Knit Fearlessly!!!!

Sandi Wiseheart, the wonderful editor of Knitting Daily has put forth a challenge for 2008.. Here is a snippet of her New Year's Day entry (the full article is here):

"How about you? Did you Knit Fearlessly? What would you knit in 2008 if you were really the knitter you've always dreamed of being?

Here's some things to think about:

• Is there something you haven't tried because it seems Too Scary?
• Is there a technique you want to learn, or learn to do more skillfully?
• Is there something that stumps you?
• Is there something that you are dying to try, in your secret knitter's heart, but haven't dared because you think you're not a good enough knitter?
  
• Are you always knitting The Same Old Things, and you'd like to try something new?
• Do you always knit for others, and never for yourself? Or perhaps you only knit yourself accessories, but never a lovely cardigan or pullover to wear?
  

What would you knit if you were truly a Fearless Knitter?"

What a challenge, and I'm taking her up on it!
I haven't been able to put time into keeping current on my blog entries, but here are bullets of what's currently on my needles, knitting ramblings, and life in general:

• I'm rambling today...the 8 yr old has a tummy bug, and has been up during the night. I'm caffeinated, but not really functional. :)
• Please still keep hubby's employment situation in prayer, as he finds a new job (laid off a month ago at workplace) after 13 or so years in this particular manufacturing supervisory position . The construction business slow-down is taking a toll here.
• On my needles: Garter stitch tie for hubby in Rowan Tapestry is just about completed, he'll be wearing it to church tomorrow. Trust me. He promised. Nice pattern, and a no thought project to take with you .
• Sampler Gansey! 3/4 of the way completed.I'm so glad to have used Beth Brown-Reinsel's Knitting Ganseys book. She's a great instructor! I have NO photos, as I found out a half hour ago that my batteries in the camera are dead.
• I received in the mail a great random drawing gift from the HolidayKalCal. It's a cute knitted aqua cell phone holder and a matching gift card/lip balm/sweetener holder. And the buttons....so adorable! This gift was from Barbra's etsy shop, All About the Buttons. Go check out her store...cute knitted organizers, pins, barettes, bookmarks, etc. My organizer set is beautifully crafted AND useful! Thanks, Barbra! :)
  
• I actually had some "mommy"/adult knitting time this week! My friend Christine and I went to a new Chinese/Japanese restaurant in town. Good talk, great food, and no kids. Then it was off to the local knitting group at the library. This is a fairly new group, with knitters of all ages (about 4 to 80 years old!) and abilites. I'm really not a "group" person, but it's a drop in group on Fridays from 1-3 pm, and every one seems friendly. Also, my 8 yr old can peruse books for hours, so he enjoys his library time as well. I'll have to take photos next week, if I go.
• No, I haven't blocked my Hemlock Throw yet. I may have said I'd do it....but I haven't. Sigh.

Well, my computer has gone black screen twice this morning so far, so I think I'll stay off for the day. My sleeplessness is catching up with me, and the coffee and Swedish Fish (yes, I ate the whole bag) is wearing off. Have a great Saturday!

Therefore, being justified by faith
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

Knitting Year 2008....Year of Projected Projects!

Happy New Year! I pray that it is a year of blessings for you and yours in 2008!

Okay...Now back to knitting! And, no reason for the picture below...I just like it.


This is my future Sampler Gansey from Knitting Ganseys by Beth Brown-Reinsel, a great book and guide on the history and how-to's of knitting traditional Ganseys. I'm making the mini Sampler Gansey as listed in the book, and then it can be used as Sam's bear sweater, perhaps. You can see it here on WhitKnits blog, or in the Ravelry patterns, if you're on Ravelry already! I plant to start it today (New Year's Day), although I said it yesterday, too. I'm finishing up hubby's tie that is knit in Rowan Tapestry on size 3 needles.


Below is some of the gansey yarn to be used for a Gansey for myself, after completing the sampler sweater. It's a local yarn in the plum colorway of Elegant Ewe Custom Spun New England 100% Wool.

Hubby and I didn't really exchange gifts this year, in the conventional manner. He's a Ham Radio operator, and would like to purchase some books/equipment when needed. Sounds good to me! Oh, and he received his annual box of Cheese-Its and a coffee mug...this year's mug is a Harley-Davidson mug. Now onto my Christmas gift...yarn related, of course.
On Christmas Eve morning, I went to a yarn store and purchased Knitting Ganseys and The Knitter's Book of Yarn. I wrapped them myself to place under the tree. For me from hubby. The day after Christmas, hubby and I went out to lunch (Moe's sub shop...a favorite of mine) and he dropped me off at the LYS to purchase myself some yarn. I came out with 10 skeins of wool for a gansey, 2 pairs of needles, a few lace scarf patterns, 101 Designer One Skein Wonders book, yarn for the Easy and Elegant Garter Stitch tie, a celtic cd for my son's 19th birthday (New Year's Eve), two skeins of a bulky baby alpaca yarn (along with pattern and needles) for my secret pal at church, and a few other goodies. Wow. I felt like I robbed a candy store, and I thank hubby for the gift of yarn store brownsing and purchasing some fiber related goodness.

This is the 10 inches of snow that arrived on the morning of the 31st, and it's starting up again today (Jan 1st) with the same amount of snow expected, more or less.

Here are 3 pairs of Giver Trends felted clogs that I knit for various friends and family members for Christmas, prior to their embellishments

And...last but not least..my January 2008 Knitting Projects (or at least to be cast on in January!)

- a tie for my hubby from 101 Designer One Skein Wonders (my LYS owner Marci is the designer) …a easy quick project
- a gansey for me…a purple one, as a matter of fact… (sampler project and full sized gansey) for myself, with the help of Beth Brown-Reinsel and her Knitted Ganseys book with local Elegant Ewe Custom Spun New England Wool in a plum colorway\
- Socks that Rock pair of socks for myself (it’s my “Year of Knitting for Kris”) in their new colorway that I received in the STR club this month.
- Central Park Hoodie! Woo Hoo! (cast on a bit after the gansey) - Lace scarf from a pattern from my LYS (Marci Richardson is a great designer and store owner!) called the Diagonal Madeira Lace Scarf in an ebony Zephyr silk/wool laceweight

So…that about covers it! I've spent yesterday afternoon putting projects in their bags…so they’re all ready to go. I like to have each project, the supplies and patterns in bags so depending on my mood, day’s events and my level of sanity, I have everything ready to go! OK, time to put a load of laundry in and swatch for my sampler gansey. Have a great New Years Day!