Sorry people I dropped out of the blogosphere for a lil’ while. I’m back with loads on my mind and equally long lists of things to do. I’m really digging reading up everyone’s New Year’s resolutions and what they have or haven’t accomplished this past year. But before I start my own list and I need to bring you up to date with latest projects.

Here’s one bobbin packed full of 50/50 romney/mohair. This was a b$tch to spin. The roving was full of neps and lanolin which made it difficult to spin finely, but I did it! Now I need to spin the other 4 or so ounces and ply. Here’s a post talking about this purchase.

My So Called Scarf
Lovely pattern and even prettier yarn! I had a blast knitting this, nice and quick.

Details:
Yarn: Manos in 113 (Wildflowers), 2 skeins
Pattern: Sheep in the city
Needle: US 11 straight, bamboo

Lists for this year

There’s so much I want to accomplish this next year and hopefully I will. One thing that has been on my mind is global warming. I can’t stop thinking about how we’re ruining the most beautiful thing we as humans have…the EARTH. It’s hard for me to understand the ignorance and lack of understanding, but worse the lack of interest. The DH and I watched “An Inconvenient Truth” by Al Gore last night. I was in tears at the end, not because our way of life may change as a consequence but thinking about the death and destruction of animals, innocent animals. Whether you believe or not that the US is responsible for much of the problem, it just simply DOES NOT matter. The fact of the matter is this…the environment is changing much faster than it *should*, and we as humans are destroying the very thing that keeps us alive. Remember we need food, air, and water.

Part of this year’s resolution is to get as many people as possible to WATCH THIS MOVIE and ACT. Change your light bulbs, recycle, conserve energy, petition the government to change emission laws, etc. Just do something.

Ok, I’m done ranting and hopefully you will listen. Back to lists.

1. Spin up more of my stash. I can’t buy more fiber until MSWF. NOPE I can’t.

2. Knit from stash including from roving stash.

3. Keep better notes about projects, document the little things that add up to a lot.

4. Exercise. I’ve joined the 100 miles by April 1st. I’ve gotta get moving.

5. Change jobs

6. Move houses but not until above happens

7. Take a spinning class [Springwater has a class in February about drafting and plying]

8. Keep in touch with friends

9. Get rid of cable TV [done! accomplished this past week]

10. Read more. Watch more foreign films. Yes, both of these are related.

That’s it for now I’m sure I’ll add more before the month ends. I leave you with this happy cat.

Lobo, enjoying the day as usual

Blissfully happy next to me

Pattern: Paisley Flower Shawl - IK Spring 04
Yarn: Jaggerspun Zephyr in Cinnabar, ~ 1200 yards
Needles: US 5 24″ circulars

Comments:
The pattern was PAINFUL, as in very boring, not much there, please let it be done. I enjoyed the paisley portion but everything else was quite boring. Don’t get me wrong this is a great pattern for the beginner, and I guess I should have given myself more credit ’cause I needed more of a challenge.

I’m ready for the next step in lace knitting something harder and more interesting. I have a few patterns from Fiddlesticks and the Folk Shawls book to think about. I’m think the Kimono Shawl, Lily of the Valley and others. Anyways here’s the pics…click on image for larger picture

Here it is the recently finished UFO:

Snakes and Ladder Stole
Pattern: Katie Knits
Yarn: JaggerSpun Zephyr in Pewter, ~600 yards
Needle: US 5

And….I’m almost done with the Paisley Shawl…I’m binding off the picot edge right now….yippee!!!

The Snakes and Ladder stole is done!! I say done! Yes, after many months just sitting around being knitted here and there I just bit the bullet and finished it up over the holiday. This project began during my Germany trip last September! Can you believe it?

I just hate having UFOs laying around taking up space and give me bad looks. So, I said f* it I’ll take it with me to Charlottesville. And so I did and now I can pass it on to the next owner my Mother.

And Charlottesville. What can I say about this lovely area? We stayed here for two days. Relaxed, knitted, ate and slept. In that exact order. While in Charlottesville I stopped in at A Stitch in Time and The Needle Lady. Both are nice places but not as cool as KH. I do have to say though both places have a *great* selection of patterns. In fact, A Stitch in Time had a box full of them for $2 each. I grabbed a few patterns and pattern magazines to add to the stash. Funny thing no yarn came home with me! I was tempted at The Needle Lady but frankly nothing was that great.

Oh and speaking of patterns…my Amazon order has arrived! I’m trying to use up my AMEX gift card and thought book purchases would be a good way to round out things. I got Folk Socks, Big Girl Knits, Knitting Nature, and Barbara Walker’s 1st Volume.

My next purchase is more circular needles and wooden needles. But first I’ve got to locate an online or brick and mortar shop that takes AMEX, with a good selection of items….looking…

I know I promised I would be at KH last Wednesday but this time the family got in the way. The inlaws from Maine came down to visit and see my lil’ niece on her 2nd bday. Dinners and get togethers got scheduled and next thing I know it’s Sunday morning.

What have I been doing you ask? Well more of the same thing. I can’t seem to finish any projects and it’s driving me insane! I see all of these cool things out there and I’m just bored with my current projects. But I must finish them! I must!!

Here’s my current WIP list:

– Peasant sweater using Green Mountain Spinnery yarn — forever on hold! This pattern is cool but damn it the gauge is totally off and I refuse!! to do a gauge swatch for stockinette esp. when the pattern is so freaking simple. I will have to use this yarn elsewhere. I may need to buy more yarn and possibly use for Rogue

– Lance socks for the DH….one done, one half way there…boring…and I need to improve my color work skills

– Ladders and snakes stole, pattern here - I’m using Jaeger Zephyr in Pewter

– 90% done with Paisley Flower Shawl - I had to do some *serious* tinking on this one…and basically lost several rows. Ouch!!!

A new project I started last week…

– Jaywalker socks using Trekking XXL for hubby, I was going to make them for me but damn gauge is huge so he gets them. One sock is almost done.

Shopping List for MSWF
The list is ever growing…more fiber, yarn, tools, patterns, soap, etc. I can not wait! I know others have started their lists…Erin has…anyone want to share theirs?

Another place I want to visit is Carolina Homespun.