Ambition

So, I'm wondering how ambitious it is of me to ponder doing (and by doing I mean finishing totally) at least one project a month for 2006. It can be socks, scarves, afghans, etc., and the whole project doesn't have to be completely done from CO to finishing in a month's time span, but I would like to have a project to add each month to the completed list.

Some of my other recent knitting ponderings:
-I'm going to rip out Knitted Stripes, double up that yarn, and do a ripple afghan with the three colours instead. That was the pattern I had PLANNED to do originally, but put off because I felt the ripple had to be done with chunky weight in order to knit up quickly. For some reason I didn't consider doubling it and using, oh, say, size 13 needles on it. I think that will work out well.
-Jaywalkers have been ripped out and I will re-CO tomorrow. They were too small even though I tried them on several times. Oh well. I want them done right! Remind me of that! Zari on the KR forums is also working on these socks, so maybe she can help keep me on track.
-I really really want to do a sweater this year. I actually CO tonight for a generic top-down raglan. I want to do something cute like Ribby or Tubey, but maybe I should try something mega-simple first. Besides, I don't have the yarn for those yet anyway.
-I am going to do the Danica scarf. I am going to pick two WotA colours and CO for it as soon as the rest of my yarn gets here. I really want to learn that and it looks like it could be semi-instant gratification - you could just do a square and feel like you accomplished something.
-I really want to do a Fair Isle or other multi-coloured-yarns project again. I want to work on that two-handed weaving method and get my tension right.

Oops...

So for some reason I just recently saw a pic of Ene's Scarf from the Scarf Style book. In fact, to give credit where credit is due, I saw it on Renocat's blog when I went to look at her near-completed Ribby Cardi. Now, one would think that a project named "Ene's Scarf" would be a scarf, but no, it's a beautiful lace shawl that I just happen to have enough Turquoise Splendor Shimmer to make. So I went ahead and ordered Scarf Style, and, to get my $30 free shipping, A Gathering of Lace as well. And now I want to make a Ribby Cardi, too. I don't have the proper yarn for the Cardi (or Knitty's Tubey), but I do think the Violet Shine would work well for the Ribby Shell. I went ahead and bought both patterns anyway. And I found another off-the-shoulder sweater free pattern on Elann.com that I think the River Shine would look good as. No more knitting spending for a while!

Tempting...

Knitty.com has done it to me again! Just when I finally get my to-do list somewhat whittled down, they publish a new issue with some totally cute patterns. I'm particularly in love with Tempting II (after having loved the first Tempting, though I haven't made it yet), and Danica (the entrelac scarf). The scarf would be great for some of the WotA, and I think I have enough Shine to do a variation of the Temptings (I think I like II better. The belt look is more me than the ribbon.) I also seriously love Tubey. So cute, and totally something I would wear! I'm really hoping to find a good pattern to show off the Shadow or Alpaca Cloud yarns, though, anyone have any ideas? Lacy scarves/shawls/stoles?

Twas the week after Christmas...

and I have YARN! Serious yarn! As in, I will not have to buy yarn for the next year and a half because I got so much yarn! KnitPicks is probably having to restock right now! I got (the condensed version):
30 skeins of Wool of the Andes (3 skeins each of ten different colours!)
6 skeins of Simple Stripes (2 skeins each of three different colours)
2 skeins of Parade (Blues)
4 skeins of Dancing (2 each of Swing and Jig)
2 skeins of Sock Garden (Morning Glory)
4 skeins of Sock Landscapes (2 each of Cape Cod and Spring Prairie)
2 skeins of Shadow (Lost Lake)
2 skeins of Alpaca Cloud (droool...1 each of Stream and Tide Pool)
3 skeins of Shimmer (1 Morning Mist and 2 Turquoise Splendor)
12 skeins of Shine (6 each of Violet and River)

If anyone has any project suggestions, I'm all ears! I want to make some gorgeous stuff with this!

And, a Christmas present to myself was finishing my Sockotta Socks! I used the tapestry needle bind off, and learned the hard way to not pull the yarn too tightly with that one. And I couldn't figure a good way to weave the ends in at the cuff, so they did get knotted (erk!). But I wore them all day yesterday when I was travelling (three airports in seven hours...sigh...) and they held up! Now I'm starting a pair of Jaywalker Socks with the KnitPicks Dancing Jig. I can't believe the colours! They are SO FUN!

Project Specs on the Sockottas:

Pattern Source: 2 Socks on Magic Loop
Yarn: Plymouth Sockotta #502 (purple/blue/gray/jaquard self striping)
Needles: 32" size 2 circular (Susan Bates)
Date started: approx. Oct. 24, 2005
Date completed: Dec. 25, 2005
Notes:
-like the pattern and colours
-the yarn is rather stiff and hurts the fingers after knitting for a while with it. It's comfy on the feet, though, and I think it will soften up after washing a couple times.
-used the YO heel from the Christmas stocking pattern and it worked fairly well, although I got off the stripes somewhere with it, so I don't think I have both heels done exactly the same
-first sock heel increased until there are 24sts unworked on both sides
-the YO includes purling the first st. This st is NOT counted with the rest of the purled stitches
-CO 68sts
-tapestry needle BO, don't think I did it completely correctly, note to leave plenty of slack between sts or else when you try to put the socks on, the yarn will break due to strain

Christmas is coming...

I have all but one mitten done out of my Christmas knitting. I should be working on it now, actually, instead of getting caught up on the KR Forums and typing this. But oh well. I'll felt this pair at my parents' tomorrow night, hopefully without my mom finding them, but if she does, I'll explain the process to her. She'll either be really interested in it or not interested at all in it, but she will definitely enjoy the thought of handmade mittens! Still have to finish Bubby for Gift Elf. I'm probably a terrible gift elf. She'll get it after Christmas. I'm going to take the mittens, Bubby, and the Sockotta socks with me to my parents'. I doubt I'll get much knitting done there, but I do have all that airplane time, and all of them are fairly close to completion.

I got a phone call from my friend Matt, whose son Ethan was the recipient of the Scallop Baby Afghan I made a while back. He said that (for some reason) they just recently got it, but he and Misti (Ethan's mom) both love it and the baby himself has been sleeping with it since it showed up. That warms the heart, the picture of a little one curled up nice and warm in a New York winter because of something I made.

And I needed that news, particulary on the day I got the message, because:

The opera is kicking my ass. After coming home in rants the past week, I finally had to break down, put my foot down, and say "No, I am not coming in to run rehearsals for the first two shows. I am not contracted to work on those shows. I am not getting paid anything extra to do any work on those two shows. I have already rehearsed two full operas. I am not spending more of my time and energy to start a third one, much less a fourth one, even if they are just being reblocked. That's why you hired another stage manager, remember?" It went over surprisingly well. Of course, as Steve pointed out, what were they going to do? Fire me for not doing work that wasn't my job and they weren't paying me for? If they try, I'm gladly leaving, and I'm taking my books with me. That includes all of the paperwork I've generated. All of the blocking notes. All the props lists. All the scene change choreography. All of it.

So now I have just over a week mostly off before tech starts because the other two shows are in rehearsal. I'm suddenly feeling much more confident and energized about it. I can now do this again. It's a nice feeling. And I'll get knitting time again. After Christmas, so it will all be for ME! Muha!

Steve and I are doing Christmas tonight! Yay! I get to finally give him Pasha! And a few other odds and ends, of course =) We're going to have a nice chicken dinner, including pumpkin pie, Christmas music, and presents. And relaxation. Which reminds me, I have to wrap the last of his presents and go to the grocery store.

After I finish this row...really...

wah

God. I'm. Busy.

have had no time to knit in the past ten days. going through withdrawl. Show is getting to me. SM'ing now. No ASMs. Covering rehearsals for other SM, as well. Going nuts. They'd better make it worth it. Bastards.