What a taxing week!

Whew, am I glad that this past week is over. What a busy week at work. I am not looking forward to this week either. At least by the end of this week we should be slowing down. I was exhausted on Friday.

What really made me happy was that I was able to get more Madelinetosh tosh sock from the Loopy Ewe. There went my plan about buying more yarn, but I couldn't resist it. I really love that yarn and I am a sockoholic too. From left to right: Tart, Peony, Bungalow, and Plum tree. Next sock I make will be from this yarn.

I also got two skeins of Online Supersocke 100 Savanne in colors 1033 and 1032. I saw 1032 (bottom color) being knit up by one of my knitting friends and loved it. I found it at Little Knits for half price and couldn't resist that bargain.

I did finish one sock using Mackintosh Iona fingering weight yarn in Misty Highlands. I love this yarn. It is nice and soft and I like how it striped. I plan to cast on for the second sock today.

When I'm done with the second sock, I plan on casting on for another cowl and then after that a sock using the Madelinetosh sock. Maybe I'll do a patterned sock in the tart for Valentines day. It will be late, but I will be ready for next year.

Work is Getting in the Way of Knitting

I am knitting, but not much because of working and it's only going to get worse the next three weeks. I can't wait until we reach the end of February and then work should settle down. Plus, I will only have two more months to go. Work just gets in the way of knitting.

Cowls are the big thing right now. They are small enough projects that use up yarn and don't take much time to knit. I finished the Noble Cowl using Madelinetosh worsted weight yarn in Cobalt with a size 6 needle. I really liked this pattern and the Madelinetosh yarn is really very nice.

I enjoyed this pattern so much that I searched for another cowl pattern to knit after I finish another project. I found the pattern Spiral Cowl by Knitty Gritty Thoughts. I want to use Madelinetosh worsted again. This pattern called for DK weight yarn. So, I did some calculations to determine how many stitches I would have to cast on since the Madelinetosh is worsted yarn. Guess what, Madelinetosh worsted is now a DK weight yarn. It really never was a worsted yarn so she changed the name to Madelinetosh DK. Guess, I don't have to make any adjustments when I finally do cast on.

I also finished the Janaury Mid Month dishcloth KAL. I used Peaches and Creme in light grape with size 7 needles. It's a nice pattern. It's called Frame my heart with lace cloth II.

After finishing the Noble cowl, I decided to cast on a sock using the basic sock pattern with Mackintosh Iona yarn (it's a blend of 80% merino, 10% nylon, 10% cashmere) in the Misty Highlands colorway. I am using a size 1 needle. It feels as if it's been so long since I had a sock on the needles.

I am still sticking to starting only one new project at a time. I haven't worked on any older projects, but I do want to finish the scarf I was working on prior to the New Year. I am close to finishing that and then I can start on another UFO.

I did get to my knitting class on Friday. This was the first Friday that I have been there since the New Year. It was really nice to see all my knititng friends. The Knitter's Edge got in the new Namaste Monroe bag. I really liked it (it's like a purse), so I bought one in the eggplant color. It fits all of my requirements for a handbag (an outside pocket, separate compartments, and lots of pockets).

Back to knitting my sock. Once I finish that I can start on the next cowl.

Reading is a great escape

It was so hectic in December that I forgot to list some of the books I read at the end of 2009.

I finished the following books in 2009:

Home to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani

I love this series and any book by Adriana

Official Book Club Selection by Kathy Griffin

A great read. It makes me like her more

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

Another Sookie Stackhouse book and it was very entertaining

Firefly Cloak by Sheri Reynolds

This was a haunting and sad book

Dirty Little Angels by Chris Tusa

Good Read

Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg

I loved this and it made me order more books by this author.

In 2010, I have only read one book so far:

Miss Julia Meets Her Match by Ann B. Ross

Great read - Another series of books that I enjoy.

I love to read. It's a great escape.

Carpal Tunnel

Yes, I have carpal tunnel syndrome in my left hand. I have been trying to baby it and it has been getting better. My Doctor told me to take motrin and I am using a wrist and hand support by Everlast that I received today. It really supports and wrist and hand. Keeping my fingers crossed. I also had it in my right hand, but that is much better and doesn't hurt anymore.

I was able to complete two dishcloths. One was from my Monthly Dishcloth KAL group. It's called Happy 2010 by Alli. I used Robin's egg blue from Sugar and Cream with a size 6 needle.

The other was a KAL by the Love2Knit Dishcloth Group in Yahoo. It's called Snowbaby Washcloth by Elaine Fitzpatrick. I used Peaches and Creme in white with a size 6 needle.

I'm still sticking to not buying any yarn for awhile in 2010, but I did get some prior to the new year. I got a kit from Simply Socks that included Tilli Tomas Milan yarn in the Joyeux Noel colorway. I also got a sock bag and some stitch markers. I had ordered this in November and it came right before Christmas.

My darling husband got me a Gift Certificate for Christmas to my favorite yarn shop (The Knitter's Edge), so I bought Bijou Basin Ranch Tibetan Dream in the natural colorway. I may make socks with this yarn or a shawlette. It's 85% yak and 15% nylon. I also bought two skeins of Araucania Toronao in color 403 (a pink/blue combination) and color 407 (a green/orange combination) to make some cowls.

From Intentions Yarn club I got a variety of small skeins of different colors to make a pair of socks. I love the colors.

I can't believe that it's mid January already. I'm glad it's going quickly. Spring can't get here fast enough for me. I'm looking forward to being back out on the porch reading and knitting. Maggie will like it too.

Resolutions

Once again I need to revisit what my goals were for 2009 and decide what new resolutions to make for 2010.

Goals for 2009

1. Organize closets and cabinets - have another yard sale to purge items - I did clean out one closet, but didn't have a yard sale.

2. Update blog at least once a week - I may have not posted every week, but I did have 57 blog posts in 2009.

3. Definately do some stashbusting and buy less (much less) new - Didn't happen

4. Knit 12 pairs of socks - I knit 14 pairs of socks

5. Knit a Christmas stocking - Didn't do this either, but haven't found the pattern that makes me want to knit one.

6. Finish some UFO's - Did start to do this at the end of the year.

7. Knit a Clapotis - Didn't happen

8. Knit a Central Park Hoodie - Started this and have the front, back and part of a sleeve completed. It's a UFO.

9. Finish updating Shelfari with the books I have read and the books on my bookshelf that have not been read. - I did complete this and feel so organized now.

10. Lose weight and exercise - I did lose a couple pounds, but did not exercise.

11. Read 65 books - I read 72 books

12. Do some charity knitting - Didn't happen

Goals for 2010

1. Organize closets and cabinets - Definately start to purge items by having a yard sale. Purge is the word and living with less stuff.

2. Update my blog once a week.

3. I will not buy any new yarn from January through April and buy sparingly the rest of the year. I need to knit from my stash. I will be in at least 3 yarn clubs, so that should help keep me happy.

4. Knit 12 pairs of socks.

5. Finish some UFO's - At least 9 items

6. Knit a clapotis

7. Lose weight and exercise

8. Read 65 books

9. Clean off old computers and recycle them as well as some old printers.

This list is a little smaller than last year. Maybe I will be more successful.

What I knit in 2009

28 Dishcloths

2 Scarves

14 pairs of Socks

1 Cowl

1 Prayer Shawl

This really doesn't look like much compared to last year.

UFO's

Multnomah Shawl

Girasole

Leaf Lace Scarf

Central Park Hoodie

Silky tie Wrap

Orange Sweater

Shrug

Candle Flame Shawl

Habu Scarf

Ripple Afghan

Black Fetching Gloves

Knit One Below Scarf

Thrumbed Mitten

Mystery Stole 3

Chevron Scarf

Square a Long Afghan

Snowflake Cloth

Tax Season has started and that may slow me down, but I want to make more time for reading and knitting, so I relax. Only 104 more days until April 17th, but who is counting?