Test knitting and designing

So, the toy I was supposed to test-knit fell through. I'm a little bit sad, but given my knitting workload right now, it's actually a bit of a relief. I also found that the yarn for the sweater I'm test knitting has been shipped, but the pattern hasn't since it's not ready yet (which seems to me an odd way to do things, but it's not my money buying the yarn). Betty's pattern I should probably check up on, but I'm guessing she's just been super-busy and that won't be ready to do for a while yet.

Also, there's this design class I'm taking. I was the only one to sign up, so we're designing me a sweater. It's a cardigan, which is exciting, since I love cardigans *way* more than pullovers, but have yet to knit one. Really, it shouldn't be that hard, right? James said he'd help me with the math, and I already have the first swatch done! I'll post a photo when I get a chance. There are two stitch patterns in this cardigan, in addition to stockinette (which is the swatch that I have done).

The yarn I'm using is my birthday yarn from Maris, Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in "Candy Apple." It's funny that it felt so cotton-y when working mostly with wool otherwise, but after working on Presto Chango in 100% cotton, the Cotton Fleece feels lovely. Also, it's knitting up very nicely on US 7's, and at a much friendlier gauge than it did on the 6's. The gauge in stockinette is 4.5 stitches per inch, and 7.5 rows per inch.

Babies!

The babies are everywhere! I've got a lot to do on the baby front:

• By February 14: Hat for Ariella (Louet Gems yarn leftover from the matching sweater my mom made)
• ASAP: Presto Chango for Blaise (with Rowan Denim I got as a giveaway at Stitch House)
• By April: Mirabilis or Pinwheel blanket for Baby Dunn (no name or gender yet).
  
• By June: Hat for Baby Blumberg (no name or gender yet) to match a TBD sweater my mother will make (you might be noticing that we have a standing plan for my cousins' babies -- my mom picks a sweater and I make a hat to match)

Now, nobody else is allowed to get pregnant, ok? :) Right now this is a reasonable list, but it's only January and I could see it getting much longer.

December Holiday Knitting

Well, all the December Holiday knitting is done. I finished the last bit on Christmas day. Luckily, I have an understanding husband who didn't mind his Christmas present not being wrapped :)

Highlights in reactions:

• random stranger on the green line telling my mother she just *had* to know where she got her scarf.

• Rachel being enthralled with the hat and sweater combo for Riley.

• Elizabeth wearing her hat for most of Christmas day
• Douglas: "Thank you what is it?" (a hat).
• Darlene loved the socks for Joseph and hats for Elizabeth and Lydia.

• Becky's godmother made her a quilt with the exact same color green in it as the blanket I made (and Becky liked them both a lot).
  

• Love was delighted (many times, thanks to her failing memory) with the shawl.
• Bianca liked the bag and washcloths.

Low-lights:

• My father thinks he's already lost his hat (given that I've lost two mittens, one hand-knit for me in the last month, I really shouldn't be complaining)
• When I asked Michael if the kids liked their gifts he didn't say, just mentioning that the box got there (which I take to mean that Kim disliked them)
• James's parents might be moving back to Florida soon, meaning their hats are likely to only get used this winter
• My grandmother doesn't like her scarf

Overall, a success I think. Next year maybe everyone will get socks. I'm working on my first two-at-a-time socks right now, and if that goes well, maybe I'll be able to finish in time for Christmas!

In other knitting-related December Holiday news, boy did I get a lot of knitting stuff! I got point protectors, a Norwegian thimble, four skeins of sock yarn, some Kitpicks knitting needles (as an aside, I've broken down and ordered the Harmony interchangeable set), the Yarn Harlot 2009 calendar, which is now sitting on my desk, and probably several things I'm forgetting. I also got a gift certificate to Stitch House, which I've used to register for a knitting design class (starting tomorrow evening). I'm very excited about that.

So far in 2009, I've worked on the socks mentioned above (Sugar Maple, by Melissa Morgan-Oakes) and the Hemlock Ring Blanket. I'm really liking both projects and will update more with pictures later.

Productivity

As the year starts to come to a close, I've been thinking over how it has gone. One of the things I realized was that, for me, I've been remarkably prolific in my knitting. Not only have I made myself a sweater (one, I might add, that I wear frequently) but I have also made my first two blankets (one for Becky and Larry for Christmas and one for Michelle and Jared as a wedding present). I made my first socks (Christmas presents for Joseph and Ethan), cabled my first cable (the sweater) and knitted my first lace (a scarf for my grandmother for Chanukah). In addition to those projects, I made seven hats, another scarf, a shawlette, and some washcloths. I do still have some holiday knitting left to do -- a baby hat/socks set for Riley, a hat for James, and something for Douglas.

I never would have believed it if you had told me last January that I would knit so much in 2008. Never! This has kind of getting stuff done reminds me that I'm sometimes not incompetent and it gives me hope that I won't drown in my knitting in 2009. It's not even mid-December yet, but boy, oh boy do I have plans for my knitting next year!

-- Blanket or sweater for the new baby arriving accross the street in April
-- Blanket as a wedding present for James's cousin Jennifer.
-- Blankets for me! I want to do the Hemlock Blanket out of the yarn I bought on our honeymoon in Ireland. Also, I love the idea I saw in Casts Off by the Yarn Harlot of making all your scraps into a blanket that tells the story of all your projects.
-- Socks for me. I have some lovely sock yarn that Asher gave me for my birthday, as well as two pairs' worth of yarn I impulse-bought myself (it was on sale. I'm weak).

I have also agreed to test-knit for several people which should be a fun way to try new things: A dress, a new blanket technique, some color work, etc. I'm very much looking forward to these new adventures.

New Blog

Although I've been on livejournal for years now (let's see, I guess that would be *nine* years now...) and I still think that LJ is a useful blogging tool for me, I suspect people are sick of my knitting updates all the time, and I really think they deserve a separate space from my more personal blogging. So, I've started this blog. I'll post about my projects, my designs, and my thoughts on knitting.