Knitty Couture

During the pregnancy, Eric and I decluttered and reorganized our home a bit in preparation for Gram’s arrival.  The dresser I stored my stash in now houses Gram’s clothes and blankets, and my yarn, for the lack of space, was placed in a large (very large) rubbermaid and currently sits in the basement.  I’m not particularly fond of its new location, but it’s also not my entire stash either.  The other half is scattered about the house in baskets, bags, shelves, and on tables.  This other half is, and I cringe, all my UFOs.  I even have UFOs sitting in Gram’s room.

New Year Resolution #1. Finish all my UFOs. 
Much like the 12 Socks in 12 Months Challenge, I shall try (NO, I SHALL) finish at least one UFO or a project a month.  I’m not sure there are 12 UFOs for the year - I’m deathly afraid to count them, but I know there are a lot… and some are large UFOs like blankets and sweaters and bags.  One UFO, in particular, was brought to my attention the other day.  While browsing the pics on my laptop, Eric noticed a pic of a two-color fair isle bag I had begun and asked whatever happened to it.   “Oh, that bag?  Yeah, I need to finish it,” I responded.  He gave me a funny look, “Did you know the date on this picture is April of 2008?”  Hmmm.  No, I didn’t know that, but it sounds about right…. That’s one of the UFOs sitting in Gram’s room.

New Year Resolution #2: Finish off those pesky scrap yarns.
You know those skeins of yarn leftover from projects.  You know, the remnants of a (or more) sock yarn or the remainder of the million Cascade 220s skeins from the Dr. Who scarf.  Well, I don’t know about you, but my baskets and bags are full of leftover yarn, and I keep telling myself not to get rid of them because they’ll eventually be put to use in a future project.  Well, eventually is now.

New Year Resolution #3:  Knit down my stash.
Truth be told, I’m not finishing off every bit of my stash.  That’s just silly talk.  Silly talk.  And no way would I ever refrain from getting new yarn.  That’s even sillier talk.  But I will finally knit with that beautiful lace yarn, and I will use up those ten or so skeins I had bought on sale years ago with no idea of what to do with, but I will come up with something.  And the numerous skeins of sock yarn… you guessed it.  They will finally become socks!

What is going to be extremely helpful are the knit-alongs and challenges we’re starting at the shop this year.  The consensus at the shop is that winter’s knit-along should be mittens which is great because I have UFO mittens I’ve been avoiding as well as mittens I’ve been wanting to start.  Casting-on begins Sunday, Jan. 24th, at 1pm.

Join us also for the Knitting Winter Olympics.  This is a 14 day knitting marathon where we’ll be casting on and finishing a project during the length of the Winter Olympics.  Dates are February 12th-28th.  I’m not sure just yet what I’ll be working on, but as you can see, there won’t be a lack of ideas to choose from.  Remember.  Knit nights are Thursday evenings, 5pm-8pm and all day on Sundays, 1pm-6pm so come by and join us!

The baby is the boss.

I thought I was appreciative of my free time before the birth.  Silly, silly me.  I really didn’t know what free time was.  Now, what I truly appreciate is the little bit of free time I can squeeze in to, oh, brush my teeth or comb my hair or grab a bite to eat.  Sometimes it’s a matter of priority - Do I use this time when Gram’s asleep to get some food or take a much-needed nap or get a shower?  Oh, what to do, what to do.

One thing I was determined to get done, however, was finish my December socks, regardless of how foolish my husband told me I was being when, obviously, I looked haggard and sleep-deprived.  Well, I did get some knitting done, thanks to the Moby wrap, which allowed me to be a bit more mobile or at least, have my hands free (e.g., now) for an hour or two.

These socks are for my younger brother, who wanted cozy, semi-thick socks to wear while riding his motorcycle.  My initial plan was to have them finished during his visit a few days ago, but oh, well.  At least I finished them before the new year.

The 12 Socks in 12 Months Challenge was a wonderful experience.  Thanks to Joelle and Heather for keeping pace with me throughout the entire year.  It was really motivating to have a goal each month.  I may try to apply the same principle for the new year, maybe for socks again or just having a finished knitted piece.   We’ll see.

In Gram news, he’ll be 4 wks old on Tuesday.  Time is fleeting, and he’s growing so quickly.  We’ve made great use of some of his knitted items.  Others (e.g., bunting bag and hand mitts) were too small for him to fit into.  Couldn’t you just nibble away on these cute little feet?

Changes I’ve noticed: Week 1: The tiny boy nurses like a little piglet.  He gained 13 oz in 5 days.  Week 2: He has eyelashes!  Week 3: His umbilical cord finally fell off.  My mom was completely astonished it took so long.  She informed me that the longer it took for the cord to fall off, the more mischievous the child will be.  I thanked her.

Today: He smiles and coos to self.