With the advent of Ravelry, I have woefully neglected this space. Recently I converted this blog from Serendipity over to Drupal (well I can't say I did it-I chose to move to Drupal and my husband/sysadmin did all the grunt work, thanks honey!)

In October of 2008, our family was hit directly by the effects of the current economic recession, when my husband was laid off. Due to this, beyond 1 cone of Jaggerspun Zephyr that I bought myself for Christmas, I have not bought any yarn this year. Knitting from stash, thought, I have completed a few things this year, some that I'm pretty proud of. I also have a ton of WIPs that I have been sort of slogging through.

Currently on the needles:

Rona Lace Shawl by Anna Marie Jensen, in Jaggerspun Zephyr burgundy on a size 5 Addi Lace needle. This is a round shawl and I am on row 108 of 153. There are currently 624 stitches to a round, which takes me approximately 45 minutes to knit. It also looks like utter shite, as most unblocked lace does. Hence, I haven't photographed it.

Josephine Top, by Deborah Newton, using a kind of linen yarn from elann.com that I can't remember the name of on a size 3 bamboo needle. The back of it is finished and the front is about 1/3 complete. The sleeves are little so it should take that long, relatively, to finish them. The linen hurts my hands though so I can't get much done at one sitting. I haven't gotten a progress pic of it, but it is a pretty rose color.

Bacchus Socks from IK

These are fun, but they just haven't struck my fancy lately. I've finished the first one, but haven't been able to get it together to finish the first one. I can't understand why-I am using Dream in Color Smooshy so I should be chomping at the bit to work on them. Maybe socks are better winter fare.

Other 2008 FOs:
Central Park Sans Hoodie, for my Mom, who is cold in Portland, Oregon. I used the Cadillac of wool yarns, Cascade 220, for this one. I modified the neck and made a wide, ribbed collar instead. I did end up (finally) finding the perfect buttons for this. Mom loves it, but still hasn't sent me a picture of her wearing it. I loved it so much that I was sad to send it away and have a hankering to make one for me. Then I remember that I live in North Carolina and don't have much occasion to wear a heavy sweater like this.

Sidelines Top, from IK, by Lou Schiela, originally destined to be worn by me. Turned out way, way way too short even though I added (or THOUGHT I added) 3" length to the body. I love the curvy seams. I do still consider this unfinished because I was never able to figure out the crochet edging. It's sitting in my hall closet and making me crazy, but I can't wear it unfinished (or with my belly hanging out!)

Proudest achievement of late 2008-early 2009:

Wing O' the Moth Shawl by Anne Hanson of Knitspot, executed in Jaggerspun Zephyr (this is my Christmas cone!) on a size 4 Addi Lace Needle. I'm really pleased with how it came out, but can't bring myself to ever wear it because it is white. And yet I chose white so that I could see the contrast in the stitching. Never satisfied.