WIPs: The First Installment

I can hardly withstand the urge to cast on - it's driving me crazy. So I thought it would be a good idea to show you what all I really need to be working on, and maybe set some goals to finish what's already been started. Here's the first installment of the projects on my needles:

First, we have sweet Josephine.

My goal is to finish her by the end of next week. I just need to force myself to sit down and do it. I started her on April 21, 2008, and I absolutely flew through the knitting of this pattern. Until I got to the part where I have to pick up stitches. As you can see, I have the clips placed strategically showing me how many stitches to pick up in each section. I've even given it a shot a few times. But I keep screwing it up. Anyone want to pick up my stitches for me?

Second, I have my sister Cindy's pair of Jaywalkers.

I started these on April 14, 2007. How embarrassing is that? Mindy mentioned to me during Knit Nite last week that maybe I should pick them up again. They've been hibernating for a super long time; in fact, I can't remember the last time I worked on them. Until now. Here's the second sock , which I've been working on since last Wednesday. I am so proud! Thanks for the encouragement Mindy!

I'd like to finish the second sock by the end of August. Then I can decide if I want to save them for a Christmas gift, or give them to Cindy sooner. I've actually be contemplating knitting her something else as well for Christmas, using my Malabrigo in Azul Profundo. Blue has always been her favorite color. And I absolutely love knitting with Malabrigo.

Maybe the Dream in Color Shrug, or a cowl, mittens and hat. What do you think? Of course, starting something new for the sake of Christmas is ok, right?

See how quickly I get distracted?

Oh Heavens

My friend Mindy gives me a hard time because I use the phrase "oh heavens" quite a bit. For example, she told me her new roof is going to cost a ton of money, and I said "oh heavens." See how it's used? Anyway, I think it is appropriate for my post today as well.


I stopped in to visit Sheri at The Loopy Ewe yesterday after work. (Remember how I used to work there? That's the only downside to my new job - not being surrounded by yarn!) Anyway, Sheri has got to be the nicest person I know. She was kind enough to stay late so I could do a little birthday shopping for my friend Kim. (By the time I post this Kim will already have her gift, so I'm safe.) I wanted to get Kim some roving, as she is really taking off with the spinning thing. However, I know absolutely nothing about spinning, so I went to an expert. Sheri helped me pick out what I think is some beautiful Enchanted Knoll roving. (Checking out all the roving almost makes me want to learn to spin. Like I need another hobby.)


Here's where the "oh heavens" comes in. I might have also bought a couple of skeins of yarn for myself. Ok, might isn't really the right word. I just plain did. I haven't bought sock yarn in quite while, and being in the middle of all of the gorgeousness at TLE was too much of a temptation for me. The good thing is, I now have a good income and can allow myself some fun money (read: yarn allowance) again. So, I splurged. Oh heavens.


This first one is Pagewood Farm Alyeska, in the Mississippi Mud Colorway. This stuff is 80% Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon. It is absolutely dreamy. For some reason I have been on a golden kick; I don't know if I'm thinking about Fall, or honey, or bees, or what, but this color is exactly what I was looking for.

And the second one is Creatively Dyed Yarns Luxury in the Cabin in the Woods Colorway. And guess what? It is also 80% Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon. See a theme here?

(I wish I could figure out why this photo keeps flipping sideways. It did that in Flickr too; it's driving me crazy.)

As much as I am dying to start knitting both of these yarns, I am presently winning the struggle against the cast on monster. This is because I have a boat load of projects on the needles. Even so, the urge to cast on something new is about to drive me nuts. Casting on is my drug of choice, I suppose. I love the rush I get from starting something new, and for the first few days I can't get enough of that project. Once the newness (high) wears off, I have such an urge to start something else that it's almost ridiculous. Does anyone else know how I feel? I keep trying to justify it all by telling myself that it's ok to have a ton of WIPs and UFOs, but I can't seem to get rid of the guilt. And so I continue to fight my addiction...