Res Completae: Stress Reduction Christmas Knitting

Last month, I started making Eunny Jang's Deep V Argyle vest, which had been in my queue for quite some time (there are hints of it here). While driving home from the vacation referenced in that post, I ran out of purple yarn. Not too worried, I figured I could go back to my LYS to get some, order some on the nets, or even find the same dye lot on Ravelry.

Well, I should have been worried. This particular color of Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool has been discontinued, my LYS ran out, and there were only two stores on the web I could find in this country carrying it. The first was struck by two hurricanes and my order was lost (trust me, I feel really bad for calling them all snippy when my yarn hadn't shown up and being informed of these calamities -- I had no idea where they were located!). The second sent me no confirmation email and after a week of being all freaked out, I called and was reassured that the yarn was coming, they just hadn't bought stamps yet (?).

So my yarn should be here soon, but I haven't been able to work on the Deep V for about a month, and I haven't wanted to start anything big just in case my yarn came in and I had to abandon it to finish the Deep V. In that same time, I've started classes again and have been a big ball of stress preparing for the multitudinous trips upcoming in the next few months. Add those things together, and apparently it is just the right combination for some extremely productive Christmas knitting. I have been flying through little projects and have used up a whole pile of odd balls and half-balls of stash yarn.

First there were felted purses:


(The bubble one is the Lucy Bag from Two Old Bags).

And lined/zippered knitted purses:



Not all are completely finished yet...



A hat:


(The beginning of this hat is my original cast-on for Snow White!)

A scarf:


(Kinda want to keep this one...)

Then came the cowls:


(Prickle, without the Moebius-ness)


(Dolores Park Cowl, modified to use up all of this yarn, which I am glad to be rid of!)


(And a Sherbrooke in progress)

Not only has having smaller project to work on felt gratifying (they get finished so quickly!) and given me something to do other than bite my nails when I'm tense, but I'm also feeling pretty good about my progress on knitted holiday gifts, especially in light of how busy this fall is going to be. I think I may have something for everyone this year! Well, maybe not the men. Unless my dad starts wearing cowls.