Knitting: Catch up!

So it's been awhile since I've blogged. As per usual, I've been either too busy or just unwilling to spend the time doing regular updates.

Anyway, I've started of 2011 on the right note. I finished a pair of socks in near record time. The pattern was Pointelle by Cookie A from Knit.Sock.Love.

Then I was in a quandary. I didn't know what to knit. Wasn't sure if I should start more socks, don't want to have sock burnout and at the same time... wasn't sure what I wanted to make. So I worked on the sock blanket a bit and some other afghan squares from the BOM (which I'm horribly behind on).

So, I don't know what I started when, but I finally went into another sock. I had some yarn already caked from the "Butterfingers" sock mystery long ago. Liked the pattern, just didn't want to finish it. Anyway, ended up using that yarn and cast on Marilinda by Cookie A. The first section of the sock through the heel went pretty quickly, but then I hit a stopping point when it came to doing the gusset and decreases.

At which point, I decided to jump in the Hazel Knits Mystery Sock this month. It's a heavily cabled/rib pattern. I wasn't sure what yarn to use, so I finally broke out Belle. A color I have been savoring since I received it. So I started the first few clues and it's gone along pretty well, but in doing so, I realized, I must not really like cabled socks that well. I swear these things feel like they are taking FOREVER! They sure are pretty but, time consuming.

Between the 2 socks, I've steadily been making little blankie squares. I'm enjoying that project, but had been craving some new minis and wishing some of my swaps would be coming. So this past Friday, 4 of them, finally came through. So now I have new inspiration for the blankie.

Also, I've had a serious case of castonitis. I really want to partake in the Sunshine Kal on Ravelry. It's a colorwork KAL, but I need another color or 2 for my project because I am new to Sunshine. So, I decided since I've been very good at saving, I would have a little bitty splurge and ordered some yarn. I also re-upped by Hazel Knits sock club, so I will be getting a little stash enhancement through out the year. But I've also been very good about using the stash up, so I'm near to the point of having more stash out than in, which is a very good thing and the first time this has happened.

I still need a more firm plan of projects for the year so that I'm not rushed at the holidays. I have some gifts I'd like to make all the while keeping up with the sock knitting.

So for this week, I've stashbusted 5 yarns, 2 on new projects and 3 for mini skein swaps.

Knitting: The lure of the Ravelry boards

I really need to stay off the internet and ravelry boards, etc.

I have so little will power and there I go again casting on for yet another project?! Why????? The lure of a possible prize... of course I have to finish the darn project! But I'm getting faster on the sock knitting, so I think I have a chance. I have until the end of February. I've also already decided I probably won't do the February challenge, so... I can certainly give it a shot to finish these socks.

The January SKA challenge is a textured sock. There were several patterns out there I like, but the one I liked best was a toe up and I'm just not in the moode for that right now. I grabbed the BW treasuries and scanned and found a pretty pattern already charted. So I'm gong with it.

I even went into my STASH and pulled out some Alpaca Sox yarn, I purchased last summer(?) maybe. Anyway, I didn't make the pattern that the yarn was originally bought for, so now I'm using it. It's kind of a coral/terra cotta color. I like the color a lot and since it's alpaca, it's pretty soft and buttery however... it's also a very thin, just a 2 ply yarn, so not sure how great this will be... might be a floppy sock, but I'm really trying to tug tight on my stitches to keep it together. The pattern is looking nice so far.

But even though I casted on last night, I will continue working on the socks for Brian. I had a good idea though, I might do Brian socks at work during lunch since it's basic stockinette and I don't have to worry about patterns/mistakes, etc... and then in the evenings, I'll work on the Celtic Pattern sock. I really don't have a clever name for it yet. But maybe when I'm done, I'll think of something.

On to work....