Wooly Musings on a Very Cold Weekend

Progress on my leftover sock yarn throw/blankie is being made, although I did the math and I'm laughing at myself because I was thinking it's been going pretty well ... Per my measurements, I'll want it to be about 30x24 squares; that's 720 squares total. I have done 32 so far.  

Progress is progress, right?

The Sister Syster progresses too, although it's not as sexy as the blankie.

I don't remember if I showed my grandkid Christmas knitting before or not.  At any rate, here are the things knit with children added:

Ear Flap Baby Hat for the baby.

Barley Hat for The-Boy-Who-Loves-Purple.

Pixie hat for either one - it ended up less pointy than expected, but I suppose it works.

Socks for TBWLP (note the blue adult foot in the upper right, also in a sock knit by Yours Truly).

Goals for 2016

I'm not making resolutions this year. My approach is to set goals. Modest ones.

First goal - the quarterly knitting challenge set up by Rose the Gypsy.

One project per quarter, in any order.  Use stash yarn and leftovers as much as possible.

• One project to be something you've always wanted to make, but never have.  
• One project to be made using a technique (not a pattern) learned in a class.
• One project to be something you've made before but with a different treatment this time.
• One project to be knitter's choice.

Back in 2004 I took a knitting class at The Yarnery, taught by Shelly Kang.  Shelly was working on a blanket made of leftover sock yarn.  She eventually made the blanket and even won the sweepstakes at the Minnesota State Fair.  She is the reason I make socks and, by extension the reason I have lots of leftover sock yarn.  Although I have given away a lot of the odds and ends, I can manage to make at least a throw with what I have on hand.

The blanket can qualify for the technique learned in a class or for something I've always wanted to make.  I may or may not finish it this year, but at least I've started.

I also started a Sister Syster in a beautiful purple Araucania.   At this point I'm not sure how much progress will be made as I seem to be obsessed with the blankie right now.

Second goal:  The Book Riot Read Harder Challenge for 2016  I was invited to join in a group on Facebook and I'm diving in.

First book:  The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood, received as a gift from Boy-child's girlfriend. 

That's it for now.  I'm going to take it easy this year.  Auntie's townhouse should be on the market soon, so I'll be able to wrap up her estate.   Maybe I'll set more goals as the year progresses.  Maybe not.