Gameplan!

Here I am, bristling with an energy that typically happens for everyone at the start of a New Year. I think it is more of an "Oh shit, time is passing, I had better get my ass in gear" kind of reaction. But I do have some completed projects:

My February Lady Sweater, done in Manos Del Uruguay Wool, color #29 (teal). I don't ususally go for teal, this wool was a gift from my fairy godmother quite a few years ago, and it has definitely grown on me. I finally found a suitable project for it, hooray! I love the sweater, it was just challenging enough to keep me interested. I made it in size small, and I did 20 pattern repeats for the body and 17 for the sleeves. In hindsight I should have done 2 or 3 more, but I plan to stretch the sleeves more the next time I block it. The experience of my first bath and blocking was all I could survive, I ended up getting frantic because the dammed thing was so wet after so many towels and so many hours on the drying rack that I ended up putting it in the dryer on low for about 20 minutes, and that took out a lot of the moisture but also shrank and puffed it a little.

Next in line was Grumperina's Jaywalker socks, in Opal Magic, color #18. I loved this pattern, it was my third attempt or so to get these going and I finally got it right. It did take a lot longer than I thought, the first one was ripped and tinked so many times that I wondered when I would get anywhere on it at all! I made many mistakes keeping track of the pattern rows and the knit even rows. I cannot be trusted to hit a clicker avery time I make a round, so I have to simply keep looking at where I am and hope I didn't miss a row in there! So now that they are done, I have not just the cosiest socks I own, but also the best fitting ones. The colorway I have decided definitely fits into the funky sock category and was not picked for it's color coordinating merits. I don't have a lot of things that these go with but thank goodness I have brown shoes with pink trim to wear them with! I tried to get a picture of that up, but got an error message!

My next project: Brach's Candy Socks. I have been in love with this yarn ever since I saw them on Knitting Iris' blog and many others, probably at least two yeas ago. So I did a little researching and found out the yarn has been re-released! So I am doing a Rib and Cable sock by Nancy Bush, with a Louet Gems heel in cream to keep the pattern a little more organized. I don't know if that was the right decision yet, but I guess I will see!

I have made ONE New Year's resolution: I am going back to Flylady.

I think that will make my life work a lot better. I have some other resolutions that are really past resolutions that I may have gotten lazy about. Dress the kids cuter, cook more, keep the house cleaner. Be more social (ie, send cards, keep in touch, have people over, etc.). I have been consumed in guilt about not being very good at these things, yet bemoan the way I lack good feelings in this area. I guess when you throw turning forty into that, you start thinking that this is pretty much the way you live your life and that if you don't really try and change it, the change won't magically happen on it's own. So, I am motivated to create the environment to promote the improvement. Hence, a cleaner house and get to feeling brighter on the inside, too.

I have some ideas on what I would like to knit, too.

More socks, for the boys and Rob, too. Many, many socks.

Ribbon Trim Cardigan, from Blue Sky Alpacas. I have the yarn, it is an ultralight Sportweight called Lavish, and I am doing a little swatching for it here and there. I guess I need to suck it up and do a full sized one because all of the tiny ones are decieving me. I hate swatching!! But I am starting to realize that I MUST, or none of this is even worth it.

Norwegian Mittens from the Knitter's Almanac. That has to be the BEST knitting book, I just got it, it's only $8, it's tiny and chockablock full of Elizabeth Zimmerman's brain. I just love it.

More cute socks for me, especially knee socks. I want something wonderful to peek out of my boot tops.

Central Park Hoodie, out of a bright blue Tahki Donegal Tweed. I made the entire Debbie Bliss Blissful jacket out of it, and I couldn't figure out the collar. I am not yet up to collars that roll. Not my skill set yet. I erred on another sweater's collar that way and I think I got so pissed I donated it. Man, I should have frogged it, I was only in partial knit mode and did not even consider that. Anyway, I have a real hankering for this hoodie.

Stardust, with Karabella Gossamer. I started an ugly shawl and thanks to Ravelry found something beautiful to do with the yarn instead!

Solitaire Arm Warmers, from Rebecca 28.

Kelly Cardigan, from Simple Knits, in Rowan Kidsilk Haze, color 600 (a misty lilac). A knitalong with Susan (I think she is making black!), when we are both ready.

Well, I think I have January covered! JUST KIDDING! This is stuff I plan do with my stash only. It is going to be a lean year with me staying home, I am looking forward to it. It is a good time to be resourceful as much as I would gladly give many dollars to companies I would like to keep around. Most of my friends know that I do not shop at Walmart, and I am not a huge fan of Costco. How does that justify my support of Target? I don't do the Costco thing mainly becasue I never found a compelling reason to buy stuff there. Walmart is just crappy all the way around from their stategies of decimating small businesses around their locations, to taking advantage of their workers, which contributes to a nation of people that has settled too cheap for working conditions, pay and representation. It upsets me greatly and people justify it because they want cheap prices. I am sorry, I won't ever set foot in there for any reason. I won't even buy their clothes at thrift stores! I don't think Target has ever stooped this low for price. Really people, do we need to shop this much? We are such consumers, I love the phases of my life where I have been the most simple. Purchases might cost a little more but are carefully considered, bought less often, and expected to last a long time. Own less stuff, take better care of it. I am starting to sound like Jerry Maguire's manifesto here, but I love being in that place. Letting go of the endless cycle of wanting. As long as I have my good coffee. I have my limits and the fuel to stand up to them.

Happy New Year to All. I wish you all peaceful hearts.
Cheryl