Tink - It's an Important Skill

The house is quiet again and piles of bedding and towels are nearly all washed and put away. As I begin the task of putting away the Christmas decorations for yet another year, many of the things make me smile as I look at them. Here's a look at a few of them.

Early in December I unearthed, so to speak, a couple of Christmas sweaters made just for Teddy Bears. So I found bears that the sweaters fit and dressed them for the holiday. I think I may just leave the attire on them for a month or 2 longer - they give me a little smile when I look at them.

Then just a week or so ago, my lovely stepdaughter finished a little cross stitched angel that she said I was swooning over the last time I saw her. So she framed the little cherub up and gave her to me. The gift brings a smile to my heart whenever I look at it.

A couple of weeks before Christmas I received a heavy package in the mail from a dear friend I've known since I was 12. The parcel had 2 wooden creations by her and her hubby: a yule log with candles and an angel wall hanging. Very nice treasures and momentos of our permanent friendship. Then tucked down in the box was a little knitting basket ornament.  A definite smile-causer.

And just a few moments ago while I was working on the photos for this post, a knitting friend stopped by my house with a few things for me, including a little gift of lovely snowflake earrings. I can't wait to wear them, but with the gift was a vintage card. It measures 2¼" x 3" and looks like something my mother would have had in the late 50's. I'm not sure if it is actually vintage or just has that look but it sure brought a smile to my face when I opened it.

And one other little thing - that is huge for knitter, I'm thinkin' - is a term I recently learned while I was teaching a Fair Isle (or 2 color knitting) class at the local yarn shop. It was while one of the ladies made a mistake all the way back to the beginning of her completed round. So she said, "No problem, I'll just 'tink' back." I don't think I had heard anyone use the term before but it is probably very common to most knitters. So I said, "Tink, I don't know what that is." She told me that it is Knit spelled backwards, which is what you do when you have to take out knitting - you knit backwards." HAHA Of course I had tinked many times but I didn't know it had a name. So I was happy to learn something while I was teaching something. And I actually chuckle every time I think of that conversation. And I believe I have laughed out loud each time I've re-told it to my husband. Which I know is more than once.