~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ Ginny at small things

---

It’s the last week of November, which can only mean holiday gift-knitting is starting up in a few days … which means my clear pictures of knitting projects may be sporadic as the holidays get closer. I’m excited though … are you?

I didn’t post last week as we decided to head down to South Carolina to visit my in-laws — my FIL had a shoulder replaced the week before and we wanted to make sure all was good with this dear 82-yo man! It was, but recovery is slow and it probably helped a bit that we were there to visit and run errands. We stayed with my lovely SIL, cooked two turkeys (my Nephew-in-law opted to try deep-frying one), and generally had a fabulous time in the Upstate.

Whenever we do that trip, I always line up car-knitting — dh drives the whole 10 hours, so I really get some projects cranked through. Here’s proof from this last road-trip:

The cowl to the left is done with a new yarn we’re carrying at the shop: Big Trend from Marks & Kattens, a self-striping, one-ply worsted with is a wool-acrylic blend (I used color 411). The colors are gorgeous and the slip-stitch pattern I used really blends the colors nicely. This cowl, 21-inches around by 7-1/2 inches tall, used not-quite half the skein, so I’ll be creating a second scarf/cowl and selling the designs together. It’s such fun to work with this yarn!

The color-work yoke design is just about finished — done in five shades of Kraemer’s Perfection (wool/acrylic worsted), this is a mock-turtle poncho for pulling on to keep cozy. The blue (“sky”), purple (“grape”), green (“alligator”) and lavender (“purr”) tones, mixed with the oatmealy color (“quartz”) of the main, really work nicely together. I have another two skeins of the main to finish … so will get quite a generous (and cozy warm) garment when I’m done. Ponchos/capes are so easy to wear and I find they are much more comfortable to wear when driving than a bulky sweater. I think I’m really going to use this one a lot this winter!

We’re about half-way through our Hobbit read … and it really is a magical book. The Hobbit tends to get labeled a “kids’ book” (like somehow that’s a pejorative) but in reality, I think it’s just as deep and meaningful and wonderful (especially to read-aloud) as his more “adult read”, Lord of the Rings. We’ll be tying Bilbo’s journey into our Advent journey (which starts this Sunday) as a way to illustrate our journey toward the good, avoiding the evil. A book that is helping plan our discussions and activities is by Devin Brown, The Christian World of the Hobbit. Brown does a great job in analyzing the story from a Christian view, showing the battles between good and evil, God’s providence, purpose and response to the events as they unfold. This is going to make for a very memorable Advent in our house!

BTW, I did want to post about two designs that I finished before our road-trip … one, my Nollag Seal (which means “Christmas Shawl” in Irish), a design I’m still writing up but one you’ve seen me working on I’ve posted to Ravelry and Craftsy. The color and stitch definition of Cascade’s Eco+ in scarlet shines on this garment … a hip-length, hooded cape that celebrates Celtic knitting.

.

I also started and finished a prayer shawl for a dear friend recently diagnosed with breast cancer … All Wrapped Up in Love and Prayer, done in a green-ragg colorway (“ivy”) in Stonehedge Fiber Mill’s Shepherd’s Wool Worsted. The design is a six-sectioned hexagonal shawl that hugs the shoulders and drapes very nicely.

So, what is on your needles and book-table? Won’t you come and play with us …