I’m Knitting As Fast As I Can

I’m not much for resolutions, and I don’t make exceptions for the New Year.   But this year holds some milestones for me.  I will celebrate a decade birthday (boo) and become an empty nester at the end of the summer (don’t congratulate me on the latter; I suspect I’ll miss all the most of the school-age spiritedness swirling though the house).  So, that got me thinking.  Maybe 2011 is different; maybe it deserves a resolution.

Accordingly, I resolve to make the following resolution: This year, I will do whatever the hell I want.

On Sunday, I put that resolution to the test.  I walked into a room reeking of unfinished knitting projects, assertively grabbed 5 pristine hanks of hand-dyed alpaca, and wound them up.  The color varied wildly from skein-to-skein, so I arranged them in what I thought was lightest to darkest.

Four days and four skeins later, I’m nearly finished.

Oh, what will it be??

The finished objects have been flying out the door at a furious pace over the last few weeks. I’m not sure if this hood counts as the first FO of 2011 since I finished all the knitting and sewing up in December. The only thing I did yesterday was buy the buttons and sew them on.

But, regardless, it’s done and she actually likes it. In fact, it’s been bitterly cold here and she was hounding me to finish it.

Pattern: Through the Woods by Kalurah Hudson
Available from Knit Picks
Yarn: Cascade Eco+ Wool
(Perfect) Buttons from Blazing Needles
Link to Ravelry project page.

Eco Wool is a 100% wool yarn that works for so many projects. I find that it sheds a bit of fiber as you knit with it, but the finished projects are fluffy and very wearable. For the price, I don’t think it can be beat. I used it for my Shalom vest/cardi and it’s holding up great.

My Symphony V Moebius has gone to live at the shop for a while and I finally remembered to bring my camera with me to Knit Night for a photo shoot.

Not the greatest photo, but you get the idea.  The pairing of the pattern with the Tilli Tomas Symphony yarn is perfect.  Just the right amount of bling from the pre-strung beads.

We bought this pattern and yarn as a kit at TNNA during the Sample It frenzy.  I finished the project I brought with me on the plane to Columbus so I cast on for this wrap in the hotel room.  I actually wound the yarn . . . by hand!  How old school!

Unfortunately, once I got back to Salt Lake the project languished.  I got the itch to make a couple of sweaters so this wrap repeatedly found itself at the bottom of the WIP pile.  And, really, that was a shame because it’s a relaxing project with a lovely result.  Jackie E-S has been designing beautiful, wearable lace projects for many years.  In fact, she was at the forefront of downloadable knitting patterns so designers & knitters should thank her for her foresight and innovation.  Plus, her patterns never disappoint (her Flared Lace Smoke Ring is one of my all-time favorite patterns) and she’s a really nice person.

Although the moebius took nearly 6 months to finish, these felted slippers only took a day—and they only required one skein of Cascade 128.

More details on my Ravelry project page.

No knitting tonight.  I’m off to stuff my face with fried foods.

6 down; 2 to go