It's a new year!

January is apparently the month of selfish knitting in my world. I suppose it's the Christmas hangover continuing, but I've been casting on for all sorts of goodies - and just about everything is for me! I don't usually knit for myself, but that's about to change.

However, let's start with a finished project that is not for me, OK? Here's Bubby from Knitty. Isn't he sweet? I used a size 6 needle and Andean Treasure. I don't know if I'll add eyes or not. He's currently in ZEN's crib, where she seems to enjoy throwing him around. This was a fun, fairly fast knit. I started on him on December 23, and finished him earlier this week. He could have been done in a day or two, but I decided to finish my mother's sweater instead. I keep writing him. I guess it's a boy. Any ideas for names?

I also tried to finish Elefante.

"But Holly, that doesn't look like an elephant," you're probably thinking (which is a much kinder response than my husband's, who upon seeing what I'd created laughed so hysterically he nearly cried). Apparently there's this thing about patterns - you should follow them! Who knew?? I actually did pay a good bit of attention, but I think I put him down right at the point where you were supposed to be knitting for the trunk. So instead of a trunk and a head, I just got a giant funny-looking head. Instead of finishing, or ripping, though, I'm going to let the cats play with the stuffed balls. This is an adorable pattern, and I'll probably try it again. I don't think I'll stripe him (I found that to be a huge pain), so I'll either try to use self-striping yarn, perhaps Noro (thanks, SheKnits listeners, for that idea), or I'll just do solid colors, but make the head, body and legs different colors.


In another bit of unselfish knitting, I finished the first fingerless glove requested by my husband. These were knit from Sandi Wiseheart's pattern, which she created for her husband. The pattern is quick and easy. I used KnitPicks Andean Silk and a size 6 needle. However, in looking at them, don't they seem a bit feminine? My husband is a big goofy 6'4, 240 pound guy, so he will wear them and not care what anyone thinks, but I think they're a little girly. It's possible Nat won't like them, and if that's the case, I'll keep them for me, anyway. I did have some problems with the gloves, between the fingers. I had holes in two places. I just darned them up, but I'm not sure what I did wrong. We'll have to see if I have a similar problem with the mate. These will be done by Thursday, which is Nat's birthday (Happy Birthday, Nat, even though you're not reading this!)

Now to me, me, me knitting! I have started Wicked, using Karabella Aurora 8 in a Royal Purple color. It's coming along quite well. There is an official KAL starting on Ravelry on January 15, so I probably will try not to do too much with it until then, but it's hard to put it down. It's a lot of fun to knit! And the best part is that I scored the yarn on clearance at a New Year's Day sale!

Also on the needles is Sunrise Circle, and that's going just fine. I haven't gotten to any of the fun darts or shaping yet, though, so we'll see.

Finally, I started another felted bag last night. This is the latest from SheKnits - it's called Carrie Lynn's bag. You can find the pattern here. It's a fun, quick knit. And I'm burning through my Lamb's Pride stash - yeah for stash busting!!!

New Year's Knitting Thoughts (I've never kept a resolution, I must admit, so I won't call these by the R word)
I've joined a Ravelry Group, Resolutions for 2008, and this is pulled from there. Again, though, they're not actually resolutions, OK?

1. Finish at least 5 WIPs. Hmmm.... This is not going so well. I guess I haev finished one WIP, the Bubby Bear; but in the meantime, I've cast on for a bunch more - doesn't that defeat the purpose?
2. Rip out anything and everything that I will not finish. I'm taking this one for a spin tonight, I believe. That sound of ripping coming from central Indiana? That will lead you to my house - feel free to stop by and help!
3. Reduce my stash by 20% (this is a very arbitrary figure...I might revisit it!) I think I'm actually doing well on this one. I've started several projects from stash yarn, including Bubby (KnitPicks Andean Treasure), Nat's fingerless gloves (KnitPicks Andean Silk), Elefante (KnitPicks Wool of the Andes), Carie Lynn bag (Lamb's Pride Bulky - 7 skeins!!!), Sunrise Circle sweater (Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed). Don't have a clue about the 20% part, but I think this is good progress!
4. Knit at least one pattern from each book I own (this will not be accomplished in 2008, but I want to commit to doing this going forward in my knitting years).
I'm getting no where fast on this one.


And last, but by no means least, ZEN turned 1 on December 28. We didn't have too big
of an affair, but my parents were in town, and the child opened presents for what seemed like days. And, unlike her mother, she wasn't a huge fan of the cake. I suppose I should be happy - maybe she won't be a sugar addict like me! Even though she's 1, she still has no teeth!