Projects to keep me happy!

So, here's what I'll be working on this month! I have, like most knitters, accumulated a lot. A lot of yarn, a lot of needles of every type, a lot of books and patterns and A LOT of UFO's! (un-finished projects for you non-knitters!)

I've decided to allow myself 1 or at least 1/2 of a square from my Great American Aran Afghan project in between other UFO's that I need to finish. Here's what I've done so far.

In March, I really need to be able to pick up Meag's lacy sweater so that I can finish it for summer weather. I cannot work on it till the scarves and socks and such are done.

So here's my list in no particular order.

UFO's
Malabrio scarf for someone sweet (need by January 24)

Cashmere scarf for my favorite daughter

On-Hold Socks for Meag - from Socks from the Toe Up by Wendy D. Johnson

Socks for Dear Hubby - Two at a time - from the toe up - what was I thinking?????

Mystery wrap - scrumptious mystery yarn from Laurie - Directions, sit, cast on 100 (size 19), knit, BO, enjoy! There are 4-5 yarns in this hank so it will be quite fun seeing what it makes!

Day 58 - Two months later....

So, it's been two months since I've written on my "daily" blog! I have been knitting - not everyday through June, but keeping it going through most of July. I have started a pair of socks for Dan that are a lovely grey, superwash Merino. They are a challenge in that I really wanted to do them in a new way. I decided to try magic loop knitting and am doing them two at a time. This really makes it seem to go faster - I know it's all an illusion, but I still enjoy watching them develop together! I also decided to do these socks toe-up since finding cuff down TAAT magic loop patterns was difficult.

So there it is, three new techniques in one project! I knew when starting these I could potentially fail. Thus far it's been easy. I will have to see when it comes time for the heel flap and gussets.

I still have Meag's lacey sweater to finish, Mom's afghan and Patty's tuscany shawl (not to mention many other WIPsS) but I am enjoying the peacefulness of simple sock patterns for now!

Day 8 (pm) Toes up!

Wow! I decided to do this daily blog to keep me focused on the lessons learned while knitting but life keeps getting in the way and the obsession I have for knitting keeps taking over. It's a double-edged sword really. I want to continue growing and learning everyday and blogging helps me to mull it all over and focus on the lessons learned. But blogging means I must put down the needles and open up the laptop! Once I get going though, I don't want to stop for anything. This is my obsession!

So I learned tonight, over three hours, how to cast on using Judy's Magic Cast On. I figured out how to do it on double pointed needles instead of the circulars I didn't own, thus saving me some money! I thought mean and horrible thoughts while getting through the first 5 rows or so as it was like the yarn had a death grip on my fingers and needles (no earthly idea if my fingers will return to normal to teach guitar tomorrow) and then I saw the beauty of it all!

Now I don't mind grafting as the Kitchner stitch is a cinch once you master it. This though was pretty cool to see the toe of the sock come to life out of nothing! It really made me wonder about so many things. Trouble is, it's 11:15pm and I've got to get up at 5am and be a perky Mom and enthusiastic teacher all day. Right now, I'm just too tired to talk. Sorry ....even though I know no one actually reads this!

Day 4 - I decide what gets my time and energy

Happy New Year! Today closes out Day 4 and I decided not to let the blue socks beat me! Rather, I realized that since the sock would be in a shoe ultimately, it wouldn't matter if the dye lot was a tad bit off and so I went to the yarn shop in the next town over and picked up another skein of my Happy Feet. I finished the sock as Nutmeag and I watched silly Disney shows and then rented a movie. I even wove in all the ends and got them ready to deliver to Mom tomorrow.

I love making things for other people. I hope that each time she wears them, she feels how much I love and honor her. She, like the whole process of knitting, has always been there for me. Teaching me new things about myself around every turn. I hope that like my mother, these socks will be strong, comforting and last forever.

That is my wish for 2010.

Well, I'm keeping it short as I have a lovely family waiting to snuggle up and watch bad New Years programing and fall asleep! Can't wait to see what Day 5 brings.

Day 3 - Each day, a lesson

I think that each day will entrust me with new lessons and only I can decide what exactly I will take away from each. Today, I figured out how to put pictures onto my Ravelry posts. It took a while but I could post them in my projects for all to see and I could share them with groups I belong to. Very cool. Lesson: persistence pays off!

I also decided to pick up and begin the second sock for Mom. Living in this house - my in-laws home - I realized today that you never know when life will take those you love away. It's too short to leave those gifts of love, whether they be socks or something more expensive, waiting around to be given. And so I feverishly knitted away at sock #2 of the pair. As I got about an inch from the heel, I have realized that I will probably not have enough of this yarn, this one skein of Happy Feet, to finish my mother's first pair of hand-knitted socks from me. Lesson #2: sometimes when things don't work out, there's a reason. Maybe I waited too long; perhaps my socks are not good enough for her anyway; maybe my dreams of that perfect expression of love is just a goofy idea. I could finish the toe in a different color and she would never care! After all, it's the tops that people will see.

Like much of what I start in life, I find myself second guessing whether the right thing to do is to turn back.....

I wonder what lesson tomorrow will bring. Tonight I feel defeated.