Life, Knitting and the Pursuit of Roller Coasters

After some very haphazard knitting and blogging this summer, I’m coming back around and have a stack of things just waiting for their time in the spotlight. New designs, Christmas gifts, nearly finished projects are all whacking me upside the head and demanding immediate attention. It’s causing some fractures in my ability to pay attention to any one project as I’m trying to do too much at once right now.  So, since I’ve been a bit distant, this post will be a massive update of all the things that are pulling me in a dozen different directions.

So, here’s a preview of just a few of the projects currently tugging at my attention. 

Socks for Adam: I’m working on the foot of sock #2. The pair I made last year came out  baggy in the foot, so I modified the pattern (added ribbing, went down a 1/2 needle size) and I think this year’s pair should fit perfectly. I also went toe up this time to keep the cuffs at a reasonable length without being paranoid about yarn shortages. The yarn is Louet Gems in Pewter and Cloud Gray. 4×1 rib and 4×1 stripe, toe up with short row heel.

Socks for Dad: I’m on the foot of the first sock and they’re coming along well. I’m doing a the 3×3 cable and seed stitch pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks on US2 1/2 needles (the 0’s last year about killed me). The yarn is Alpaca with a twist Socrates in Khaki.

Mittens and Hat for Mom: I finished a mitten and I don’t like how it fits her or me (I had her try it on last week). The cuff end is too short and I held back too few stitches for the thumb so it’s tight. I’ve made some adjustments to the chart, changed the thumb and will be starting over again soon. I should still have enough yarn to do another pair and the hat without ripping it out but it’s there if I need it. I’m going to start the hat next though. When I adjusted the chart, I also sized down the pattern for a child’s mitten and a baby mitten and the hat should be sizable as well. I know that’s the only complaint I’ve had with the frog mittens is that there’s no easy way to size them down for children so the monkeys will have options. I’ll also be test knitting the baby size as baby shower gifts later this winter.

Then there are the other 12 project tugging at my attention… including some more new designs. But those will have to wait for another post. 

 Have you?