Moving along
I have made several resolutions for 2007. Amidst the usual ‘eat less, exercise more, snap at people less, breathe more deeply’ type virtuous ones in my list, is the one most virtuous for knitters: finish all UFOs before beginning new ones. Considering that at least ten people have pissed me off already the first week of the year and I have snarled at seven (and the less said about the amount I consumed as I got bored to tears at a conference the last three days the better), I figured, wth, I might as well break another resolution.
So the new year begins with the excitement of choosing a new project. I don’t know what yet, maybe a pair of socks to keep it small, and wipe out the memory of those months spent doing twisted knitted stitch trying to finish the alpaca pullover, when I actually progressed only four miserable inches. As I unpack my suitcase, those Oxblood skeins are staring balefully at me, an almost violent reminder of my failure to meet my deadline. Another resolution, no doubt to be binned soon: not to take on more than I can deal with.
Of course, one can always feel better by looking at what was actually completed. There’s a certain neatness in the fact that I began and ended with gloves.
Brooks Farm gloves
Turkish Balaclava hat
Cashmere vest
Clapotis
Koigu Eyelet Rib socks
Cloverleaf Koigu socks
Opal Brasil socks
Leaf Lace shawl
Odessa hat
Swallowtail Merino lace shawl
Merino fingerless gloves
The funniest thing about this list is the number of items that accompanied me across the world this time on the trip to Shimla. Various other members of my family brought older items I’d made for them, and if I’d been better organized (resolution…), I’d have remembered to take pictures for a nice "Desiknitter’s knits go to Shimla" post. Instead, you have to imagine a freezing family swathed in handknits of variable quality, grateful for the warmth, if not the style. I saw an old vest my brother in law wore and averted my eyes when he reminded me I had made it for him. Talk about gauge improving with time!