Molly Ann loaned me her swift and ball winder, so I feel like a professional knitter, winding my own skeins, finally getting ready to knit Leena’s Christmas stocking. Like this one. I was too out-of-it to knit one for her first Christmas but at least now, Leena can participate more in the process.

She and Sonya took turns cranking the handle of the ball winder. Incidentally, this is a fantastic way to mesmerize little kids. My girls stayed busy for a looooooong time! I got to read the entire first installment of Wool by Hugh Howey. (Over 1000 people gave it 5 stars on Amazon… and the crowd is right! It’s great dystopian fiction! One of the characters is even a knitter, too!)

I’m going to use essentially the same design as Sonya’s, but change up the color scheme. At first, I thought I’d make each person’s stocking different, but I abandoned that idea! So far, I’ve finished the top. I love the way her name looks: LEENA. Just the perfect name for her. Leena Maple.

I can’t believe how big she is. She’s got opinions and ideas, and she’s begun to express them— sometimes very emphatically. She can walk, babble, climb stairs, and sit in a booster seat. No more high chair! She’ll be even more sophisticated by the time it’s Christmas! But there’s lots to do before then! I’m looking forward to hanging four enormous Fair Isle stockings on the mantelpiece this year!