Some assembly required

How was your Christmas? Ours was okay, got some nifty gifts, including John Sandford's latest book featuring everyone's favorite character, Virgil Flowers. My sister Cheryl (aka Nerf) had my name in the family gift exchange. She outdid herself this year, gave me a really pretty shawl.

There is, however, some assembly required.

 

I should have taken the photo before I wound the yarn into balls. It looked really neat as skeins; the yarn is a mix of several different textures and colors, all hand dyed and including fibers like alpaca and mohair. 

I'm intrigued by the square needles. The blurb on the back of the package for them claims they're easier for people with arthritis or carpal tunnel to use. We shall see.