More of My Favourite Things

I'm tucked warm inside my cozy house, bundled against the blistering cold we've had the past few days. Holidays are over; the tree will come down tomorrow and the house will be swept, ready for my New Year's tradition of starting afresh.

The highlight of the holiday season was, of course, family and friends. There were meals and visits. There were gifts to support our interests and hand made items filled with love and beauty. Young Mr. DD, who couldn't join us, sent books and videos; I received a book on Navajo weaving and he has pre-ordered me a copy of Sarah Anderson's, "The Spinner's Book of Yarn Designs."  Young Ms. DD made me this beautiful bracelet and earring set:

Then there are these:

The scarves are my brother-in-law's work; they're just a sample of what he has been knitting for the past few years.  Scarf knitting is his thing.  He is working his way through Barbara Walker's "Treasury of Knitting Patterns,"  A while ago, he knitted what I'm sure must be a contender for the world's largest sampler, which was something like 18 inches wide and 14 feet (yes, feet!) long, all from Ms.Walker's book.  He then turned to scarves.  I'm not sure how many he has completed, but he brought these over on Christmas Day.  Young Ms. DD and I are to choose one each for ourselves.  That will be tough.  I love them all and there are several in particular which call to me, but I'm going to be a good Mom and let Ms. DD choose first.

Here are some detail shots:

All of the pieces are made with natural fibres.  The lighter one is from a skein of alpaca yarn I found for him at Fibre Week one year.  The one under it is knit from a wool sock yarn. The scarves in the background are made from (L to R): Susan Z.'s (doglover) hand dyed yarn, which BIL loves, and Zauberballe sock yarn.

After the two knit from doglover's yarns, comes a yellow one, a cotton/wool blend (to the best of my knowledge, as he doesn't keep records or yarn labels). The pale green is alpaca and the two at the right are superwash wool (Diamond Luxury Superwash Merino).

  

His knitting is even, beautifully worked and blocked:

Apart from their beauty and practicality, these scarves are a sign of our great good fortune in having BIL Dragondancer as a part of our family.  Thanks to him and to everyone in our lives.





P.S.:  I picked the blue alpaca diamond one, the third scarf in on the photo above Himself.

 

Namaste.