love is all you need

The moment I saw this on FredFlare.com I knew I had to have it. The moment Joey saw it, he knew I had to have it. I hinted and hinted about how I'd love to have this as a Christmas gift this year, how cute it would look on our stove, etc. I think I even resorted to saying "PandaSkillet!" really loudly and in the middle of non-related discussions. (Try saying it yourself- it's quite fun to say)
It arrived on our doorstep today, just when I was planning on making stir-fry for dinner. Joey caved and let me open it a little early. It made cooking so cute and happy and fun. Just look how cute that broccoli looks in there!

I'm completely thrilled and in love with my new Panda skillet; it will never be stored in the cabinet, just left at the ready on my stovetop.
Anyone know what this little guy is saying?

I've picked up Thermal again over the last week and finally split for the neckline. I'm a little nervous about working the neckline and armhole shaping simultaneously, but I think I'll just forge ahead and only worry when I get into trouble. I'll just knit, listen to the steady rainfall, and smell my potato soup simmering on the stove. Sounds like a good evening.

So it seems that most knit bloggers are in the midst of Holiday Knitting. I tried that my first year as a knitter and failed miserably. I bought a whole bunch of yarn and needles for each specific project and didn't complete a single one! These days, I'm a little more level-headed (and selfish.) I had only two holiday knits this year- a scarf and wristwarmer set for a friend of my mom's to give as a gift. (She's paying me for them, so I don't think that even really counts, does it?) Nonetheless, I finished my "Holiday Knitting" last Friday.
Single Cable Wristwarmers, available on my sidebar to the left. 2x2 ribbed scarf with slipped stitch edges. (no specific pattern there)
Yarn: Knit Picks Andean Treasure

As soon as I wove in the last end on the scarf, my inner-selfish-knitter came out and demanded that I knit something quick for myself. My inner-selfish-knitter also demanded that I use that lone skein of cashmere that has been lounging in my stash for a while. I decided I had enough yarn for a cabled neckwarmer, so I chose a cable pattern from my Vogue Stitchionary, did a few calculations and cast on 108 stitches. I sailed through the knitting on this thing while watching a Project Runway marathon. When it was finished, I had this.

Beautiful, right? Well, when I put it around my neck, there are about 4 inches of extra room! I guess that's what my inner-selfish-knitter gets for being so demanding. Now I have to rip it out and try again. But at least I get to knit with that cashmere again. That right there makes the whole thing worth it.

Hope your holiday knits are coming along without any snags!