Fishbasket Quiviut Hat

The ever handsome Smokey is kindly modeling a hat I think is finally done. I knit this for a SAR friend of mine, starting back in September or October. I just added an inch or so to the band and reduced it by a few stitches so it would cup the cranium slightly. It was a joy to knit and I can't wait to finish my quiviut hat in a light smokey purple with cables.

Quiviut is spun from the underfur of the musk ox, which are raised and roam wild here in Alaska. It is super soft, eight times warmer than wool, and really really expensive. My friend insisted on paying me to knit this for him and though I refused at first when he offered to buy me a skein as well, I couldn't hardly say no. The pattern is a traditional version from a book I allowed this project to provide an excuse for purchasing, Arctic Lace.

Christmas Table Topper

The only real decorating I did this year was a little on the dinner table. We had a bottle of wine I had been saving for a special occasion.

And at the other end of the table I put my pretty box of frankinsense and myrrh. It smells good.

My friend, KAES, made the pieced table runner and gave it to me a couple years ago. I had candles and spruce cones on hand. I love red berries; Smokey and I saw a bush with red berries a couple weeks ago in a store parking lot. He was gracious enough to retrieve some spruce sprigs for me from outside. I believe they are ones he knocked off a tree in the yard while attempting to retrieve a Tatonka toy that was lodged in a branch.

Card

I took my first stab at making a card since I was in elementary school. Mostly I have been collecting pretty paper and fun stickers and the occasional paper crafting magazine. But somehow a pre-made card wasn't good enough for Smokey's mom. So I flipped through the mags and ended up with something looking nothing like anything I looked at. And I really like it. I'm not seeing handmade Christmas cards in my immediate future or anything, but I may make another one soon.