Book reviews: Holiday knitting, part 1

(And by "holiday" I of course mean "Christmas." What, you mean everyone in the world doesn't make this assumption? Okay, now I bet you're going to tell me that when they hear something like "World Series" most people actually think that should include, well, the entire world and not just the United States. Hmmmm. If I pump my fist into the air and chant "U-S-A! U-S-A!" for a while, will you abandon your attempts at social commentary about American linguistic imperialism and just get on with reading the blog? All right? Agreed.)

(It is funny, actually, to think that when it's used by itself the word holiday really is almost always assumed to refer to Christmas. Why not Halloween? That's a holiday, too! Or how about Labor Day? Heck, if someone put out a book called Holiday Handknits with black-cat motifs, it could be marketed for both Halloween and Labor Day. Hmmm. I wonder what a Wobbly costume would look like...)

Ahem.

So last month, I got this crazy idea that I would knit Christmas gifts for my family. Fortunately, my husband and I have small families, so I'm looking at four parents and two siblings. That seems manageable, right? Ah, but what to knit? I don't want to measure everyone (so sweaters are out), and two years ago (when I'd been knitting for under a year) I distributed handmade scarves to everyone--can't do that again. So I checked out a bunch of holiday-and-gift-themed books from my local library, and here are the results.

Knit Christmas Stockings!, by Gwen Steege: This is a fun, stocking-shaped book with lots of great ideas and very clear instruction. I'm not sure I would want to add this to my collection--there are only so many Christmas stockings a person can use, right? Also, Christmas stockings probably aren't the best kids for any but your own, because Christmas stockings are in the category of "special heirloom-keepsake thingies," which means that parents or grandparents are usually the ones to provide them. I borrowed this book thinking I'd find something to knit for my own daughter, but I ended up choosing a pattern from another book.

Handknit Holidays: Knitting Year-Rond for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Winter Solstice, by Melanie Falick: Eleven post-its in this one. Yup, I'm adding this to my list. Some of the projects (such as a Santa-style hat, tree ornaments, Christmas stockings, and tree skirts) are decidedly Christmas-y. But everything in here connotes sit-by-the-fire-when-it's-cold-outside coziness. I'm particularly intrigued by the Swedish heart-warmer shawl, which I'd love to make for myself.