Shortest Day of the Year

The craft fair was pretty good again - didn't take as much as the year before, but more than two years ago. The msuem shop has now got 17 baubles, but I will fetch the residue back after Christmas. Three had sold by the Christmas Event there. All Christmas gifts now dispersed, cards posted. Just the food shopping to tackle now. There will be no surprises this Christmas, the day itself is going to be something of an anti-climax. So my mnd was looking for some inspiration to ward off the doldrums. I found it in Lithuanian or Latvian mittens - two sources, virtually identical patterns. When I went to draft one, I found I had drafted the other some 18 months ago, but apparently never knitted. This time I did it 75% on the kntting machine. The cuff was a 7 st repeat so ha to be done by hand, plus the top shaping. Made a mistake at top of second one, corrected it, but somehow got the row count wrong and it ended up a whole pattern band shorter. Did first one with hand knit thumb, second with machine knit, just to see the difference. They look good in a photo! Also pegging away at the B&W Dordgone. Had to take back six whole diamonds on sleeves as I had gone past gusset areas. PLus unravel half of four more diamonds to get the slits in. This means about 8 hours more work. Also spent a day spinning plain white for next band. Determined to finish it before doign any more handknitting, but don't think it will be done by the end of the year.