The End of 2008

It's the end of the year - and it's been quite a year - and a review of personal goals has revealed that I did not master the toe-up socks like I wanted. Oh, well, I've done plenty of other learning and mastering so I'm not stressing about it. I want to make 2009 my year of advancing further in my skills. By next year I want to have made a Central Park Hoodie (thanks to my Jenny for the pattern!), a richly cabled pullover, and one of the gorgeous lace stole patterns that I've collected. Tomorrow starts the new term of the House Cup. I've had so much fun with everyone in the group and can't wait to start a few new assignments.
Happy New Year to all of you!

A Little Yarn Pr0n for Y'all

First is the gift I got from Jenny for Christmas - a skein from Lisa Souza and a skein of handdyed. I know the purple will be some sort of armwarmers but I haven't found the right pattern yet. The LS will most likely be a scarf or stole.

Next is some that I ordered early last month but just got on Friday. It's from Handgefaerbt (link at right) in Germany. The purpley skeins are called Minotaur - one is sock weight and the other is laceweight - and the blue is called Basilisk. She names all of her work after fantasy characters. You must check her out.

That's all for now. Happy New Year!

Under the Influence

A couple of years ago, before I learned how to knit, I found a book that changed my crocheting. It's called Modular Crochet by Judith Copeland and was published in the late '70's or early '80's. She created a way of crocheting sweaters out of various rectangles based on gauge and body size. It blew me away. I've made four sweaters so far and have plans for a lot more - in fact, my favorite sweater is a modular one and I'd wear it every day if I could. I almost want to crochet nothing but the great sweaters in this book - big heavy ones for winter, lighter short-sleeved ones for summer, sleeveless for layering, etc. It's a great book. No, I don't own it - it costs a fortune to buy. I copied almost all of the pages and have them in a binder. The selling price right now is in the hundreds of dollars - a sign of a desired book.

The other day I got a new book that has also changed how I look at sweaters - Inspired Cabled Knits by Fiona Ellis. The projects in this book are amazing. Lately I've had a craving for cabled hoodies and one in my ravelry faves is from this book - I finally broke down and ordered it because it's so gorgeous. I can't even put it in words. She doesn't use the familiar cable patterns. She has created her own based on inspirations such as sand and lightning. My cabling experience is small. I've only done a couple of wristers and a headband so far. I'm going to practice some more, make some of the projects in Cables Untangled by Melissa Leapman (also a really great book with gorgeous sweaters and a couple of afghans that are so snuggly), and then begin the hoodie that started it: the Celtic Icon Hooded Zippered Cardigan.

I'm almost done with the few Christmas projects I have. Now I have to wait and see if they like them.

I have another scarf to show you. It's another lacy sock yarn one that was super easy and fast. Maybe you recognize the yarn - it's the first skein that I ever dyed with acid dyes, shown right here about a year ago. It knit up really pretty. The fiber is a wool-silk blend and is incredibly soft. I'm not sure why I'm so attracted to long lacy scarves right now - I had never made a scarf before.

I think that's all I wanted to tell you about. I blog alot in my head but when I sit down at the keyboard my mind kind of fizzles out. To the local people - be careful! We're supposed to get a big ie storm and I want everyone to be safe.

Thant reminds me: Anna of Knitting up a Storm is having a rough time right now. Please remember her in your prayers and good thoughts. Thanks!

Is There Some Discrimination in Knitting?

I listen to alot of podcasts - probably close to twenty. I hear everyone review the new Interweave Knitting, Vogue Knitting, Twist Collective, Knotions, and Knitty. Doesn't anyone else read Knit n Style or Creative Knitting? Is it because they're at the grocery store and not the LYS? Both of the new issues have pretty, wearable sweaters, kids items, and accessories. Don't get me wrong - I did buy two patterns from Twist and most of the stuff I've knit have come from Knitty, but I've learned alot from the forgotten mags. Does anyone else get them? Let me know what you think!
What's up with me lately? I'm trying to get the gifts done. I've made a few ornaments for Anna - they go pretty quick. I've signed up for an ornament exchange in the Harry Potter House Cup group but don't know for sure what I'm going to make yet. I've also made a couple of easy lace scarves for myself - decorative, not warm and functional.
Yes, that means that my hands are better. I still hurt alot, and it's moving to all of my arms, but I've been able to knit a bit. My feet, however, have taken over where my hands left off. Still no diagnosis but I'm still trying to be positive.
No pictures this time, sorry folks. I don't want recipients to see what they're getting!

Attention!

Everyone, please go to the Knitting up a Storm blog right now. She has a very special charity knitting project. If you're a teary type, don't read the first few paragraphs - it will make your heart ache. She wants us to knit ornaments. Go check it out. Let's see who of us can make the most.