January Projects

This tree skirt was the cover photo for Crochet Today magazine, the November/December 2009 issue. I hemmed and hawed about making it, and then when we put up the tree and I couldn't find my tree skirt I decided to make it. By then, it was December 18th or so, and none of the stores around me had any of the yarn in stock. (I guess you have to buy Christmas yarn in October or something?) So, I ordered it and it came right around Christmas. Next, we took the tree down and I got started on it.

The yarn is Red Heart Holiday, which is an inexpensive acrylic. It's not the softest yarn, but it won't be worn next to anyone's skin. Here's a Ravelry link if you're interested in more info. As you can see, the makings for a bag are still lying on my sewing table, no more progress on that so far.

We had some unbelievably cold weather here in early January. I made another pair of Knitty's Fetching Mitts because I lost one of my old set.


These match a hat and scarf I made last year at the end of the season. The yarn is Knit Picks elegance, which is really soft and nice.

I have some light blue Lion Brand Cottonease, enough for a sweater. I've been looking for patterns on Ravelry and I think I'll be making a top down raglan cardigan. Still studying on that, but I'd love to have a new sweater for spring.

I haven't been very inspired to make much lately. We have a lot of questions and uncertainty on the employment front, which makes it hard to decide what to do. I'm going to be redoing a bathroom soon, basically just repainting it and making some new curtains. I'm actually thinking of purple.

2009 Wrap Up

I've been trying to sew a bag, but I can't seem to get in the groove. I have a lot of helpers who like to lie down on my batting. I've decided to quilt this bag since it's made from quilting fabric, so I'm not following the instructions in the pattern. I guess I'm not in the mood to think on my own right now. I always have a problem with fusibles coming unfused and bubbling.

I knit another Noro Silk Garden scarf. I gave this to a friend for Christmas.

The fall garden is paying some small dividends. I have a few radishes, white and red. Some critter chewed them to the ground back in October, so I'm happy to get a few little things. I don't think I'll have enough lettuce for a sandwich, now that it's so cold here.

I knit this Lace Beret from the Fall Vogue Knitting magazine. I don't think I've ever used one of their patterns before. I wore it to the bus stop this morning and it's a little small, I like to have my ears covered when it's cold. Took me forever to knit it because I was too distracted in December to follow a lace chart.

I met my goal of reading 50 books in 2009 and actually read 51. I am proud that at least two of them were over 1000 pages (these should count for more). I'm setting the same goal for next year, that's the perfect amount of reading for me.

I haven't set any resolutions for this year, except just to get moving a little more. I've been very sedentary this last year, not getting out and walking or letterboxing or geocaching as much. Uh, of course it's too cold for that right now! Ha. . .