Yesterday was our Holiday Party! As Christy said, it was a blast, what with hilarious gifts being exchanged and lots of good food. Even though she stole my bag of Comfy, I still made out well.
I wasn’t going to jump on the cookie decorating contest at first, but well, I can’t stay uncreative for too long! So I grabbed a cookie and some intensely bright frosting and put down on that cookie what had been in my mind for the past few days:

And whaddya know, I ended up winning the contest!
You see, I’ve sort of had flowers on the brain lately. We have a super-awesome new yarn coming very soon, and I get to do the honors of introducing the first patterns for it. The colors are rich and complex, but are all so perfect together – just like a well-balanced garden. The colors …

Hi,
I’m sorry I didn’t get to post the winners on Monday!!! We got so much snow in Washington that we had to close our offices! I’m actually in North Carolina right now visiting my family for the holidays, but I knew you guys were waiting on me, so I logged on to post a quick update.
We had so many entries for Amused, that we decided to pick 3 Amused winners! Here they are:
Mostlyselftaught
jmfknits
jackielemon
Our Surface winner is:
Kayray
And our Everybody Knows winner is:
bronxgrrl
Congratulations to all of our winners and thank you to everyone who participated. This first giveaway was such a success, I have a feeling we’ll be doing more in the future, so keep checking back for more chances to win.
Sorry again for the delay in posting the winners. Talk to you guys in 2009! <

It was close, but I made it! My sister got a finished Positano Tote under the tree. She did see it ahead of time, though, because we were snowbound together at my house. I finished it the morning of the 23rd, right before we packed up to make the long trek to our parents’ house.

Pattern: Interweave Knits Winter 2008 Positano Tote
Yarn: Wool of the Andes Amber Heather
Needles: US 7 24″ circular and US 5 DPNs <

Okay, so I only made one mitten when I was snowed in at home last week, but it’s all a part of the plan. You see, I’ve long admired all the cute colorwork mitten patterns out there, but I don’t wear mittens (or know anybody gift-worthy who does). I’m a devoted glove gal because of what I refer to as “finger claustrophobia”–fellow glove wearers probably know what I’m talking about!
Anyway, so a while back I decided that I would make mittens, but I would make one each of several different cool patterns using different combos of the same colors and frame them as an art display in my home. I think colorwork is art, don’t you?
The yarn I chose was my personal favorite, Palette, and the colors I picked for my little art project are Pimento, Golden Heather, Green Tea Heather & …

That’s right. Our last giveaway was such a success that we’re already at it again. But this time you’re going to have to work for that prize. Here’s what we want you to do.
We will be knitting a home decor project out of worsted weight yarn using size 10 needles. The first one to complete their project, post a photo on their Knitting Community blog, personal blog, or Ravelry and link to it from the Speed Knitting Contest knitalong wins a Knit Picks needle set (you choose which one), a fiber yarn sampler, and the knitting book of your choice. That’s over $100 value. The home decor project will not be announced until the last week of January to give everyone a chance to get their supplies, stretch properly, get well hydrated, and perfect their speed knitting techniques.
Here’s how it’s going to work:
Step 1- Join the Speed Knitting Contest Knitalong …

<