A Month (almost) of Mondays – December, 2015

We had a cold December – nothing unusual about that in Montana – and we started receiving regular snow falls that built up and up. Ah, a white Christmas!

Knitting at Linda’s House – December 7, 2015

Linda was trying to get it together to decorate for Christmas. I’m lucky if my husband gets the tree up by the week of Christmas. And he only has to walk to the garage (our tree lives there in a box all year). Anyway, we oohed and aahed over the swag she had gathered. Lovely.

I spy pine cones and lots of other stuff.

I spy pine cones and lots of other stuff.

Carol finished both of her squishy blankets and they are beautiful! She sounded delighted to begin a new project. We get it, Carol. Most of the time, I’m ready to start a new project in the middle of my old one. Hmm. Maybe that’s why I have so many UFP’s (UnFinished Projects) lurking around the house.

Yay! We're so happy for you, Carol.

Yay! We’re so happy for you, Carol.

One thing I DID finish was my triangles scarf. This is the second one I’ve made using this pattern and I have to say – I love it! The sock yarn I used was soft and pretty and I can’t wait to wear it.

Easy short-row scarf.

Easy short-row scarf.

I have a mystery project to confess. I took this photo, but because there were three sets of hands in the picture, I can’t remember whose scarf this is! Sorry. It’s beautiful – beaded and with YO’s. Let me know, Castoffs, who is knitting this lovely project. Thanks.

So, who knitted this?

So, who knitted this?

Michele finished her skirt! It turned out great and it fits her so well, she wore it to work today. I remember all the angst while she was knitting and all the questions about the size. Well, I’m glad it fits and is so beautiful.

Great skirt, Michele!

Great skirt, Michele!

Linda was knitting mittens and a matching hat for her grandson, Michael. She is so happy to have that little guy to knit for. The colors in this set are vibrant and will look great on him.

Bright mittens!

Bright mittens!

Little hat with one mitten in the corner.

Little hat with one mitten in the corner.

Mary sent me a photo of the boot toppers that she finished for Larissa. I forgot to put it in the blog last month, so here they are. They look great, Mary!

Mary's boot toppers.

Mary’s boot toppers.

Here's a close-up of boot topper.

Here’s a close-up of boot topper.

That was it for our meeting at Linda’s house. Next time, we’ll meet at Camas Creek Cottage for Michele’s turn at “hosting”.

Knitting at Camas Creek Cottage – December 14, 2015

To accommodate travel distances for our working members, we decided to meet, occasionally, at Camas Creek Cottage – since it’s centrally located. The meeting room is cozy and comfortable. The staff is welcoming. And there is a store full of yarn and knitting accessories at our fingertips. What’s not to like?

Here we are, sittin’ and knittin’.

Plenty of room for Castoffs!

Plenty of room for Castoffs!

Another look.

Another look.

Since she happened to be in a yarn store, Deb took advantage and popped out to buy some accessories. I have a feeling this will happen a lot.

Markers, place keepers! Whatever you need, here it is!

Markers, place keepers! Whatever you need, here it is!

Deb is close to finishing the sweater she’s knitting for her husband. Not sure what Linda was working on, but the yarn is beautiful.

Oops, I caught Linda in mid- speech.

Oops, I caught Linda in mid- speech.

Leslie has been a busy Santa, knitting a drop-stitch scarf and a cabled hat for Christmas gifts. The drop-stitch pattern is intriguing. Maybe I’ll investigate it further…

Love those cables.

Love those cables.

Marylane brought her blanket project that resembles a log cabin pattern. I like that she doesn’t have to sew anything – just pick up stitches along the edges to join and increase the size. Pretty yarn, too.

Great colors, Marylane!

Great colors, Marylane!

We enjoyed our meeting at the yarn Cottage and we’ll be back right after the first of the year. Thanks, Camas!

Christmas Party at Marylane’s House – December 21, 2015

We had a snowy afternoon for our party, but we warmed it up with our friendship, gift exchange and lots of wine. The food was fabulous!!! We had a lot to choose from and we enjoyed it all.

Yum.

Yum.

Carol came in good spirits and in her Santa hat. Cute.

Ho, ho, ho!

Ho, ho, ho!

Marylane’s Christmas tree was beautiful and our gifts for the exchange filled the bottom.

Merry Christmas, Castoffs!

Merry Christmas, Castoffs!

After we ate and talked and drank and ate some more, we got to the Gift Exchange! Yay! Our favorite part of the party. Linda had a very interesting time — she opened three or four gifts because most of them were stolen from her. I think she had fun opening and she ended up with a gift that she really liked. The stealing is always the favorite part of this show.

First gift - stolen!

First gift – stolen!

Um, wine. Stolen!

Um, wine. Stolen!

I think she got to keep this knitting themed jigsaw puzzle.

I think she got to keep this knitting themed jigsaw puzzle.

Julie opened a couple of gifts, too. The first one was yarn bras (!) and Burt’s Bees lotion. Both useful but stolen. The second was some beautiful yarn and a pattern that she got to keep.

Julie's first gift. Stolen!

Julie’s first gift. Stolen!

A keeper.

A keeper.

We all had a lot of fun opening and trying to keep our gifts. Here is a sampling.

Carol opened  ornaments.

Carol opened ornaments.

Marylane opened a prayer flag.

Marylane opened a prayer flag.

Earrings for Leslie.

Earrings for Leslie.

Notecards for Michele.

Notecards for Michele.

That's Deb behind the tea-towel.

That’s Deb behind the tea-towel.

I’m afraid I didn’t get a photo of everyone and their gift, but we all had fun and laughed a lot with the stealing shenanigans. At the end of the party, Marylane’s husband, Richard took some photos to commemorate our time together.

Castoffs, December 2015

Castoffs, December 2015

Here we all are. Merry Christmas, Castoffs! I’ll see you all in 2016!

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