FO = Southwestern Socks

Look! I am able to finish a present before it's due!

Pattern: Top-down Southwestern Socks by Wendy of Wendy Knits.
Needles: 2.75mm DPNs
Yarn: My favorite of the moment! Dream in Color Smooshy in the Wisterious colorway.

Began: November 10, 2007
Completed: February 9, 2008

Granted, they were only finished one day before, but before is before! What screwed me up was that her birthday is today but we recieved a call on Saturday that her party was on Sunday... so I spent all Saturday on the couch working on the second sock.



But YAY! There is the first completed knit for 2008! Now I can spin this weekend!

Year of the UFO

1) Sooooo... instead of sitting down and finishing any of the projects already on the needles, I cast on for Koolhaas designed by Jared over at BrooklynTweed.

I just couldn't help myself! The call was just too strong. (And it didn't help that most of my other projects are in time out anyway). I'm making it for my friend who was supposed to be the recipient of the Skull hat. Obviously since the hat was way too small, another one had to be cast on.

So far, this hat has been in time out twice already. I'm knitting it with Araucania Nature Wool, purchased from The Loopy Ewe. Since it's a fingering weight yarn, I'm knitting double stranded, which is causing me all sorts of problems, but I really like the finished product so far. I may have to knit another for me. (Maybe double stranded Dream in Color Smooshy?)

2) K3P1 Socks are still on the needles for husband. I have 1/2 of the first socks gussets picked up. For some reason I stopped and there it is.


3) I finally started the second Southwestern Sock for my mom, which is good because her birthday is in a week.


4) Icarus is finished with the first repeat of the first chart. (And got cast aside for the hat). I'll have to start picking this one up again.


5) The Feather and Fan shawl has been put on hold for now. Mostly because it's been really warm here and the desire for a comfy shawl has been thrown out the window.


6) Dad's scarf... well, still otn. Still unsure if I'm going to frog it and start all over again. Still no picture.

Poor, poor scarf!

One down one to go.

Technically this could be the first "completed" knit for 2008! But I think since it's supposed to be a pair that this will be the unofficial first FO of 2008.

You might notice that the ends haven't been woven in yet. No, it's not because I was too lazy and busy watching "Haunted Mansion" (which wasn't as terrible as I thought it would be). I have to make sure that my mom fits these before I cut the cord and weave in... you know, in case I have to rip back and reknit. That'll be done Sunday sometime after lunch, soooo... then I'll be able to start on the second.

Icarus is sort of coming along. I had to unknit half of row 23 then I reknit and finished a few more rows before I noticed a YO where no YO was meant to be... so... I don't know yet if I'm going to frog back the 5 or so rows... or try to drop the st down to the YO and reknit it up. (Which I have never done). What would you do?

Tonight I'll be at A's house for Craft Night and tomorrow is Knit Night at Wooly Bully, so I'll be able to get some help if needed.

Speaking of! I have to go make Rice Crispy Treats!!

Until tomorrow!

Carrying into the New Year

Since it's a new year and we are all taking stock of our lives and making resolutions and such I figured I'd just lay it all out. Here are all my WiP, even ones that are headed to frog pond.

1. Diamond Scarf for Dad
Right now my oldest UFO, that was supposed to be a Christmas present for 2006 and 2007. Like I said, it would have been done had our luggage not followed us to California two days after our arrival. (Is it sad that I sorta wanted it to get lost because then I wouldn't have to work on it?) After that delay and the undeniable fact that again it would not be finished... well, it hasn't been worked on much. It did grow 3 inches on Christmas day.


2. Havana for Husband
Totally heading to frog pond. The pattern is knit flat, however I'm lazy and hate counting rows and all the flipping of needles every other row drove me nuts. The whole thing will eventually be reknit in the round. (Hopefully).


3. Southwestern Socks for Mom
Almost done with the first sock. Maybe one repeat until the toe? Second one must be completed before my mom's birthday (in Feb).


4. Feather and Fan Shawl for Me
In a really stupid move on my part I cast on for this shawl last night (which I guess would mean that it hasn't actually been carried over into the new year). I blame the cold weather and tile floors in my house. But so far I'm loving it! (And I'm using up handspun stash!! Double points!) I would like to have this finished before the end of January, barring the need to purchase more roving for handspun.

Who am I kidding! I've already started searching for more roving! Just don't tell husband!! :)

Tomorrow... an overdue FO!

Thank you!

Thank you guys so much for all your kind words and encouragement! It really does mean the world to both myself and husband. Knowing that you're thinking of us, and our friends family, really helps me get through the day.

Last night husband and I were deep in conversation and I asked him how he felt, and why he didn't seem to be so sad (yes, I was sort of jealous). He told me that our friend had already finished his race and could now "chill", and that he was sort of envious in a wierd way, because we are still here running our races trying to do the best that we can. And he was right.

Still doesn't remove the ache and heaviness in my heart, but I know that he is in a better place and one day we will see him again.

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So... none of this has helped the Christmas present mojo. The hat is still not near finished, the scarf for husband's niece is started but I'm thinking that it will end up being her birthday present (Jan 1). The Southwestern socks are on hold till I do the math for the heel and my dad's scarf... well, let's not speak of that.

To be honest I really just want to spin and spin some more. It's something that I don't really have to think too much about and right now that's really important. But panic is creeping it's way in as I realize that I will not be able to finish all of the gifts that I need to. Even if I lock myself in the house for the next week. (Ok, well if I did that I may be able to finish). Hopefully the hat will be near completion today or tomorrow.

Five Before

A panic is rising. There are five days between now and when I see my cousin who's baby present I've been working frantically on. There has been no spinning as the panic has erased the enjoyment of spending an hour at the wheel. (However I do have roving to push me on my way through the tedious knitting). As soon as this present is complete, including ends woven in, I will allow myself to spend as much time as I like spinning up the deliciousness that the postman has brought for me.

The only other thing on the needles are socks for my mom (for Christmas). I'm working Wendy's Southwestern Socks the cuff down version. I'm using Dream in Color Smooshy (Wisterious) purchased from The Loopy Ewe.

So far I'm loving the yarn, the pattern, everything! It's simple enough that I don't have to think about and so far an extremely quick knit. And the yarn! I'm definitely going to have to use more of this stuff! I think that it's my new favorite sock yarn. So shiny and the variegation is great. (And it's really squooshy too).

Well, I'm off to try and crank out more of the present. In case you're curious as to what it looks like now, I've added new photos on Ravelry. I'm Gadaboutknitter there too.

If I don't post again until after Thanksgiving assume I'm not finished with the present yet. If so, I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!