Knitting: The new year with EZ?

So I've been meaning to post this for a few days, but let's face it, I've been lazy. Well not so much lazy and just not feeling like being online. I spent the last few of my days off knitting away. Well except Sunday. Was feeling allergies quite a bit, so I medicated and dozed on the couch most of the day. Am better now, thank grace. After the month long 2008 Yuck (nov-dec), I was REALLY done with being sick.

Moving on... I've made mention of knitting along with Elizabeth Zimmerman in 2009. I've toyed with starting the Almanac. I'd really love a big crazy Aran sweater which is the January project. I have 2 summer babies coming along one in June and one in July(they're still baking in their respective ovens right now), so I'd love to do the February baby stuff as well... after that it was like a "we'll see" sort of thing. Over this past weekend, I did a lot of reading, Knitting w/out Tears, Knitter's Workshop, Knitting Around and the Almanac... and what I realized is this... I don't really want to MAKE these patterns. I mean reading about her techniquie and why she did things the way she did was really great. I've picked up many useful tips and things to try... but as for the patterns, I'm not SUPER crazy about any of them. I mean they are all "okay" but I feel like I'm at a point that I can pretty much create what I want in the sizing I want.

Now let me step back for a second. I feel like I can do this for my size specifically. And I'm thinking of making baby stuff... well here is where I might be a little stuck, ya see, cause I don't have a baby of my own and I don't have baby measurements, so creating baby garments might not be quite my forte just yet.... but that's ok. Good pal Julane is walking through 2009 with Barbara Walker and all her genius. And she'll be trying to take what she can through BW's top down techniques, etc.

I think what I really want to learn in 2009 is some of the different cast on methods, Tubular, etc. I'm also interested in the Portuguese style of knitting, not that I'd like it, but I am curious. As I said previous, I want 2009 to be one of my FINISHING years. We all know I have a lot to finish! I still need to make up my schedule. I think if I get my projects and their respective yarns together and get them in a calendar book, that MAYBE I can get it done.

I also need to make a list of WANTS. What I WANT to make, for myself and for others. Then I can schedule those as appropriate as well. Here is where my major project detours come in... new issues of magazines or knitty come out and I see all sorts of new stuff! And then I have a whole new list of wants to make.

And for is phenomenal as ravelry is... sometimes an old fashion notebook or journal is better. it's tangible and real and if I physically write it out, I feel a better "stick-to-it-iveness."

I have another long weekend coming up... so that will be my plan. Also look forward to my 365-Photo-A-Day. Hopefully Lindsey and I can keep each other on pace to get the whole year done up right!

I'm excited for 2009. 2008 was a pretty darn good year, it had it's frustrations but overall it turned out ok. I look forward to 2009 being good, too. At least I hope for that. I'll take the downs as part of life as long as there is always and upside... and let's face... we'll always have knitting!

Lazy Sunday it's a good day for knitting

Well isn't any day a good day for knitting? Yes I think it is.

I've made significant progress on the CPH. I am happy with it. Although I measured it last night and it seems it's much LONGER than it should be an not as wide as it needs to be... so we'll see how it blocks out. I'm not going too stress about it right now. I fear if i do, I may stop working on it and that would be bad. SO... I'll just keep going and see what happens. This is the first 'pieced' thing I've knitted. Everything else I've ever done has all been connected. Odd.

Other things I have going on... well, not much, I'm trying NOT to do too much, but I did cast on for the Mystery Stole #4 although I haven't been working it as the clues come out. I'm back on row 4 and well, there are 3 clues done already. It'll get someday, along with everything else. :)

I also went to the Mystery Sock thingy last week at Temptations and plan to go to the next in October. I have so much to do. I want to get "Samus" from knitty, Alvin from Ella Rae (men's collection), and the Flower Basket Stole all done by Christmas.

Shew I don't know what I was thinking.

I also want to make the Checks and Charms hat/mitten set from Knit Picks for myself. Oh yeah and finish the market squares bag AND the diamond check bag from Ella Rae.

Good grief... I guess I better get off the internet and start some knitting today!

Accomplishments of the NON knitting variety.

So I've accomplished a couple of things the last 2 days.

1. I signed back up at the Gym. It's been way to long and I REALLY hate paying for the gym when I have access to one at work. The problem with going to the one at work is there is little motivation since I no longer work in the building it is housed in, so I have to DRIVE out of my way to go. I have noticed though that by going to a place a like, while I have to pay for it, I am more motivated to go and because I used to go, I know the circuit training WORKS. I saw and felt the results before and in a short amount of time, the point is I KNOW I will go and I better cause I'm paying for it in cash and in fat (so to speak). :)

2. I booked our reservations at the beach in NC over Thanksgiving. So very excited for that. And even better, I might be able to lose a bit of weight before we go, so I'll be even more fit for the beach, albeit most likely too cold for swimming outdoors, but they have an indoor pool and several jaccuzzis. I love the hotel and am so glad we are going back. It's the place we took our late honeymoon, same time of year too. :)

As for other accomplishments, just minor work stuff, nothing exciting there, I haven't finished the sleeve to the Greenjeans for Joy cardigan yet. I know it will be done soon, I guess at this point I'm just getting a little impatient with it. Of course it's my own fault, I don't totally dedicate enough time to it. I will definitely be glad when it is over. The next sweater I do, I hope to NOT drag out this long... and considering I have 2 more to do for Christmas gifts. And a scarf or 2 for the special olympics... I'll be plenty busy!

Oh and since we are going to NC, I'll have to check out Fiber in the area and see if there are any meetups going on and go meet some other ravellers. I need to put that on the TO DO list. :)