Christmas in January

I've done two things in the last few days--given out the last of my Christmas knitting and started my Christmas knitting for next year. (Adding to the Stash Counter over at the side!) Here is my walking and writing buddy, Darcy with her pair of Fetching wrist warmers. She complained that her hands get cold while she is writing so I knew these would make the perfect gift for her.

We all got together to have lunch with my friend, Diane, who is in the Foreign Service. She's home on Christmas leave and then it is back to the Hague for the rest of her current assignment. Her next posting is Pakistan and we were all complaining that she needed someplace we wanted to visit. She's been nearly all around the world in the last 15 years, and has her sights set on finishing her career having served on every continent (save Antartica). I thought this black scarf would be a good addition to her wardrobe, since Diane lives with a rather limited amount of belongings.

I know I said I was only going to knit for myself, but I realized if I knit one dish cloth a month, then I would have 12 done by next December--plenty to give as small gifts. Bundled with a bar of homemade soap, it will make a nice mini-spa treat. And in the bargain, it will be a fun way to try out new stitch patterns on a small scale. This one is from Maggie's Rags, and is a Chinese Waves Dish Cloth. I'm using size 6 needles, instead of 7s and like the way it is knitting up--tight as the pattern says and both sides are pretty. The way I see it, it will be a great way to use up this small stash of Sugar & Cream and Lion Cotton.

Anyone else have a favorite dish cloth pattern they want to share?