Back on Track

So I did finally finish something and get back on my list.  So far so good!  Knitters repentance, I guess. Here is the finished comfort shawl.  I'd planned to drape this around me when I'm chilly, like on Saturday mornings when its cold.  Except it was 74F on Friday and well, I may not get much use out of this thing.  But its pretty and it is my colors.

Comfort Shawl:

I made another pair of Mitts.  My stepmom called after Christmas and ordered two pairs (like I'm some kind of online store, lol).  She said, "I need a pair that matches my hat....and a pair I can smoke in."  So, OK, here is a pair for her to wear outside to smoke in. The ones to match the hat next month, I think, if I don't get ahead of myself which I am wont to do!!!

High Meadow Mitts:

Lastly, I tried felting, which to my surprise went remarkably well.  I guess i didn't realize how easy it is to felt something.  I did follow the instructions and if you've read any of my posts I am not necessarily a "reader" of instructions.  I'd say I am more of a"viewer" of instructions.  If it has nice, instructive pictures then I'm all set!

Felted Needle Bowl

Before felting:

 After felting:

Strangely enough, they take a whole lotta yarn!!!!  But I'll have to make more since I have more needles to store.  Also, I think I need to make it a tad taller.

A friend of mine said I should add the pattern links to my posts.  So if you'll notice above, I've linked to my Ravelry page.  So if there is a pattern that I've purchased, bought, borrowed, or drawn upon, it will take you there.  If I've come up with it myself or heavily modified it, I usually will put this in the notes or if not, just ask, I'll share with you what I've done.

The January Effect

Time again to think about the coming year and all the great patterns and yarn there are to knit out out in the world. For some reason, and I really can't say why, January makes me want to plan.  I call this "The January Effect."

Even as a fairly new knitter, I can grasp with my rational mind how planning and knitting do not co-exist on the same plane.  This is plain to anyone who understands the difference between the creative and the organized.  I understand that some people are both creative and organized and frankly, I can be one or the other but not both at once. 

So this year, I've resisted.  I do know there will be Christmas to plan at some point, but I did not sit down and write it all out...not yet.  And I guess it's kinda hard to think about all the new stuff and plan it out when my 2011 list of "big" projects looms large. So here's the old list, the 2011 list that now becomes the 2012 list that I refuse to write, except here it is (I just said that!):

11 Joseph's Sweater:

10 Country Weekend Sweater:

9 Big Cable Wrap:

8 Mixed Media Sweater:

7 Paton's 4-strand blanket: 

6 Black-Jack Socks:

5 Bourbon Sweater:

4 Water Color Shawl:

3 Sweet Shawl (this is going to need a little re-work, I think the last few rows look wrong, drat!):

2 Olympia Shawl (this was taken during a severe corrective action, over 900 stitches had to be removed and re-knitted):

1 The Comfort Shawl (just one more skein to finish this!):

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

I always loved this song.  I think its really the only thing I like about a new year's party.  Speaking of which, I have to go to one tonight.  I don't really like going to parties.  I like having them because I know nearly everyone and its comfortable and in my house.  Going to one is an entirely different manner. I'm just not the social butterfly.

So I've been working at work, working at home, working at church and having very little time for the things and people I love.  So as the new year approaches and I think back over this past year I have to say, "Wow! that was quick and crazy."  Obviously I didn't stick to very much of my knitting list.  Some of the things I'd planned were too...well...big.  I see now that making larger projects are not easy for me to finish.  Apparently, my ADD doesn't allow for long, repetitive project making which is odd since I used to make 10-15 quilts a year. 

What I have left on the needles from this year is all the larger projects:  sweaters, shawls, wraps, cardigans.  And really, these are the things I want to make but I am too slow for myself.  So in learning to knit, there should be a "finish it up" clause to sign.  "No, you can't have any more yarn until these 12 projects you started are done!"

But lets see how I did finish up the year: 

Onesies:  Mittens (not sure if this counts since there's two in a set), Capelet, Baby Hat, Baby Sweater and a Kitten

Twosies:  Slippers, Ice Pouches, Cowls, and Scarflettes

Threesies:  Hot Pads and Socks (in pairs of course)

Eight Dice bags

Ten Scarves and Ten Mitts

And a whopping Twenty-One hats of note with at least Eight that were donated to the homeless shelter and given away to anyone who would take them.  Nearly all of this is gone away.  I think I have two of the dice bags and one hat, scarf, mitt combo that I made for myself.  Other than that, all gifted and gone.

As great as all this is, here's what's still on the needles:

Weekender Cardigan, Eggplant Wrap, Blackjack Socks, Garter Sweater, Mixed Media sweater, Sweet Shawl, Olympia Shawl, Comfort Shawl, Watercolor Shawl and Joe's sweater.  Not to mention I started two blankets!!!!!

So we can see a trend here:  None and I mean absolutey none of the bigger items were finished although some are very close.  Like finish-this-ball-of-yarn close.  But hey, 2012 is another year.

Happy New Year, may you be greatly blessed with good health and prosperity!

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne