1, p to end of row.  Next row (RS), sl 2 kwise, k 1, p2sso.  Pull tail through last st.  Make 4.  Weave in ends and felt. 

After felting, place linings on top of ears with wrong sides together.  Sew in place invisibly by hand, using thread to match linings.  Fold ears and sew to bodies as directed.

Whiskers:    With a single strand of contrasting yarn, embroider whiskers with one long stitch each, on either side of nose.

Hop On, Gentle Readers.