A few days ago my marvellous kit was delivered from Quietus, and life has just been so busy I haven’t had time to give it the proper write-up it deserves. And because life is going to stay busy for the next week or so, I’m making this special verse-free post, to facilitate the voicing of my praise without the limiting contrivance of a poetic shroud.

So, here it is! Firstly in all its red-and-silver glory (click photos to enlarge):

And then, unveiled for the world to see:

This kit contains so much great stuff! Firstly Quietus had written me a poem, a gesture that really adds a personal note and makes the kit all the more special. Then came the goodies! First and foremost the hat and mitts set, which arrived just in time for the cold weather here in the Netherlands:

Quietus did a great job choosing contrasting colours for the hat, which I love. The mitts fit perfectly, and the cables are very elegant! Both have been doing a great job keeping me warm in the snowy weather over the last couple of days. Next, the yarn:

This photo really doesn’t do justice to the colours, with its delicious browns and caramels. The colours suit me perfectly (several people have already commented on that fact!), and merino/nylon blends are my favourite. Yay! Quietus also sent me two patterns: the Socktopia “Fawkes” socks, and Kristi & Kristi’s “Gentleman Socks”. Both patterns look great, and I can’t wait to try them.

Jelly Belly! My favourite American candy, and tons of them! I think I’ll mix them all up in a bowl and share them at New Year’s. Plus there were some m&m’s and another chocolate bar in the shape of a million bucks, but they’re already all gone now . I also got a “Great works of Cow literature” calendar:

This page is from December, representing Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Cowbell”. Other selections include “The Three Brisketeers”, “Bulliver’s Travels” and “Mooby Dick”. Hilarious! The remaining items in the kit were a wooden geometric puzzle (identical to one that I used to play with as a child but never solved), a book of Sudoku puzzles (which come in very handy on Sunday mornings), and a Ravenclaw pennant sticker.

Quietus, thank you so much for a  great kit. I know you had lots of other things on your mind during the swap, and I very much appreciate all the effort you went to! Hope your kit is everything you dreamed of, and I also wish you and the other swap members a very merry Christmas, and all the best for the new year.

Eugene.

In terms of all things fragrant (smelly),
The citrus is my fav’rite smell.
My fav’rite sweets are Jelly Belly
(Though Bertie Botts I like as well).
And now the nitty-gritty: fibre!
I’m quite the natural subscriber
(A ‘yarn snob’, sadly, some would say)
So natural fibres all the way.
The one I use the most? Merino;
I like a soft alpaca twine;
Spun silk gives off a lovely shine;
These three in blends are so Nigeno!
Synthetic blends for socks are cool,
And handspun yarn just makes me drool!

My natural bent applies, moreover,
To needles too; I love the wood
Of Knit Picks Harmonies, and Clover
Makes bamboo that are just as good.
But ebony is also pleasant,
(Here comes a notion for a present!)
A six-inch set is on my list,
Size double-O.  (Do these exist?)
I can crochet, but knit by preference;
I spin as well, have woven too,
Love mathematics through and through,
And worship Zimmermann in deference.
Have any questions? Write to me!
(As long as it’s in rhyme – hihi!)

I LOVE the bag! It’s sooooooo amazing!
It’s all that I’d been dreaming of!
And no amount of lyric praising
Could e’er express how much I LOVE
This bag. The colours – manly, muted;
The workmanship is indisputed;
The strap, the lining, pockets, size -
A wond’rous sight for knitters’ eyes!
Old canvas tote, begone! I curse you!
Good riddance to your crumpled weave.
But if you thought that I would leave
This ode at just one lousy verse, you
Had better think again – for now
It’s time to look inside… and WOW!

A knitter’s haven! Blesséd heavens!
My knitter’s haven! Oh my Lord,
I’m all at sixes and at sevens
Just looking at this knitter’s hoard!
Let’s start with fibre: gorgeous roving
In vivid colours, quite behoving!
They’re just the colours I would choose:
Such brilliant, deep and noble hues.
The sock yarn’s also quite befitting,
The bronze and blue of Ravenclaw,
And hand-dyed – who could want for more?
I know which yarn I’ll soon be knitting!
That plane trip to Australia now
Just doesn’t seem so dull, somehow.

But I digress – more package waiting!
The needles (Knit Picks Harmony)
She sent were great! I’m celebrating!
The pattern’s just my cup of tea:
Kate Blackburn’s Hareton Socks, and rather
A good idea for my own father!
And even the accessory
Liz chose was perfect just for me -
These tubes for double-pointed needles.
I’ve wanted these for ages! How
Could you have known? Amazing. Wow.
I ought to learn from one who wheedles
So artfully and on the sly -
I doubt I’d even dare to try.

But still the package isn’t finished!
Its goodness is still flowing out
Abundantly and undiminished,
And so too must my verse, devout.
Ms Wychwood’s curried all my favour
With shameless, cruel assaults of flavour:
With ginger bicsuits, chocolate treats
And Hagrid’s pocket Muggle sweets.
With scent she’s also proved alluring,
With gels for shower, shaving and
Deodorant for men – how grand!
So I’ll be smelling lovely, during…
SuDoku puzzles (Killer style)!
They’ll keep me entertained a while.

A precious knitted sock and sweater
I’ll hang upon the Christmas tree.
Liz couldn’t have done any better
Than this, her final gift to me:
A knitting journal, for designing,
For records, notes, ideas, (pining!)
So practical and full of style,
I’d wanted one for quite a while.
And now the only act remaining
Is to express my gratitude -
Alas, these words are far too crude -
My happiness defies explaining.
That’s why the best kit, I declare,
Should go to Lizzie – fair and square.

Eugene.