Knitting out the old, and knitting in the new!

2011 was a wonderful and adventurous year.  There were a few (major) bumps along the way - especially with the health of family and friends - but I'm grateful for all the good that happened!  I rang out the New Year the way I love best: family and best friend and ice cream.  It really doesn't get any better than that!

It was a good year for knitting.

I estimate that I knit:

13 hats
6 sweaters
4 pairs of socks
1 pair of mittens
3 baby sweaters
1 scarf
1 shawl
1 felted purse
1 possum  ;-)

I also finished two other sets of mittens - but as they are waiting for linings, they don't count.  ;-)

I spun up MUCH fibery-goodness as well, including three of the Enchanted Knoll fiber club offerings from last year, and 1.5 pounds of yumminess from Roclans (purchased at the 2010 NJSW).

Of the above, MOST was from stash.  I'm pleased!  Knitting up six sweaters does a lot to eliminate stash.  Unfortunately, I've left a bunch of lace yarn on my shelf, which I'll need to tackle this year.

The plan for this year?  Continue to stash-bust.  If I continue at the rate above, I may just about get through my stash (or much of it) this year.  My plan, therefore, is to either knit it.... or get rid of it in 2012!

Here's to a happy, fiber-filled New Year!

Almost finished with finishing....

The October tally thus far:

3 sweaters
1 pair of socks
Hat, scarf and mitten set
1 hat

Of the above, all were truly UFO's'... with the exception of the fauxhawk hat.  ;-)

Chances are good that I'll finish two more projects before the end of this month - a pair of Zilborg mittens that I started this month, and a children's sweater that is another UFO.  It's been a good month.  I think having a theme has helped with my progressing towards my goals.

November is the month of 50K - words and stitches.  Once again I'll be doing both NaNoWriMo as well as NaKniSweMo - focusing on novel writing, and working on a sweater.  The NaNo project is "Last Wish" which has been bumping around in my brain for a year.  I hope to do a reasonable rough-write, and then pass it on to the daughter for work on narrative (she's great at dialogue!).  The NaKni project is a CPH for the bestie in a pretty blue.

And yes, there's also work.  The house.  The PhD.

Better busy than bored though, right?  And if you don't have goals, how do you know if you've arrived when you weren't sure where you were going in the first place?

Finishing for others, part deux

Every year my Women's group sends dozens of hat/scarf/mitten sets to Appalachia.  I always try to get at least one set done.  Here's this year's contribution.  It's made out of Red Heart -which gives me hives - but that is what is required for washability and wear's sake.

I mentioned upstream that I finished Zamora for a knitting friend.  In contrast to the Red Heart, she's made of this wonderful feeling silk-based yarn from Noro.  The striping doesn't do much for me... but the fabric is lovely.

Yesterday I began prepping Angora (bunneh) for spinning.  My wheel is on stage until mid-November, but my hope is to have everything ready to go for when she is returned.  The plan is to spin a simple two ply for use inside mittens.  Not sure if I'll be able to do any more finishing this month - although I've just cast on for one of the aforementioned Christmas mittens.  We'll see!

Finishing for others ;-)

At my monthly knit/crochet group at church, one of the women was obviously distressed by a project she was working on.  I had helped her with a few new techniques, but something had gone wrong, and she had gained 5 stitches.  She looked at me and said "I know you're busy... but I would be so happy to PAY someone to finish this for me..."

So, it's now on MY needles (she was knitting on 11's, and I moved it down to 8's in order to match her gauge) and I'm finishing it for her.  Of course, I won't ask for compensation.  This is the sort of thing we do for one another, right?  Besides - I know she's got MY back when I'm unable to finish something else. ;-)

The third floor and second floor are almost finished being rearranged/cleaned.  I hope to get the rest of it done tomorrow so that it looks perfect for when the daughter comes home tomorrow.  Perhaps I'll finish my friend's sweater tomorrow as well.  ::smile:::

So much done!

Every once in a great while I have one of those days where things get done that really need to get done.  Yesterday was incredible!  I met with knit friends in the morning, and spent the afternoon hoeing out the daughter's room(s).  We rented a steam vacuum cleaner and did the rugs - I spent an hour on the recumbant bike and an hour visiting a parishoner in the hospital.  Knitting, cleaning/organizing, exercise, pastoring.... a great day.

Here's hoping today has a bit of the same!  ;-)

Today I know I will get nothing finished - there's simply too many meetings and things that need attention.  I'll be spending a few hours working on my PhD cohort's summary of Sun Tzu, but in my own mind, that doesn't count.  ;-)

This weekend I hope to get much accomplished.  I'm setting aside the entire weekend for fall cleaning.  The plan is to begin at the top, and work my way down.  Everyone loves a huge old Victorian - if they had to clean it, they might change their mind!

The biggest challenge is getting started.  Once I'm up and moving (and progress is being made) I should be fine.  My gift to myself is a little Sunday afternoon knitting with friends.

The quick finishes are pretty much finished at this point.  I have a few small projects that I'll be tying up this month, but there are also a number of Christmas gifts I need to begin (and finish!) as well.


What I finished yesterday:  The Wooster Fauxhawk for the daughter; 200 pages of reading.

What I didn't finish yesterday:  The dang chutney.  I need malt vinegar.  ::sigh::  Fortunately, no harm in the tomatoes sitting in the fridge another day.

Was at Knit Night last night, finishing up Dad's sweater.  Did I mention this was Fall Finishing Month?  :::laugh:::  Finished last night - wasn't able to post until today:

Today I hope to finish Ella's newest hat - and the green tomato chutney.  ;-)  I did manage to get through several assignments yesterday, for a total of 275 pgs.

If I'm able to get my Christmas knitting this month, I'm going to try for NaNoWriMo in November.  I've tried for three of the last four years, with some limited success.  I'm apparently attached at the hip to my laptop for the forseeable future with the PhD program, so maybe in my 'free' time?