Urchin Beret and Pizzella-Palooza

Yea! FO! This is me and my urchin beret. Beret, because look at the picture. I utilized Inca print yarn, 2 strands held together, because its thin, on a size 15 needle. It took me 3 days to finish, because I only knit at night. It can be done in one day though. It's an alpaca yarn and I thoroughly enjoyed working with it. And I do love the colors. I cast on for a medium, but I guess I could have gotten away with a small. I could have also modified the pattern as I went, but come on people, I just don't have those skills yet. Plus, although creative, I like to follow patterns. Every time I deviate I run into problems. The urchin pattern was super easy to follow, and knitted up quickly. I will definitely use this pattern again, but with a more appropriate yarn.

So, this past weekend was also Pizzella-Palooza. I really only bake around Christmas, and pizzelles are such a time consuming process, that I only make them once a year. Pizzelles are an Italian anise flavored cookie that I grew up with, and you need a pizzelle iron to make them. Its a labor intensive process, because the "good" irons only make two at a time, and it takes about 1 minute to cook. See the clock there for keeping time. So there is no time to do anything else, because believe me, I have tried and ended up with burned pizzelles. But I love giving them out to my friends and family because they are indeed made with love :)

I also made ricotta cookies, another favorite Italian cookie. Although I'm Italian, these are the only two Italian cookies I make. I don't have time for biscotti, and the rest of the Italian cookie family. That's what my girlfriend's mom's house is for. Anyway, the ricotta cookies came out really, really good this year, if I do say so myself. They are a light cookie made with ricotta cheese in the batter, and then iced with a light icing made from 10x(confectioner's) sugar. I was going to make more, because they seem to just disappear, but then I remembered I need to buy some bathing suits for next year's vacation, so no more cookies! Plus my husband said we had enough cookies, as he walked away with another handful. Hmm...I still may make some more, haven't decided yet. I'll think it about as I eat some chocolate chip cookies I made, since the ricotta ones are gone.

During this entire baking process, I did have time to think about what knitting projects I would like to accomplish or start in the new year. First, I am going to finish up the little things I have hanging around, mainly that darn green garden of Eden scarf and the mate to my brown stripped sock. Then I must CO on for another bunny buddy for my coworker whose wife is expecting in February or March. Then the following: scarf to match my beret, shrug for vacation in the fall of 2008, Clapotis (no, I don't have one yet), and one of the sweaters from the Interweave knits winter edition. The top down sweater with open work at the top. I really like that one. I have the week off from work between Christmas and New Years, so I want to have my old things cleaned up.

I have other big plans too; like straighten out my Ravelry stuff, I'm a poor Ravelry home page person. Try dyeing some yarn. Organize my knitting journal and notebook. Catch up on TV. And start my final paper for school. I graduate in May yea! I have an associates and lots of experience already, but sometimes you really need that piece of paper, you know? Plus its a personal accomplishment. Anyway, as you can see, I have lots of stuff planned. I wonder how much I will get done.

In the meantime, I wish all of you a wonderful holiday. May you all have treasured time with your family and the ones you love. My husband and I will be busy spoiling our doggie, who loves to sit under tree when the lights are on. Unless you start eating something of course!

TTFN! XOXOX