I had my second knitting lesson with Aunt Wendy and Kim on Wednesday. They learned to cast on and are working on a garter-stitch scarf.

Aunt Wendy is making hers long and skinny.

The yarn is Lion Brand Landscapes in a bunch of different colorways.

Kim’s is much wider. Maybe too wide but she refused to start over.

I ordered five different colors so that they could choose. I’ve got leftovers and I’m planning to order more (there will be other people who want to learn to knit) because I really like this yarn! It’s great for beginners: there are no plies to stick your needle through, it’s reasonably priced, and the colors change often so even a garter stitch scarf doesn’t get boring. Maggie (my cousin) also showed up and wanted to knit – we made a little felted purse about a year ago – so I cast on a scarf for her, too. She took it home in a ziplock and plans to knit in the car on the way to Atlanta today. We set a date for our next lesson (with luck they will have finished one ball and will be ready to attach another) and I think Kim’s daughter is coming. Aunt Wendy invited a lady from church. Maybe I’ll make muffins.

In between “What’s wrong?” and “Am I doing this right?” I worked on the first of the Parade socks.

Blue is for M!

See the froggy yarn wound around the outside? That’s enough to make a sock leg. I had ribbed it down to the heel, got worried about having enough to finish, pulled back to a 2.25″ cuff and am going in stockinette from there. Not like that’s going to magically create another 50 yards or anything (my purls aren’t that loose), but it seemed like a good idea last night. I can’t imagine why. I really like this yarn! I like that I can use #3s (my favorite sock needle size) but it’s still a sock yarn (it’s got nylon). So I don’t really mind making the leg again. I am hoping that Knit Picks adds this yarn in solid colors to their selection.

I will leave you with this Holiday Moment:

For those of you keeping count, I am two stockings short. I didn’t make my quota yesterday. I’ll try to do three today and tomorrow to make up for it. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of time!