I started (and finished!) a cute little Octopus Lovey.  This design is currently submitted to the good people at 101 one-skein wonders for an upcoming publication, but if they don’t take it — I’ll self-publish.  Super fast, super fun, super cute ;).

 

I finished the blocking on my Flywheel prototype (it is AMAZING btw and I am so excited for this M-KAL! you should be too!), so I cast on for the 2nd shawl in this series.  Clockwork Collection Shawl #2 is “Cogwheel” — it uses 2-color garter stitch interspersed with lace motifs, and is inspired by  gears (well, at least a little bit).

Cogwheel Swatch:

I actually knit a big section of the prototype, then ripped, then started again, then ripped — the proportions weren’t quite right at first (or second).  Here’s hoping the third time will be the charm :).

I also started a Morvarch shawl for myself.  I had the pleasure of shopping for yarn for this pattern, since I don’t actually have that much laceweight around the house, and what I do have is committed to projects.  I ended up buying hand-painted Vail (so soft, so pretty).  It’s actually light fingering-weight, but I’m persuading it to behave like a sturdy laceweight for this project.

(Yes, I am on a bit of a color kick! How nice of you to notice :).)

My cast-on finger was itchy last week, so I started a new shawl for me! 🙂 The first few rows kicked my butt (probably because I tried to do them at home, while riding in the car, at Chili’s, and at knit-night); however I have tamed them and everything is going well now.

I’m using two skeins of Verdant Griffon Traveller in “Rhinebeck” and “Vitebsk” to make a Portsmouth, NH scarf (by Emily Peters).

So I have this pretty-pretty yarn from Blue Moon Fiber Arts — Socks That Rock Lightweight, from the Nov 2012 shipment of the Rockin’ Sock Club.

I’ve wanted to make something with it for AGES — I’ve assigned it to patterns, then changed my mind, etc.

Then, last week, I saw a call for submission from BMFA — for their upcoming sock club, no less!  I loved the yarn and patterns I received as a sock club member, and it would be SO COOL to have one of my patterns go out to club members, so of course I started brainstorming right away.

I can’t reveal details, naturally, but I think I can tell you I’m submitting something for the “not a sock” pattern, and that it has nifty construction and a sweet stitch pattern.  If BMFA doesn’t take the pattern, rest assured I will definitely be self-publishing this one.

Oh dear, oh dear … how has January slipped away from me?

Actually, I know the answer to that question.  It has multiple parts. Part the first: I committed to finished two large/long projects for Classic Elite for their fall(ish) pattern books. I knit a big crescent shawl/wrap and a cardigan, both on size 4 needles, using about 1100 and about 1250 yards of fingering-weight yarn, respectively.  That’s a lot of stitches! 🙂  I finished both samples by the contracted deadline, but it was a near thing with the cardi. I’m really glad I finished on time, but there was a couple weeks there where I was really head-down on design — so no new projects at all the first two weeks of January.

Part the second: unrelated to knitting, I was competing in agility trials with Clewe and Gromit four weekends in a row. It was awesome and fun, but also exhausting.  Often I come home Sunday evening after a trial, and just fall down. My usual Sunday post-writing doesn’t happen.  When I have my act together, I write posts for the upcoming week BEFORE leaving for the trial, say on Friday for instance, but again — the knitting. The busy. The holiday hangover….

ANYway, excuses aside, here I am — with any luck, back to my regular schedule of Cast-On Monday, Finished Object Friday, and Something Else on Wednesday.

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I started lots of new projects in January.  I made it even easier to cast on (as if I needed help) by tagging all my “haveyarn” patterns in my Ravelry Queue with the size needle I plan to use when I make the project. This means that when I finish something, thus freeing up my (say) #4 Signature needles, I can narrow down my choices to patterns that I both “have yarn” for and want to use a #4 for.

Speaking of freeing up my #4s, check out these delightfully purple mittens!  I’m nearly done with my Sssstarter Mittens in Aesir (“Bacchante”):

 

Moving on into gorgeous pinks, I cast on for a new design project. This one is for Dream in Color, and uses both Wisp and DIC Classy-with-Cashmere:

 

 

Next up: Miss Winkle in Iachos (“Frances and the Leaping Fairy”)

 

 

I started two new hats: Jean’s Irish Hat in Jill Draper Makes Stuff Hudson (“Stormy Aegean”) and Lutine Cap in BMFA LW (“Mustang Sally”)

 

 

Last but not least, a new design project — a variation on my Wibbly Wobbly Cowl that is designed to be worn as a head kerchief.  No name yet, but you had better bet “Timey Wimey” is in the running :).

I couldn’t resist casting on a bunch of projects using my very own handspun yarn!

With my big batch of 2-ply Sleep Hollow, I’m making a Molly scarf.  I’m super excited about how it’s coming along — what a great little pattern for a yarn with long color changes!  (No wonder, since it was designed for Liberty Wool … )

I have a tiny bit of merino-silk 2ply made from leftovers of the Sleepy Hollow yarn, so I’m making an awesome coffee cup cozy (seriously, the pattern is called “We’re Just That Awesome Cup Cozy“). So far I love how the pattern is working up.

Finally, I’m using my gradient skein of Mad Color to make a Lamina scarf. I’ve only done a few rows, but I’m thinking I might need to go down a needle size or two. I’ll finish a motif and see how it looks …