11 Shawls in 2011

Because I like to make my life nearly impossible, I decided today that on top of my other knitting resolutions I'm also going to attempt the 11 shawls in 2011, which technically falls under stash busting, so it's all good. And, I made a list of patterns to complete with the yarn I'm going to use:

1. Chinook Scarf in Cestari DK Wool
2. Clementine Shawl in NaturallyCaron.com Spa
3. Peacock Shawlette in Knit Picks Shadow Lace
4. Albino Peacock Shawlette in Knit Picks Shimmer Lace
5. Stolen Moments in Cascade Ecological Wool
6. Snowflake in Cascade Ecological Wool
7. Summer Flies in Malabrigo Lace
8. Mezquita in Malabrigo Lace
9. Shaelyn in Alpaca DK (bought at the 2010 NC Fiber Fest)
10. Laminaria in Alpaca Sox (got 900 yard at knitting group yarn swap)
11. Montego Bay Scarf in Cherry Tree Hill Sock

The Peacock Shawlette is a test knit for the Albino Peacock Shawlette, which is for my sister's wedding. I'm combining several patterns to come up with what she wants, so I'm not entirely sure how that's all going to turn out.

So that's the plan. If only I was this organized in my non-knitting life.

I've started the Chinook, Clementine, and the Stolen Moments shawl; hoping to finish the Chinook by the end of the month so I can be entered in the April prize drawings. I'm getting a late start, but those monthly drawings are definitely incentive to keep up with it.

Here's the progress on the Chinook. I'm a little farther along now, about halfway done.

And I also finished up this little purple shawl, though it still needs to be blocked. It's actually not enough yardage to qualify for the 11 shawls in 2011, but it's still pretty. :)

Holy Knit 1 Purl 2, Batman!

Channeling Calvin

We got about a foot of snow in VA over Christmas.
This was the result.  I call it: Attack of the Snow Bunnies!Take heed, all you snowpeople out there, if you value your noses. Some of my favorite Calvin & Hobbes strips - the mega-awesome snowmen.Like this one. 

 Seriously, how cool is that?Observe and appreciate all of Calvin's Snow Art.Your life will be lacking and I will be sad for you until you do. Goose prefers to enjoy the snow from inside a warm cozy house, on a warm cozy bed. 

Happy 64th Birthday, David Bowie!

Love you till Tuesday! (Just kidding, David! I'll love you forever. Forever's not long at all.)

Knitting Resolutions 2011!

As promised, knitting resolutions for 2011:

1. Knit a pair of 2-at-a-time Toe-up Magic Loop me-sized socks

2. Some kind of Fair Isle project (Haven't decided if it will be a hat or fingerless gloves, though I think the hat may be easier for a first project. I could be wrong.)

3. Pound of Caring Challenge (First project on this list is a crocheted star afghan for Project Linus to use up some of the Bernat Softee Baby in my stash. Speaking of stash...)

4. Stash Busting! (There are rules - see below.)

5. Knit a wearable. (I'm hesitant on this one and am going to save it for last, possibly bumping it to 2012 if I can get away with it. I'm thinking either a vest or a shrug.)

Rules for Stash Busting

1. Pom-pom yarn doesn't count. (It's an addiction and never gets added to my stash as it's usually knitted with 24 hours.)

2. Allowed to buy yarn to make my sister's wedding shawl.

3. Allowed to use any gift certificates given to me. (Wouldn't want them to expire or get lost or anything of that sort, now would we?)

4. All gifts and personal items must be knit from stash.

5. All charity and craft fair items (charity also) must be knit from stash if at all possible. If a special yarn needs to be purchased for a special project (i.e. pumpkin hats for Duke Hospital, etc.), it must be knit immediately and not added to stash.

6. Yarn Swaps - must leave with new yarn in a quantity less than or equal to that brought to the swap.

So, that's the plan for 2011. Wish me luck!


Currently crafting: Scarf for the Special Olympics
Currently reading: An American Childhood by Annie Dillard

Resolutions 2011!

It's that time of year again. Given that I'm a very flawed and imperfect individual, my list of resolutions is long and weighty...

1. Get organized.
2. Be more disciplined.
3. Be more active and eat more healthfully.
4. Write everyday.
5. Write an original short story or essay about...something.
6. Participate in NaNoWriMo.
7. Stash bust!
8. Knit a pair of socks.
9. Read 30 books and write reviews on each of them.
10. Post to my blog at least once a week.

Pay particular attention to that last one, as I consistently seem to fail there. As for the others, not too shabby for day 2. I wrote a 100 word story yesterday and another today, and have done a blog post (that would be this one). And I went through the stacks of mail on the table by my door and threw out all the junk mail (so much prettier over in that corner now), and am making my to-do list for tomorrow before I go to bed tonight.

As for the knitting resolutions...the socks may have to wait until later this year, but the stash busting has begun! I just finished crocheting a scarf out of some ribbon yarn that's been in my stash for years, and am going to knit the second ball up into a drop stitch scarf, I think. I may add a couple more specific knitting resolutions in a few days. We have a resolutions knitting night coming up on Wednesday, so I have to figure out the specifics by then.

Need to get on the exercise and eating more healthfully thing. On the to-do list for tomorrow: am yoga. And I have a bit of time to prepare for the NaNoWriMo, since it isn't until November. That's nine months to create some character sketches and find some kind of plot. Hmmm...thoughts to think.

So, there you have it. I'll let you know how it goes.

Labyrinth with Sock Puppets

And yes, that is Neil Gaiman as Jareth the Goblin King.
Very creative use of christmas balls, I say.