To give or receive?

Usually I enjoy the former more than the latter.  However, my participation in the Grad Swap on Ravelry is making me rethink my stance on this question, because Rebeccag sent me the most awesome package ever!  I now have: 

coil-less safety pin/stitch markers,

a tape measure that reminds me of Pinocchio (you pull his nose and it grows!  I just hope he doesn’t lie when it comes to measuring… J),

a copy of the totally cute It Itches (Franklin Habit is hilarious),

a skein of amazing merlot-colored Australian merino,

and a skein of Malabrigo sock.  

I have NEVER tried a Malabrigo yarn before, but now I’ve got my chance!  I’ve been scouring Ravelry for the right pattern all morning.  I love love LOVE this colorway, called Archangel.  It amuses me to no end that I receive a colorway named this during the Pope’s visit to Israel, which has effectively made getting in and out of Jerusalem – and specifically the Hebrew University – a total pain in the Arsch (vielen Dank, Ratzinger).  

I’ve coped admirably with the traffic, however, by making Jonathan drive and taking the time to work on several knitting projects in the car, like these socks which I finally finished up – the pattern is Cookie A’s Monkey from Knitty.

Oh yeah, Rebecca also sent me some amazing Belgian chocolates, but Jonathan and I ate them about 30 seconds after opening the package.  J Rebecca, תודה רבה!

 I also did some giving last week.  For a friend’s new baby boy, I knit my first Baby Surprise Jacket in Wisconsin stripes.  I wanted the jacket to have a sporty, rugby-like feel.  I totally got lucky with the stripe placement, though – when knitting the jacket for the first time, I was unsure how the shaping worked exactly so I just winged it.  I am most pleased with the turnout and plan to use this pattern again soon. 

I also made the new one a Bobbi Bear.  I was very happy with how he turned out.  Bobbi was difficult to give up, and before I gave him away I would sneak him out of the gift bag and hug him.  Wouldn’t you?