What I've been doing when I really should be doing something else entirely...

Big announcement coming soon (maybe within 2 weeks) and some major family/work/holiday obligations are taking priority over everything else, but I managed to sneak in a little extracurricular knitting in anyway. I finished the We Call Them Pirates Hat for my son. I used worsted weight yarn and size 5 needles, both larger than called for in the pattern, and got the required gauge (go figure). But the hat came out way too long- I don't think it's a pattern problem, it's that my son likes shorter hats. So I felted the hat a bit by hand. It was still too long, so I folded up the lower border as a hem (that's a small head form, by the way). It's drying now. I think he'll like it. Pattern available free here: http://www.helloyarn.com/wecallthempirates.htm

And I was drawn to Nanette Blanchard's Black Forest Braided Gloves- the design is so striking, and the colors pop so well. I decided to use a little free time this Holiday (while the grandkids colored at the kitchen table) to start a pair as a gift to myself. I'm using Knit Picks Palette- Navy (which looks black in my scan) and Grass, and size 1 needles. I'd never done that braid stitch before, but it came out beautifully- Nanette's instructions were clear and easy to follow. I don't know how much time I'll have to work on these, but I hope I get them finished so I can wear them. (pattern for sale here: http://www.lulu.com/content/1605051# )