These leggings turned out super adorable, even though I wasn’t sure about them while I was knitting.

It’s the basic Aubrey Doodlepants pattern, which is a real basic knit-in-the-round longies pattern without a gusset. I wanted to make them double thick through the wet zone, so I ended up deciding to just double-strand from an inch below the ribbing through the beginning of the legs. While I considered reducing the number of stitches to make up for this increase in bulk, I ended up just leaving it.

So then the longies ended up being REALLY wide.

However, I think they look completely adorable when they’re on her, with that baggy, casual look.

ps, the yarn was from my yarn CSA from Christmas 2008. Not my favorite yarn, but I’m trying to use it all up and then be rid of it!!

This little sock monkey was actually really easy to make, if a bit tedious. (Though most knitting has its tedious parts!) I had promised Wally several months ago that I’d make him a sock monkey, because I didn’t want to pay the $20 that the store was asking for one. (Of course, I probably spent that much in yarn, but that’s not the point!)

He really does like it, too.

AND - this is my first foray into knitting without any practical purpose.

I used Knitpicks Swish DK yarn.  An awesome pattern by Mummble-Jummble. I went with an oatmeal color for the hands and feet instead of the traditional cream, since, after all, this monkey is going to live a MY house, and is likely to get things spilled on it.

So, felted slippers are my fall-back gift this year. If I can’t think of anything better, I’m making felted slippers, lol. My sister in law, two nephews, and a niece are all getting felted slippers.

They’re actually fun to make - like really giant socks made with thick yarn. Then they felt up in the washer and turn into slippers!

Some shaving and shaping, and they’re just lovely. Actually, they’re really comfortable and cozy. I wore this pair (my nephew’s) around the house for a wee bit. Shhhh.

Just browsing over at Etsy, through some of the items listed by fellow SHE team members:

These are fun. Bookmarks with calendars on them.

Angel food cake body butter? Yum.

Gorgeous merino-bamboo yarn.

Ouchie pillows. I love these, instead of the little hard ice packs we currently use.

Felted wool balls. We have several of these and love them. They’re actually my preferred balls to play with.

I just re-found this blog post from the Soap Queen about the psychology of shopping, as it relates to craft fairs (and, I suppose, to life in general). Enjoy!

Alright. Here’s where I’m at. (no pictures in this post, the relevant pictures have already been separately posted)

Ballet skirts and legwarmers for two nieces: Done.

Ballet skirt and bun cover for another niece: Half done. (skirt done, bun cover out with a friend)

Camera cozy and assorted fabric pouches for mother in law: done.

Camera strap cover for father in law: done.

(MIL and FIL are also getting a bowl from StellaJames and a picture of my adorable family.)

Slippers for sister in law: done

Tote bag for other sister in law: done. (this sister in law is also getting the gift of our presence at her wedding in March in Arizona. don’t laugh, it’s going to cost us over $1000.)

Slippers for nephews: done

Slippers for niece: done

Hat for soon to be brother in law: not even started.

Project for sister: not started, needed equipment is malfunctioning.

Twirly skirt for niece and sweater skirt for niece: done.

Two brothers-in-law are getting gift cert’s for massage. They could both use one.

That takes care of extended family. So I’m largely done there.

Immediate family:

Wally: knit sweater, knit sock monkey. Neither started.  New pants (hemp french terry, dyed). Sewn, not dyed.

Genna: knit jacket/cardigan, knit longies. Not started.

Randy: knit fingerless gloves to match his hat. Christmas ornament from Wally. Not started. (though the ornament needs to wait until the 24th, because the child cannot keep anything to himself.) I’m also going to get him a gift card to Itunes for his new Ipod Touch.

And I’ll be doing some crafting for friends and others, too. One of those projects is finished, one is started.

I need to figure out what to do for our postal carrier.

I knit these longies for Genna using the Pimp my Longies pattern and Araucania Nature Wool I bought on clearance when Creative Corner went out of business. I really like the pattern, except it has the big drawback that most crotch-gusset patterns do - the increases at the gusset leave little holes in the knitting just at the spot you really don’t want little holes. Nonetheless, these are adorable, and the fit is wonderful.

I ended up knitting a little shorts version and attaching it at the waist, so it’s double thickness through the upper thigh. Love this modification.