When’s the last time I did a books and yarn post for the Small Things Yarn Along link up? It looks like i haven’t posted any knitting since … August 25. Yikes!

I was inspired by my Making Christmas post from last year and set out to make all the gifts this year. Tell me — why is it that December rolls around and I assume that I have all the time in the world? As if I don’t have to keep the house clean and cook the meals and — was I supposed to still do homeschool lessons? Yikes. Oh well, we’ll double-down in January. Um… Mid-January.

This year I had hoped to make Muji Painting-inspired cowls for anyone and everyone using my fantastic knitting machine. Someday I will have to show you how it works — it blows my mind how quickly I can knit on that thing, even though I’m really not that good yet. I can only knit stockinette in straight lines, which works for scarves and cowls.

I made a test cowl on the machine and it turned out great. I love it. I happily bought more yarn to make a similar cowl for my sister-in-law but for some reason, I didn’t like it all. The knitted fabric curled up on itself and it just wasn’t flattering. I spent a good week wondering if I should buy a second skein of yarn to make the cowl wider and longer, but in the end I just decided to knit something different by hand. In 24 hours. Thank goodness for super bulky yarn, right?

This is the cowl that I came made.  I wanted something that was snug around the neck and tall so it can be bunched up or folded down — I just think that they’re more cozy than long and skinny cowls.

I picked the Three Turn Cowl pattern from CreatingLaura.com; my yarn was Freia Handpaint Yarns’ Super Bulky in Canyon. I love the colour-changing effect. The pattern was quick and easy and I’d like to make a couple more with yarn from my stash.

Right now I’m back to working on my Gloucester Road Cardigan. I love the colour of this yarn and I love the moss stitch contrasting with the stockinette. I’m at a part where I have to start decreasing so I need to sit down and read through the pattern a few times before I can get going again. Easier said than done, right?

As for books, I’ve got a few on the go. I started Gilead by Marilynne Robinson but I can’t find it anywhere. I suspect my two-year-old has something to do with that. The second book I’m reading is the Divine Dance: The Trinity and Your Transformation by Richard Rohr. I’m not far in, but I’m enjoying it so far.

The third book I’m reading — the one I can’t put down — is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It’s my first time reading the book (don’t laugh), and I think it’s delightful. Don’t tell me what happens if you’ve read it. I think someone dies, because I remember Joey putting the book in the fridge in that old episode of Friends?

Gah! I just looked up the clip on youtube to link to and now I know who dies.

ARGH.

Oh well, I’m too far in to stop now.

Have you had time to knit or read over the holidays?