Christmas in July

Q: What do knitters and magazine editors have in common?
A: They have to plan their projects six months in advance.

For magazine editors right now it means thinking about pecan pies, roast turkeys, and stockings hung by the fireplace with care. For knitters and other crafters it means creating a list of possible presents to make for a small queue of special people.

I have to confess, I think I started thinking about this year's Christmas presents on Dec. 26th of last year. Ah, so much I want to knit and so little time...

I did find a pattern I am VERY excited about. SUPER EXCITED, actually. It's top secret, but this is a peek.

I can't say much more about it, but it did force me to learn how to make cables, using a cable needle.

It reminds me of the One-Armed Man's hook from The Fugitive or less dramatically*, a plain old fishing hook. Anyway, it's easy to use and I'm having fun making cables now.

I also learned some other new techniques from the pattern, but I'll have to unveil them later...much later. How does Dec. 26th sound?

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*On whether a fishing hook is dramatic or not? I guess it depends on who you're talking to...

(a little cartoon sketch made while eating lunch).