The Next 5 Projects to Cast-On

Originally when I hatched this plan, I thought 5 days vacation = 5 new projects. However, I'm taking my vacation in conjunction with Labor Day so I don't really have 5 days to myself. The house will be full on Labor Day. I'm still going to try for 5 new projects though. They will all be Christmas projects.

Robyn SIL gets a pair of Stulpens made from the green Acero to match the Clapotis she got last year. Cast on and 65% complete.
1. MOM "Red Emperor" stole. Something she could leave on the back of the pew at church. The pattern reminds me of the Grandmother's Fan quilt she made for DH and me. I'm using the Orchid Sundara. Oh, I just can't wait, this is going to be so good.
2. June is For Jag. I plan to use one skein of the BFY Solo Silk. I hope I don't regret splitting up the skeins, but I think this yarn and pattern are a match made in heaven. This is for Jen.
3. Celtic Cable Neckwarmer. I keep going back and forth on Julie. I don't really know what color. I hate to spend time on something she won't like. This is very pretty and cables are impressive (I think). The yarn should be solid and light or medium. Nothing that would cover up the detail of the cables. In the end, even if Julie doesn't like this, I'm sure someone will.
4. Sunray. Is a pretty fabulous scarf that feels pretty unisex. I could see this in the Berroco Alpaca even though it's a dark brown. It would also work for a varigated yarn. And I have plenty of that. We'll just have to see. It's #4. Maybe I'll get to it, maybe I won't.
5. Vogue Drop Stitch Scarf. Bonnie Bamboo yarn. They are a good match. Don't know who will get the scarf, but someone should.

What's Wrong with This Picture

Yup, those are knitting needles under a class description for crochet. Not the same thing. There is no mention on this page of a knitting class. Oops.

Too Late to Knit, Not Sleepy Yet

So, I'll rehash my lists - again

Here is the 2009 gift list I created in December 2008. Let's check progress.

The only thing left on the gift list from December 2008 that has a chance of getting finished is Madonna's scarf and it is getting plenty of knitting time right now. It should be done soon.

Madonna's scarf - It's cast on and 45% done.
A Hulk Hat for Jack - done
A Calorimetry or Lace Headband for Jack's Sister - done
Liza's neckwarmer - done
A hat, bib and booties for Pedro and Margret's baby - The hat is done. Bibs and Booties - boring
A hat, bib and booties for Baby Rogg - booties done - bib and hat - boring
A hat, bib and booties for Ricky and Crystal's baby - hat done - Bibs and Booties - boring
April 2009 New to the list - Mom's Shonagon pillow - done and gifted and loved.
A lace head band for Brianna Ricky and Crystal's baby's older sister - changing to a floppy hat. She's only 4 - a headband, what was I thinking - I'm over hats. It's going to the bottom of the list Scratch it, I'm not doing it.

Summer List:
My goals for summer include finishing a few projects in between gift knitting.
Finish the Clapotis - DONE
Finish Flutter - I plan to finish Madonna's scarf before summer's end. Well on my way.
Re-Engage with the Shetland Tea Shawl - I'm itching to get back into this project. I even knit a row last week. Just to see if I could. Hmmm, I think I'd rather be Christmas knitting.

Those are my main three summer goals.

Bonus Summer goals:
Cast on my fair isle neckwarmer - did get it cast-on. It's getting no knitting time. The Sundara is beautiful. Exactly what I expected.
Cast on the Spanish Peacock - but I need to get much further on the STS first. I've moved through my lace mood. I'd rather knit for others right now.
Cast on my mittens for winter walking the dogs. I should settle on a pattern first. ???
Figure out Christmas knitting. Make a list and assign projects and yarn. DONE And I've already started on one of the projects. SIL's mitts are more than half done.

So what's next in my knitting goals? Well, I have vacation time coming up. How about having 5 Christmas items on the needles by the end of the week? That doesn't mean I can't cast on a couple now, but by the end of that week, I should have 5 new projects on the needles. I'll have to think that through further and come up with the list of 5 projects in another blog list.

Knitting Progress

I had an interesting knitting weekend. I made lots of progress on the second green Stulpen. At the same time, I worked on the red scarf too. Sometimes I would lay one down and the pick up the other, then eventually switch back. Usually, I'm so monogamous with my knitting, I can barely work on two projects in a weekend let alone two in one sitting.

These projects are so different, when I needed a break from cables, I worked on lace and when I needed a break from lace, I worked on cables. I never seemed to get tired of knitting. It was great.

This is the first Stulpen of the pair. It's knit in Brooks Farm Acero. The first 15 rows of ribbing were knit on size 2's, the rest of the mitt was knit on 1's. I messed up after the thumb opening and rather than casting on two for the ribbing I decreased two. But it still fits fine and I have big hands so I think it's going to be OK. I'll do the same thing on the second for the sake of symmetry.

I'm down to 10 repeats on the red scarf then it's the ruffle and blocking. Since I don't normally make the kind of knitting progress I made this weekend, I'm still several weeks out on the scarf, but the end is in sight.