I like giving Christmas presents early, especially when I get a present in return. More about my pressie in a minute. Firstly, I can reveal a little bit of secret knitting:

Pattern: Birch Leaf Socks by Nancy Bush from A Gathering of Lace
Yarn: Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in “Pacific”, 1 x 100g skein
Needles: 2mm Susan Bate Silvalume dpns

With only forty-five finished projects on Ravelry, this is one of the few obscure Nancy Bush sock patterns, possibly because it’s tucked away at the back of a book of delicious lace shawls that it doesn’t get the attention it deserves. I loved knitting these socks. Even on the tiny needles, it was quick to work and I think is a lovely pattern for a special gift.

It helped that the yarn is delicious. It’s my first try of this yarn; I chose it initially because I thought the colour was Diane-ish (it is), not variegated so would show off the stitch pattern, and the meterage is fantastic (so no worry about running out of yarn). But after using it, I want to buy more! It’s sproingy, doesn’t split and did I mention the meterage?!

So, I gave Diane her Nancy Bush designed socks. And she gave me a Nancy Bush designed book:

And inside:

(Nancy Bush wrote my name! And touched this book!)

If you read Diane’s blog, you might have noticed that she mentioned some sort of trip that she and Kai went on a few weeks ago. Apparently it wasn’t very exciting at all. No, it was brilliant and they got to meet Nancy Bush herself and because they are lovely and wonderful (like Nancy) they brought me back a signed copy of her book!

I’ve already planned my first project, of which more after Christmas knitting is rounded up. But for now, I am just going to curl up on the sofa and read lacy patterns.