The First on The Second

Woo Hoo - the first FO of the year and today's only January 2nd!!! I just finished the bind-0ff for my Fiddlehead Scarf from Morehouse Farms - mine is actually a gorgeous red/black variegated that doesn't photograph well in the dark. I'll try to get a good photo of it this weekend. It should be blocked by then too.

ETA: Photo of scarf from Morehouse site.

I bought this kit at the Knitters Review Retreat in early November. I cast on at the retreat Sunday morning during our New Beginnings session. The idea is that we cast on new projects for the coming year, swapping stitches on others' cast-on rows for good luck. You know ... some good knitting juju.

I started my scarf a little differently in that I'm kind of funny about different knitters casting on/knitting with different tension and possibly causing my scarf to look a little wonky in the beginning. So, to keep the good vibes, mojo and juju going, I cast on using my friend/roomie's circular needle. This way I still had her juju going in my scarf too. You may recall this photo from an earlier post - but it's a picture that bears repeating ... that's Lou after some stash enhancement that particular weekend. With that kind of excitement, I know I got some GREAT knitting juju by using her needles for this scarf. Thanks again Lou!

New Years Eve 2006

It's that time again, time for my annual New Year's Eve post - to review my goals and accomplishments for the past year. Here were my knitting goals for 2006 (remember these were written last year):

1) Knit a sweater - I'm awaiting the arrival of the yarn so I can cast on for a sweater for my former BIL's first child (due February '06).
2) Knit more socks, particularly for myself.
3) Get back to my charity knitting - I don't feel like I did nearly enough this year (2005).
4) Knit more things for myself in general - most of what I knit, I gift.
5) Start the SSCP knitting much earlier - September wasn't quite early enough this year.

How'd I do?
1) I cast on and knit my first sweater in January - it was a sweater for my former B-I-L's first child. I finished knitting it January 10th and did the seaming February 1.
2) Not so well on this one. I currently have 2 pair of hand-knit socks.
3) Could have done more ... 2 chemo hats for a friend, booties for preemies and 3 scarves for the family my group at work adopted for Christmas.
4) I completed (and regularly wear) 6 items for myself - not bad!!!
5) I actually started my SSCP knitting on January 10th and worked on it all year. It certainly made the holidays much less stressed. I highly recommend it!

Here are some of my accomplishments and things I learned through my 2006 knitting:

1) I am definitely a process knitter. Don't get me wrong - FOs are great - but it's all about the process for me. Even frogging soothes me.
2) FOs for the year:
~ 18 scarves
~ 6 hats
~ 2 pairs of socks
~ 2 chemo hats
~ 7 pair preemie baby booties
~ 1 baby sweater
~ 1 shawl
~ 1 clapotis
~ 3 shrugs
There are still a few items on the needles, but alas, they aren't finished yet.
3) Competed in the Knitting Olympics and achieved my goal - Go USA Lace Team!!!!
4) Taught 2 friends to knit.
5) New techniques learned:
~ Provisional cast on
~ Buttonholes
~ Mattress stitch
~ Finishing a sweater
~ Lace knitting
~ Picot cast-on edge
There may be one or two others that I can't think of right now, but not too shabby, if I do say so myself!

I still don't particularly like resolutions, I'm more about goals. For 2007, I hope to keep knitting and keep learning. I'd still like more hand-knit socks ... gotta work on that one!

This year, I wish the same things for you as I did last year: As the ball drops and we count down the seconds to the New Year, I hope you each find peace, happiness, abundance and joyful knitting.

Happy New Year!

Several posts in one

I've been busy since the KR Retreat ...

Our Girl Scout troop had our Annual Ceremony Friday evening. We do one big ceremony each fall. This is when we do Investiture, Rededication, bridging/flying up and awards. This can all take a little while as our troop currently has three age levels ... Daisies, Brownies and Juniors. My youngest is a Daisy and DD#2 and Niece#1 just bridged to Juniors. I think the girls had a good time.

Saturday I spent the day at the parentals' since my aunt was in town from St Louis and my cousin was coming to pick her up to take her to his house for Thanksgiving. I hadn't seen him in quite a while and totally enjoyed hanging out with him. He's one of my fave cousins ... and a GREAT storyteller. After they left, I ended up taking a nap on the loveseat while my mom was napping upstairs and my dad napped on the couch. I woke up ready for dinner. After dinner I headed home.

Today I spent the day going through boxes and PURGING stuff. Those of you that know me, understand what a major feat this truly is. I emptied a closet. See:

And hopefully tomorrow there will be coats hanging in there - what a concept - coats hanging in a closet!

I've also been busy working on SSCPs (SuperSecretChrissiePressies). I finished two on Saturday, including weaving in the ends. I've got a 3rd that is so close to finished I can taste it. A 4th and 5th just need to be seamed and the ends woven in, then they'll be ready to wrap. It's hard to believe Christmas is only 30-something days away - PLEASE don't tell me exactly how many. I really don't wanna know!

Okay, back to the Retreat last weekend. The entire weekend was phenomenal. I'm sure you've read lots about it here in blogland already so I won't bore you with details. Rather, I'll provide highlights.

It started very early on Friday morning because I couldn't sleep and wanted to be at the airport by 8:30 a.m. Mary, Lou and I flew in together and had no trouble. It was incredible to see the Statue of Liberty as we approached LaGuardia - I'd never seen it before.



We rented a car and headed for the Catskills. Lou drove and I navigated. We made an adventure of it - afterall, anyone can follow directions. We drove up Palisades Parkway, which was really beautiful. Driving along reviewing the map, I realized we'd be in Orange County. Yes THAT Orange County! After some Googling, I discovered the OCC Showroom & Retail Store was only 30 minutes from where we were ... we made plans to stop on Sunday on our way back to the airport.

Upon arriving at Jeronimo's, the fun really started. It was wonderful to rekindle many friendships that were made last year, and make new friendships this year. Even though Jane and I didn't share a room this year, we had the chance to catch up and share hugs and laughs.

As I said the other day, the retreat really helped re-energize and rejuvenate me for knitting, as well as my seeming eternal quest for inner peace. Everything about this venue was wonderful for our retreat. We had the place to ourselves, the food was excellent and plentiful.

The other knitters were open, warm and sharing. It's always amazing to me how you can gather 70+ knitters who are virtually strangers and we immediately click and feel comfortable with one another.

Once again I felt relaxed and gained new insight into myself. I learned more about why I knit and what leads me to take on the projects I choose. I also learned I have a strong desire to support a good cause ... even though I already own a set of Denise Needles, I bought a 2nd set.

I know, I know ... why do I need a 2nd set of Denise's? Well, I ask you this ... why not? A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the pink ones will go to breast cancer research, so how could I say no?

The rest of my time at Jeronimo's was full of good knitting, good friends and great food. We really had a ton of fun. BTW, Lou, Rho, Mary and Jane ... the hat is FINISHED!!!! Can you believe it?!?!?! Here, see for yourself (Don't ask me why the photo is sideways. I tried to turn it the right way. It's 3:30a.m. ... whatever):

While typing that I realized what time it is - doh! So, I'll leave you with one last picture for tonight ... it's truly worth 1,000 words - here's Lou at the Spirit Trail trailer for the "after sale" Sunday after lunch doing some stash enhancement: