Knitting Resolutions

In the spirit fo the day and the faint whisps of snow falling outside my window, and even the nice cleanness of my apartment (although far from being finished it is nice to be this clean) and of course because next to me, curled up in her favorite blanket (yup she has a favorite) is my lovely Lilu, I've decided to make a list of knitting resolutions:

1. Knit Fearlessly. I know that this was the theme for many around the web for last years resolutions, but I did not partake. I do tend to knit what I want and not shy away from things, however, there are times that I do things, say cast on the way I always do, instead of casting on with the way the pattern tells me to.
2. Knit down the stash. I, like many other knitters, have an affliction. I have a HUGE collection of yarn. I love buying it and looking at all the pretty colors and inspiration. But before I got buying more yarn, for small or large projects, I want to knit down some of it. Making things with the yarn I have before going off and staring more projects.
3. Knit a lace shawl or lace object. It's difficult, its hard, but it looks so cool when its done, so I must be fearless, and knit one up.
4. Knit my Jacket. I have had a project on my list for over a year now, its a long coat, I hope to get this knitted up this year.
5. Knit Family Stockings. Knit some family stockings for Angie and her family, it's a belated belated Christmas present.
6. Toys and knacks. I always find them so cute and fun, I want to do more little things, toys, dolls, knick-knacks, and give them to folks as little presents, or store them up until next Christmas/Birthdays and get them out the door.
7. Animal Scarfs. I have two scarfs that I want to do, chicks and rats (odd I know but those are perfect for some friends of mine) and I keep putting it off, so I should get it done.

I think that's it, or at least for now. I'm sure I will come up with millions more but that's the current list.

Happy knitting New Year!

Holiday Trials and Tribulations

The holidays are usually filled with knitting for me. Knitting Christmas stockings, or starting new projects, sitting around knitting and talking to family. But this year it has been a bit less. Things have either been so rushed that knitting wasn't super enjoyable, or I have been so busy that I haven't really gotten a chance to sit down and knit. First was Thanksgiving, I went back home (and had some amazing as usual food) and worked on some socks. I have finished one pair, the second is sitting half finished, hopefully I'll get back to that shortly. However there was another piece of knitting goodness on my Thanksgiving trip. I visited the Knapps and saw the beautiful preservation of my blanket. Apparently, little Sebastien sleeps with my blanket every night, and it gets washed regularly, just thrown in the washing machine. And this blanket looks brand new! Yay knitting skills! Here are some photos of the little man enjoying his nerdy blanket:

After that there was a bit of a rush getting some knitting done for Christmas. I'm sad to say that little of it actually got done. The first was a set of pot holders. The first pot holder was just two sides knitted seperately and sewn together (this is the plain one) the second was actually double knit, in a simple checkerboard pattern. It worked rather well I thought. So I decided to actually do a design in the double knit. It didn't want to work, the pattern was a little lost in the garter stitch (rose pattern) and I ran out of yarn so it's a little short. Here are some of the photos, (sorry they are so dark):

I decided to knit the other design ones with a stockinet stitch instead of garter, and for the longest time it didn't work, I couldn't get anything to be the way I wanted it, but now, I managed to get a stockinett going. It's nice. Takes forever though. The Checkerboard pattern I had one color in the back and one in the front, switching when needed, same with the rose, and it worked but not for stickinett. Now I move the yarn front and back for each stitch allowing for one half to be knitted and the other purled. It's interesting work, but it looks nice. Not sure if it's thick enough, but it will work for at least a table pot holder :)

The last thing that I did I took from the web which took from Starbucks. It's a nice wreath made from yarn balls (or rather styrofoam balls covered in a bit of yarn.) I think it's really pretty and I love it. Now to just have a box to put it in when I take my Christmas stuff down on New Years. Here it is:

I think that's it on my knitting news for the moment, got more things to make, food to eat, and cleaning to do before the New Year is upon me. Or at least get as far as I can before that day!