Felting
I managed to fix the lampshade from last week and construct 2 more. One is hanging in our downstairs loo, the other 2 are a personal order from Kim at the Fuzzy Thistle shop, although when I dropped them off she didn’t seem to remember. She’s closed the shop early and I’m a bit worried about things getting damp in there, so hoping to arrange to now re-pick up everything not sold. I bought a locally made facial soap bar from there, that I was a bit dubious about using on my face but I love it, and there’s no plastic. She gave so much of her time to the shop it is a shame that there just wasn’t the number of visitors expected, it is a tourist town with coach trips all year and quite a few hotels, but just not enough visitors buying things.
Knitting
I finished my Antler Toque hat by tincanknits. The pattern comes in 4 sizes and I knit the large size but it is pretty snug, not uncomfortably so but it definitely gives me hat hair. I didn’t block it though and just attached my faux fur pom pom I bought at Fibre East in July. It is very warm and I’ve ordered 2 skeins of the same yarn to make Allistar a hat, his head is bigger than mine and I’d used every last bit of my yarn and had to use some left over yarn from my jumper to knit the last row and to sew it closed, that is hidden by the pom pom so no issue. I wore it to the beach mid-week with my Such a Winter’s Day jumper and I was toasty!
Whilst I was waiting for the yarn for Allistar’s hat to arrive I cast on a tote bag to felt! I have WIPs I could have been doing, but when you aren’t feeling well it is a ‘pick me up’ to cast on a new project! Will my Christmas socks be finished by Christmas Day??? Oops!! Anyway, the bag is being knit with more of New Lanark Aran wool (like my Such a Winter’s Day jumper) but in the colours Bramble and Milano. I’m now at the point where it says knit the entire ball of wool in stocking stitch, so that will be a mindless project to work on when I’m tired. I’ve just noticed the bag will go well with my alpaca scarf in the picture above.
Other News
On Monday we had our first snowfall of the season, less than an inch but it was big fat flakes falling which are my favourite. You can see them on Ylva’s back, huge flakes! (Well technically clusters of flakes, but you know what I mean.). This was taken a few minutes after it started snowing, she loves to lick snow off the grass. It was all gone by mid-week. I’ve had a sore throat, cough and aches this week so not much else done.
The yarn for Allistar’s hat arrived, but I still haven’t decided in a pattern and it’s not going to be ready by Christmas. I made my last yarn purchase of the year…I bought some acrylic yarn to crochet a Minion! 2020 is going to be the year I learn to knit a crochet pattern that isn’t just a basket shape!!!! That’s it for yarn buying until 2021 now…no yarn purchases next year.
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HighlandHeffalump 
Love the hat – if it gives you hat hair leave it on! lol. I have a lot of bed head these days so I wear by toque almost 24/7! Merry Christmas to you and yours. Your felting is so inspiring.
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Your Antler Toque is terrific. And I love that furry pom – it’s a great color for that yarn. I hope you get your items out of the shop soon, so you don’t have to wonder about them. I know you were anticipating it, but I’m sorry to hear that the shop has closed. Even so, I hope you have a Merry Christmas, Liz.
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Thanks, I managed to pick them up today. Xx
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The hat looks very warm. Nice to have a warm hat in a cold and blustery day. Hopefully you are able to get all your unsold items back soon. It is sad she had to close her doors due to lack of interest. The snow looks so pretty. Ylva makes the photo so worth it. Have a happy Christmas.
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What a lovely snow! We had a little dusting here as well. Your toque looks great. I look forward to seeing your felted bag! It’s a bummer about the shop closing. I hope you find another outlet for your beautiful things!
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Your hat looks great – you look cozy in all your knits and warm gear! Beautiful snow – it really does look pretty 🙂 Ylva looks like she is enjoying it too. Hope that you find a new outlet for your beautiful work soon – you are making such lovely things!
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Lovely hat, and I love the pom pom on top. We’ve had our first snow as well, and I think I even managed to take a photo before it melted. Now we’re back to Spring in December (that’s similar to Christmas in July, just reversed. LOL). I too hope you’ll find another shop to advertise and sell your work. Fingers crossed for that. Now have a wonderful time and take care.
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Your hat turned out so nice and it looks really pretty on you! I hope you feel better and can enjoy y our holidays.
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The hat is beautiful and looks very snuggly! Hope you had a lovely Christmas.
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