Can one develop an addiction to pompom makers? If so, I fear I am sorely afflicted, for I am now the proud owner of several different varieties in a range of sizes — the most recent of which is pictured above. These tiny and rather pleasing contraptions will enable me to turn out miniature fluffy balls under an inch in diameter — which will hopefully add the final ridiculously festive finishing touches to these mitts . . .
. . . and these mittens
(I do apologise for the quality of these photographs — daylight is a rare commodity in Scotland right now.)
In other news:
If you would like to WIN a signed copy of Colours of Shetland, you have two opportunities to do so: first in the Visit Shetland December Newsletter, and second in the latest issue of Let’s Knit, in which I and the book both feature.
Finally, Tom is about to celebrate an (ahem) significant birthday, so we are taking a few days off and going somewhere really exciting to celebrate over a dram or two as old as he is.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TOM!
I confess that I am really looking forward to a wee break as I have been rather occupied of late, as you can imagine. For us, Tom’s birthday signals the start of the festive season, which round here is a time of maximum relaxation / pie eating / film watching / long winter walk-taking. Bring it on!
When we return I will have some Snawpaws to show you. . .
Until then x
KDD & Co 
Happy Birthday Tom and Good Yule to you all. Have a glorious holiday !!
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Congratulations, Tom on your birthday. It’s always a good thing to celebrate it with some fine whisky. My husband has a nice collection of some malts and singles and we enjoy them together.
The mittens are very pretty! Lóve the green/white combination. I still make pompoms the old fashioned way, that is why I’m very curious about the device you’re using.
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Happy Birthday, Tom. Bountiful Yule to you both, and Bruce. Happy, Healthful New Year.
I’ve never made a pom-pom, either, and I’m much older than either of you. There’s time yet! :-}
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I love the color of the green :)
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Happy hollidays for you both! Happy Birthday for Tom!
Thank you for beeing with us in 2012. And a nice and colorful pom pom year 2013
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I don’t know about the pom pom makers (but tiny ones an inch across you say? Hmm…) but I am completely addicted to making pom poms – I find it very calming – having got hold of a ‘Prym’ pom pom maker last week. I now have pom poms on my Christmas tree as well as my Snawheid!
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Those look like the Swiss Army Knives of the pompom-making world. Happy birthday to Tom!
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My book has arrived and has been much admired at my knitting group. it is just perfect.
wishing Tom many happy returns for his birthday.
have yourselves a Merry little Christmas and a Guid new year to yin an’ a’ says she mixing musical references.
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Happy birthday Tom. Hope you get a chance to celebrate in style.
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After a very long day at work, I came home (Victoria, BC) to your lovely book in my mailbox. I am about to curl up with it and read it cover to cover, but my first impressions are that the production values are wonderful and the photos and colours are gorgeous. First on my list would have to be the Scatness tunic and tam. Beautiful. You should be very proud of yourself Kate. Quite the accomplishment. Hope you enjoy your holidays and trip. Happy birthday to Tom.
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Received my pristine copy of your book yesterday (in Vancouver). It is a pleasure to read! Thank you so much!
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Have a great celebration ! An auspicious year I’m sure, all the best in 2013. Enjoy!
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Hap Happ Happy Birthday To Tom!!! Have a terrific holiday together.
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Happy birthday, Tom, and Merry Christmas to you both.
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Merry everything and happy always, Kate et al. If today, the 17th, is Tom’s birthday, he shares it with me!
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Sagittarians are the best; HBD, Tom! Intellectual and athletic with a little looniness in the mix. Blessings to you and your excellent wife in this best of seasons.
Still eagerly awaiting The Book, savoring the anticipation.
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IN MY HANDS TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!! And it is just as wonderful as I imagined, sigh. Thank you so much
for all your work. YES, time for a break and I’ll have a dram of MaCallan tonight for the three of ye.
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Your book arrived today in the mist of holiday baking. Despite the bowls of rising dough covering every available surface and clouds of flour floating through the kitchen, I kept taking quick peeks at the lovely pictures.What a marvelous book. I can’t wait to sit down and read all the interesting information. The Northmavine hoody is already casting beckoning eyes toward me. Also, thanks for introducing me to the yarns from Jamieson & Smith-such rich colours and sheepy hand to the final product. I have greatly enjoyed knitting with the yarn.
Thank you for your inspired designs and wonderful blog. A Happy Christmas and Wonderful New Year to you,Tom, and the ever delightful Bruce.
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This post is wonderful, sorry to stray, I RECEIVED MY ‘COLOURS OF SHETLAND’!!!!!! I live in Michigan, United States. I thought I’d have to wait much longer. Its beautiful! Signed beautifully too! Job well done Kate!
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Love the mittens, are you going to release the pattern or have you already done so? I love pompoms as well. Happy Birthday to Tom, such a wonderfully supportive partner. Hope you enjoy your wee break together.
We are not getting much in the way of real daylight in Kent at the moment either.
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Happy Birthday, Tom. I just had a significant birthday as well-70 on the 13th. Although I have several single malts in the hoose(Gavullin, Glen Fiddich, Laphroaig, Balvenie), I celebrated with red wine! Enjoy your celebration(mine went on for 3 days).
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Happy birthday, Tom.
Enjoy your break,Kate. Lots of lovely walks with your man, your dog and a malt at the end of it. Bliss!
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Are there any books still available? I’d like to wait until after the New Year to order.
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Received your book (Port Townsend, WA) and had to immediately sit and devour it! I just luv the photos and stories behind your designs.
BTW, those are cute pom-pom makers. Where did you find them?
Happy b-day to Tom and enjoy your respite.
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My daughter is 40 years old on 20th December. Are they twins? Happy birthday to Tom, happy resting to you.
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Happy Birthday Tom!
I hope you all have a lovely vacation and holidays. I love the new book and patterns, particularly all things snaw. I wish that we would have a bit of the real thing here in Virginia.
Best
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Way to go Tom… big 40… and Kate , your creativity seems to have exploded !
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Happy birthday Tom ! Wishing both of you a wonderfull break, hope you can truly enjoy your well earned relaxation time !
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happy birthday, merry pompons, good new year to all. thanks for an inspiring year of blogging.
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Happy birthday Tom xxx
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Dear Kate!
I received my copy of your book these days – I love it!!!
Your designs are gorgeous. What a pitty, that there never is enough time… As a midwife I always have a lot of “work”, (which is great), also during the coming holidays. but I´m looking forward to knit at least 1 or 2 or… items.
Will you continue your Textisles series? – These are wondeful and always interesting little emags!!
Have a real great time with Tom, maximum relaxing!
Anja from Germany
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I’ve just bought my first two pom-pom makers! You are a bad (good) influence! Hope you have a lovely, happy time on your break, you both deserve it. Happy Birthday to Tom, and Happy Christmas to you, Tom and Bruce. love, Karen xx
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“maximum relaxation / pie eating / film watching / long winter walk-taking” = bliss.
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happy birthday to Tom and happy holidays to all of you!
just a note … check the link for the LETS KNIT .
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Happy Holidays to you Kate, Tom and of course Bruce! Enjoy the birthday and holiday celebrations.
2012 has been an amazing year for you Kate…..thank you! It is exciting to think of what may come in 2013 – raising my tea to toast the New Year!
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I own a ridiculous range of pom pom maker sizes. They are wonderful, wonderful things. But I don’t have the heart-shaped ones…yet….
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Happy Birthday to Tom. I hope you both have a fun and relaxing vacation. Eagerly looking forward to the mittens.
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Happy birthday, Tom! Hope you two have a wonderful little getaway.
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Oh yes, pompoms and the makers for creating them are wonderful things. I love to add a small pompom to my hats now and then.
Happy birthday to Tom, have a very happy holiday. Hugs to Bruce and enjoy some time off!
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Happy birthday, Tom, and cheers!
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Received your book and it arrived looking exactly like it left you . How marvelous it is. You can be very happy after all the hard work you and others put into the making. Congratulations.
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Happiest of birthdays, Tom! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Seasons Greetings in general. I hope you two have a splendid, relaxing break. I appreciate the hint about the single malt — I am going to try to find some in Seattle for my husband’s Christmas gift.
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Happy Birthday Tom!! Enjoy your break ….. and a dram or two!
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A well-deserved break to Kate and Tom. Thank you for a lovely, knitterly 2012!
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Pompom makers?! Ooh, I didn’t know these existed! I might try to get my hand on one… enjoy your holidays!
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Pompoms are just happiness generators, as is Glenfarclas (we brought a bottle of it home on our trip to Scotland a couple of years ago!). Here’s to you, and Tom, and Bruce, and the lovely book!
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1. Now I want to make pom-poms!
2. Happy birthday Tom!
3. That is my Dad’s favorite scotch, which for us being American is pretty good I think.
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x-x-x-x-x- you are adorable x-x-x-x
Thanks for all your notes!!
>>>MERRY CHRiSTMAS <<<<
from teri in Parkdale, Oregon
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happy birthday Tom & many many wonderful returns:)
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Merry Christmas Kate – it’s been a pleasure to spend 2012 with you and here’s to 2013!
xx
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enjoy enjoy enjoy
Merry Christmas!
Happy Birthday Tom
best to all and again Congratulations Kate
well done!
Donna
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p.s. Happy birthday Tom – enjoy celebrating!
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You’re right, pom pom makers ARE addictive. I’ve been in a bobble hat making frenzy for Christmas and the bobble is the key thing. Having muddled away with cardboard circles, the pom pom makers (of which I am now the proud owner of four in varying sizes) were a revelation and pom poms seem to be turning up everywhere, such is my love of them now. And to think, I’d survived into my mid-thirties withouth ever having turned out a pom pom. Now the nephews have interchangeable colours so they can adapt their hats as they fancy … we should start a support group although it would probably be more enabling than trying to break the habit.
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As addiction goes, pom-pom making seems pretty harmless. Happy Birthday, Tom! Have a nice relaxing holiday break. The wee dram (or two) should help.
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