Projects for the new year

Now that the 1,000 pound hat on my shoulders is done I feel so light!  I am going to focus on working on my wips (works in projects). I'm currently working on my black shawl. I want to finish this fourth skein before I buy the last four to finish this. It is wider at the top but I can't stretch it out fully because stitches would fall off the needles.

Other projects I plan to work on is a scarf, my blue Rowan shawl, a poncho, and two more shawlettes. Plus I have to fix Grace's stocking. I have a calendar app that I have scheduled a week for each project. 

Once March comes this grand plan may fall apart as I will be going to the Pittsburgh knit and crochet show. Then in may I will go to maryland sheep and Wool Festival. It is the second largest show next to the New York sheep and Wool festival (aka rhinebeck). I fully intend  to run wild and buy a bunch of yarn. I can't wait!!!!!!!!

The hat is done!

2013 knitting completions

 

Finally!

Last night I started the hat! I shocked myself as I cast on and joined in the round by magic loop method and it went perfect!  Usually I have to restart 1-3 times to get it right. I'm quite excited as I have been tired and on stocking burn out. Now I just have to knit ribbing for 

12-1/2 inches. But it's ok because I love ribbing. I am starting to get the itch to start my Pavo-vicuña socks. 

It's done!

I finally finished Hannah's stocking. It took forever. It looks pretty good. I will  never use two strands of acrylic to knit anything ever again. What was I thinking? Now to the hat for Sam and Joel. As I said before they will share the hat. Ultimately it will go to Sam for college. I should be able to whip this hat out pretty quick since it's bulky yarn. I have to decide what needle size to use to make it thick enough. Then on to the socks for me. 

Wool

I have talked a bit about mitts that I made. But nothing I have knit has given me the feelings of deep joy that the Packer mitts gave me. The softness, not fuzzy alpaca/angora softness but it's own deep softness. The way this yarn knits up. It's beautiful! But what sent me over the edge was how warm these mitts are. How incredibly warm merino wool is. Are all wools this warm? 

I could feel myself in a sweater made out of this yarn. The thought of my upper body being as warm as my hands made me swoon. 

The other thing that got me was how stretchy the mitts were. No need for elastic or much ribbing. I just can't get over it. I think I have the mitts out of my system. It's back to the stocking. I finished the heel. Now the final slog to get to the toe. I think the heel looks ok so I will keep it. I don't know how long it will take to finish. I'm anxious because I want to start the hat and my socks. 

More mitts!

I don't know what comes over me but I made another pair of mitts. This time it's a record. I started Friday and finished both on Sunday. It would have been Saturday but the first mitt was too long and I had a hole and I dropped stitch. So I ripped out 2/3 of it and now they look better. 

I got this crazy idea that I wanted something I could wear for the Monday night Packer game. Well now I do! I didn't have a lot of yarn left but enough. I was nervous because I really didn't know if I would have enough.