Another good day on the Christmas front. Six cards written, three presents wrapped, today’s strategies planned. We shall see.

Two years ago I planned a big family Christmas in Strathardle. Savage weather made it impossible, and in the end we spent the day here in Drummond Place with the Beijing Mileses and a tree from Poundland. I think we spent as much again on decorations for it. We loved it. My husband suggested yesterday that we set it up again. It’s a brilliant idea, and we’ll do that.

On the knitting front, I again left the Brioche scarf unfinished. I cast on for the last-minute-present hat. I’ve got a lot more Cocoon than Vatican Pie left over from the two scarves, but Vatican Pie is much nearer the weight of yarn the hat designer intends, so I’ve gone with that. I’m pretty sure there’s enough.

I thought I had short circulars in every gauge known to man, left over from that Christmas when I knit a hat for everyone on the list. But I don’t seem to have a short 5mm, and that’s what I need. I jumped at the chance to order a Knit Pro from Meadow Yarn – their service is first-rate, it might even be here tomorrow. I’ve knit the brim, on a 4mm which I did have to hand. The rest won’t take more than a couple of evenings.

Except that Meadow Yarn is out of short Knit Pro 5mm’s. After a moment’s tremor, I  went for 4.5.

And then I wound a skein of madelinetosh sport yarn “Firewood” and cast on a swatch for Ed’s Gardening Sweater. Bliss awaits.

Yarnologist, I am deeply touched that you have nominated me for the Liebster Award, although daunted at what I have to do. I am not sure I know eleven things about myself. I waste too much time here, that’s one.

I ordered a copy of Vogue’s “Ultimate Hat Book” the other day, in the midst of all my on-line Christmas shopping. It turned up yesterday – have we ever before had a mail delivery on a Sunday? I haven’t spent much time with it yet. It has a good analysis of the anatomy of hats and, needless to say, some nice patterns.