Christmastime is near!

And here we are into September! Only a little less than four months left before Christmas, so it's definitely time to start working on those gifts! Or perhaps picking up something for some else...?

But enough of that!

I know I'll be focusing a bit more on Christmas gifts now, though I've had lots of fun the last few months learning new techniques and skills. Anyone who says they can't knit anything but scarves, I have news for you: until four months ago, scarves were all I had ever done as well. And in the last four months I have learned how to:

• knit socks using double-pointed needles
  
• knit hats on 16" circular needles
• knit pieces to be "sewn" together (this terrified me for a long time)
  
• crochet (yes, just to crochet)
• hand quilt
• sew (okay, I had done a teensy bit of sewing, but this was at least seven years ago, so it hardly counts)

There is so much we can learn to do if we just put our minds to it! If you've ever wanted to learn how to do something, I urge you to go out and learn it NOW. There is no time like the present, and only you are standing in the way. Saying, "Oh, I could never do that," is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You'll never do it if you never try. THAT is a fact of life.

So go sign up for a class (hint, hint!), buy a book, join a club/craft circle, or just search online "how to..." - there is so much free online now it's a wonder anyone buys anything!

And in the land of socks... I have finished the first pair of chunky-weight socks and started a second pair. I didn't devote much time to knitting today (too much physics homework), but did finish the cuff and get most of the way down the heel flap. This yarn is Encore Chunky Colorspun (a variegated yarn), and I'll post a picture soon!