Best Laid Plans

I had envisioned Lots of Time to Myself after Christmas to work on my genealogy files and on knitting. Hmmm.... Haven't had much time to do anything with genealogy, but because Knitting is so Portable, I Have been making progress there.

My current project is a cardigan for myself. It's been decades since I've done that! I mentioned the yarn in a September post. It's item 3 in the stash list.

I'll confess up front - it's polyester. But, I'm OK with that. Red Heart, worsted, in the 0303 Painted Desert colorway. In the Sept. post, I said the yarn was "tweedy." Let's call it "variegated" instead.

The pattern is from Lion Brand - [for use with Wool-Ease...which I think would be lovely...but I already had enough skeins of RH - Painted Desert.] The Oh-So-Simple Cardigan is all garter-stitched in 3 pieces. Oh, OK, in 5 pieces - I forgot the pocket linings. I wish it would look on me the way it looks on the mannekin in the pattern photo- so slim & sleek. It will look more like a tea-cosy on me. But, the colors are great for me, it's a very easy pattern, and I'm at least 1/3 finished. Photo, and details, to follow when I complete the back. Stay tuned.

My other projects for the remainder of my time off work will be:

1. Try Kool-Aid dyeing -- my first time attempt with dyeing. I have some [undyed] tapestry wool donated for charity knitting. I'll start with that first. I plan to use one color as my test batch. I'll try to leave some undyed bits to give "white" flecks. Then I need to find a good [easy] pattern for felt slippers for children. I'll knit the Kool-Aid dyed yarn doubled. And then felt the finished slippers. Sounds fun!! Hope it works.

I also have a skein of undyed superwash sock yarn that I got last winter [?] I want to dye that and knit into socks -- for my next sock project.

2. Take photos of my stash. Add to Flickr. Add to Ravelry.

3. Add future projects to my Ravelry pages.

4. Review my needles & hooks = I think I found more that aren't listed in my Ravelry chart. They were with my Christmas decorations. Eh?

If I don't make it back here before January 1 -- I wish all y'all a very peaceful and healthy 2008!

FO - Mom's Christmas Socks

But I don't have proof. In my rush to get Christmas presents wrapped, I forgot to get a photo of the "Christmas Socks" for my mother. They are completed and have been worn, she says.

Sport's Blankie

Finished the crocheted blankie in plenty of time for Christmas:
Buster needs equal time:

Christmas Decorating

Sport helped me with the tree a few weekends ago. I was a bit apprehensive about that, but he's nearly 4.5 yrs, and he does well when tasks are explained to him. He really was a good help. We got it all finished in one evening!

The first time Buster was here after the tree was up, DD1 found a few small white balls and helped him hang them. He was so proud. They visited a few days ago and Buster worked hard at rearranging the ornaments. He stood back and admired his handiwork with a big smile on his face. So, I've decided to leave them.

Christmas socks

Hope to finish the Christmas socks this evening. DD3 emailed that she'd come for a visit later today - with her laundry and her knitting. WooHoo! A knitterly offspring!Yarn: Worsted weight Acrylic, but what the heck. Found these two skeins in a craft box in my closet. Don't know where or when I bought them. Or why. But, they were just what I wanted for some festive gift socks. I think the giftee will be pleased.

Needles: Size 5 dpns

Pattern: Just a generic type. CO 44 sts. Cuff: K2, P2 for 2." Used a st st heel flap (with 3 garter st on ends of rows.)

Knit for: a Christmas gift.

Christmas Cookies

Recently DD1 bravely made Christmas Cookies with her nephews. Sport [4 yrs old] did a very good job. Buster [2 1/2 yrs] tested the frosting.