Stitch-y gifts anyone?

Yipee! My DH usually buys me stitching gifts, but didn't realize that the LNS was closed all week. (Neither did I!) He did get me a KitchenAid Pro stand mixer, can't wait to try that out! :)

Well if you count knitting, I received all 4 of the Barbara Walker treasury of knitting stitches (4 vols.) My sister and I plan to knit my mother an afghan in squares and to make it more interesting we will use different stitches...this will be invaluable!

Alison

Oh, I am so envious! These are on my wish list.

I did get three knitting books including an absolutely gorgeous knitted lace book. I don't know if I have the patience to knit lace, but I'm going to try!

Elizabeth

Oh do try. There's nothing so satisfying as seeing the end result of knitted lace.

But be patient. I find it nearly impossible unless I'm prepared to constantly count and often ripit. I've rarely started anything really intricate without having to redo the first few lines at least once until the pattern is established and I've finally realized that it will never change.

Lucille

I've found that re-writing the directions is sometimes helpful. I will rewrite them to my own mental rhythm. Dianne

I got the cross stitch pattern a day block calendar and a neat cross stitch wall calendar that has a pattern (and fabric!) every month designed by the Ewe & Eye & Friends folks. I also got this sort of "scissor candy" which basically is some pretty beaded strands that attach to your stitching scissors to make them look pretty. Mine look like dragonflies :)

DH also got me the calendar this year. At least it does have a color key; about two or three years ago I had one, and it came without a key! You had to go on-site to get it!LOL

Indirectly, since I will be looking for stash in Japan, I got a map of Tokyo and the surrounding areas (including Atsugi), and also six CDs...."Learn Japanese in Ten Days". A bit optimistic that! Also, indirectly connected to stitching, I get a box of Godiva chocs!!

Gillian

Please let me know if the calendar is worth getting? I was looking at it a couple of weeks ago, but being a cheapskate I figured it could wait for after the New Year so it would go on sale.

Lucille

jules wrote: He did get me a

I'd be interested to hear how you like it! I'd like one, but I'm waiting for my Oster Kitchen Center mixer/blender, et al. to bite the dust.

(Last time the motor conked out, DH was able to buy replacement gears on Ebay to keep it going a little longer. So it's a matter of time...)

Sue

I have that same thing (the Oster) and I HATE IT!! Hate it, hear me hate it!

It can't handle cookie dough, doesn't shred well and generally just stinks!

Cheryl

Are you trying to convey the idea that you don't like it???

I'm old enough to still use an old sunbeam mixmaster that I got for an engagement gift in the dark ages. It refuses to die and it would be a crime to kill it.

Lucille

Gill Murray wrote: > also six

Well, that depends on how much Japanese you need to learn. Wayne and I can teach you enough to survive in a restaurant in about an hour. Wouldn't help you make a speech in the Japanese Parliament, but it's about 50% of what most tourists need to know!

DH brought a KitchenAid to the marriage with him and I just love it. Saturday he taught me to use the paddle instead of the whisk for cookie dough. Woohoo! I love it.

Elizabeth

Actually, I would love to surprise my new DIL (of 6 days) by greeting her at Tokyo Airport in her own language! Otherwise it is like the other languages which I have learned......."please" "Thank You", :"Where is the bathroom" and my favorite" I am so sorry, I do not speak your language". I have found that phrase just opens up doors, and people who previously didn't understand me, miraculously understood English, because I had TRIED to use their language.! I probably won't be going over until late March, or early April, so I should be able to say those things LOL

Gillian

My mother still uses her Sunbeam Mixmaster, and I'm hoping that one day (but not soon!) that it'll be mine! It's a true workhorse.

Jinx

One of my sisters sent me four skeins of chunky yarn & a neck massager. DH got two boxes of Jello Banana Pudding mix. :-)) Everyone in my family knows how much DH loves "Banana Puddin" & DS thought it would be fitting to send him something he loves that we can fix up quickly when we don't feel like doing it from scratch. In recent years he has also received pans of lasagna and banana bread - when we lived close enough to deliver gifts in person. Liz from Humbug

I made a lace scarf for my sister for Christmas. It didn't have too many pattern rows (12 I think) - it's called Cats Paw which is perfect for her as she collects cat things (and has 3 cats so far.) It's true though, it is very hard to rip lace. I read a hint about getting a thread of dental floss through a row, then you could rip back to that. But I didn't do it. When I got off a bit I knitted 2 together or did an extra yarn over. What can I say, it's not perfect but it's DONE. I used a very dark green, almost black, laceweight wool yarn from knitpicks and I didn't use the whole skein and the scarf is plenty long. This was my second lace project but NOT MY LAST!!! I also knitted a scarf for someone using DK weight merino wool - I used fan stitch lace and it looks amazing in the heavier yarn.

Alison

LOL! I think you might be right about learning Japanese in ten days! My youngest but one grandson is learning it in his spare time - his Dad suspects that the very attractive youngJapanese lady teacher might be the real attraction!

Pat P