A new year, new goals or resolutions, etc. So I guess now is as good as any time to try to make a go of the blogging again. I was enjoying it while I was doing it before but as with all things, life sometimes gets in the way.
So, what's new this year? Well over the past year we have moved, acquired angora bunnies, more chickens, goats and a livestock guardian dog. Things are going quite well. Here's to a wonderful year to come full of blessings and love.
On the knitting front - last year did not feel like a very productive year. Between the move and just getting things back to "normal" it seemed like I never had a lot of time to devote to knitting. I am hoping to remedy that this year. To start that in the right direction I have been making sure to spin at least 10 minutes each day so far (yay!!!) and I am trying to get some handknit wool mittens on my kiddos hands. Baby Girl has a pair, Darling Hubby has a pair, Oldest Son has a pair and I just tonight finished a pair for Son #3. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to cast on a pair for Son #2. Then just the Baby Boy and myself. It's a start at least. Unfortunately all this quick knitting to make up dense fabric is making my wrists a bit sore. So a bit of a break tonight and then "onward Ho!"
On other needles...I am starting a swatch for a sweater for me! Yes, you read that right, a sweater for me. It will be a first. Here's hoping it turns out nicely! I am planning to knit Cassis by Thea Colman. I purchased some very lovely Blue Moon Fiber Arts Gaea in the Smoke on the Water colorway, a very beautiful and moody purple. I love purple. It is my most favorite color in the world. I hope to get the swatch knit, washed and blocked tomorrow so as to cast on for the Cassis soon. Both my mom and a friend have agree to knit-a-long with me on it. The friend, M, has already started hers. She is a wicked fast knitter who does gorgeous items. I can't wait to see hers. Hopefully it will prompt me to keep plugging along at what is sure to be a very long project.
In the mean time I have no doubt there will be other things on the needles as well. A sweater will eventually get to be just way too big to be purse knitting. In that vein I have decided to participate in the Stockinette Zombies Self-Striping KAL. Every month that I knit a project with self-stiping yarn (doesn't have to just be socks!) I get an entry into a giveaway. Maybe this will help me both use up some of my fingering weight yarn and also actually make some socks for ME.
The first pair of socks I want to cast on is the Partying it UP and Getting DOWN socks by Megan Williams of Stockinette Zombie fame. I plan to cast on with some yummy new yarn I purchased of late, Twisted Fiber Arts self-striping yarn in the Lagoon colorway AND in the Warlock colorway. I could not decide if I want to do the Toe up version of the sock pattern or the cuff down. So I have decided to first do the toe up, one in each colorway. Then next month (or whenever I get the first pair done) I shall knit the cuff down version in each colorway. Then I will have two pairs of socks. Who knows, maybe it will keep it interesting or maybe I am fooling myself.
Soon I need to consider some baby items for knitting as well. My sister & I have a friend who just this year had a baby girl! So pretty, babies are just the sweetest things. I would like to make them something. Then coming up very soon I have a local friend who is expecting a baby (they are keeping mum as to baby's gender) and I would love to make a little something for their special bundle of joy as well.
That would be a not-so-quick update on the happenings in my knitting world these days.
Hope things are going well in your neck of the woods and that you are starting off what will turn out to be a wonderfully blessed year for you and yours!
~Rhonnie
