The Land of Wool and Honey

2009: The Year of the Stripe

It's a new year, people.  I can tell already--this one's going to be good one. 

So rather than try to recapture the blur that was the end of 2008, I'd rather just start out by showing you what excites me now; a freshly finished object (the last of last year's), what's on the needles and a few projects I can't WAIT to start.

 

Pattern: Knitting Pure & Simple, Babies Neckdown Cardigan #982.  Shop sample. 

Yarn: Noro Kureyon Color 209, 3 1/2 skeins. 

Size: 6 months.

Needles: US 8 & 6, 24" circular Addis and Brittany dpns.

Started: Friday evening, December 26th, 2008

Finished: Sunday afternoon, December 28th, 2008.

 

Babies in rainbow Noro.  (Friends' babies in Noro.)  I can hardly imagine anything cuter. 

 

A plain-but-very-feminine cardigan.  This one to be exact.  And as much as I love wool, Louisa Harding's Jasmine pretty much trounces all things cotton.  Or silk.  Or even bamboo.  (I love this yarn.)  So far, this is one shop sample that's crazy enjoyable to knit.  It may actually get finished.

Bring on the brown and turquoise!  When I was a sophomore in high school, we brought a German exchange student into our home.  She is my family, and I thought I'd put together something for her as she starts to create a new family--she's having a baby!  This quilt from Last Minute Quilted & Patchwork Gifts just might work.  (Not that a sweater wouldn't have, but I'm rather up for the challenge.)

I can't help but notice that everything I'm working on is stripey and I wonder how that relates to my psyche.  I kind of think it has something to do with order and priorities and patience and diligence--all things that are on my List of Personal Goals To Chip Away At in 2009.  Things that did not make the List in 2008.

I won't be making any major formal declarations about the things I want to do in 2009--I've discovered that's just not a successful move for me.  There are big things, sure (like spinning enough yarn to knit a sweater and shaving off a few pounds before my 10-year high school reunion), but the small things that are on my mind, the little things I'd like to accomplish, are things that when, well, stacked up, make for a better me.

Hey, 2009?  I'm so glad you're here.  I've been waiting.

Uh-Oh

Although gifts are finishing themselves at a truly impressive rate, the reality is that there is very little time left.

Handspun yarn?  Plied, washed/twist set, drying as I type this. 

Boxers shorts are done.

 

Tonight's job will be to finish spinning singles for the mittens and forge ahead with the socks.

So close.

Handcrafted Christmas 2008: An Update

Pajama pants.  Check.

 

With this gift, I hope to clinch the title of Best Daughter-In-Law Ever.  (However.  The other contender, Nichole,  is a fabulous cook [and a really great friend!], so it's anyone's guess.) 

The remaining two pairs of boxer shorts are cut and half-sewn.  My stitching is getting more even by the minute, which surprises even me.

In the spinning realm, I've got a two-ply yarn to make tonight (singles are sitting and ready to go), while four of eight ounces of singles are spun for yarn No. 2--the key ingredient in the mittens for my sister Becca's gift.

Victory is mine.

Can't Talk Now

I'm busy beating Time.

Boxer shorts, pair number one.  Finito.

 

Seven of eight wine bottle hats.  Done.

 

The singles for the handspun yarn are almost entirely finished (i.e. within the hour), but sadly, entirely unbloggable.  I can't risk the reader/recipient viewing their gift prematurely.

The first pair of socks is mid-heel.  Not really a great time to teach oneself a short-row heel, but under the wing of this fabulous tutorial, I think I'll make it.

The fabric for the pajama pants is cut and ready for assemblage. 

This day isn't even half-over.

Boo-yah.

Panic

It wouldn't be Christmas without it.

All of a sudden, I truly believe I can do things that, were it not such a twinkly time of year, I wouldn't even be tempted to try.  The closer it gets to D-Day, I get super sentimental and think to myself, You know, if I really loved my friends and family, I would show them by showering them with handcrafted love.  Which is really ridiculous, I know, because there really is only so much time in the world.  And probably the more ridiculous thing that you're saying to yourself right now is, If you really did love your friends and family, you would have started in July.  

But.  That's just not how I roll.  Better under pressure, I always say.  (Actually, when it's time to say that, it usually comes out in the way of a pathetic sob.) 

On the list right now?  Eight more hats for wine bottles, a pair of handspun mittens, two pairs of socks, a pair of pajama bottoms, a baby sweater, three pairs of boxer shorts, a skein of handspun and possibly a sparkly scarf to wear to Mass on Christmas Eve.  That's the handmade stuff.  I haven't even started shopping.  (Excuse me for one second.  My head is in a paper bag.)    

However.  These past 24 hours have been such a flurry of activity that I can't help but be convinced I'll succeed. 

   

Another wine bottle hat.  I see this one perched atop a grapefruit-y Sauvignon Blanc.

 

A Noro-type gift, cast on last night of course, for someone on my list who I hope does not read this blog.  (If you're reading this, Mom, do me a favor and act really surprised on Christmas morning.) 

 

Lavender sachets.  Whoops.  I forgot to mention that I totally broke one of my own rules.  You know, about pursuing another creative outlet.  I started using a sewing machine.  I don't know what happened.  Well, that's not true.  There's a quilt shop next door.  It was inevitable.  Frankly, I'm rather impressed with my willpower--I held out for almost two and a half years!  (We won't even discuss the pajama bottoms I made for Curt for his birthday last week.  I'll save that for the New Year.)    

 

This is entirely unrelated to the holiday.  I just felt like starting something new.

p.s.  Negative Nancies need not leave comments.  Of course I realize that I'm biting off a foolish amount of work.  That's why I've already scratched the sparkly scarf off the list.