Happy, Happy!

I've had to let the idea of a new year gel a little before I could write about it - I'm not sure if it's a sign of age, but MAN, is time going by quickly! Makes my head reel...

I do have an FO to report, first of the year, all done but for the blocking (which, I think I've said before, doesn't count to me because once it's laid out I have nothing to do with it - once the knitting is done, it's done):

Project: Wonderful Wallaby, Cottage Creations

Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Yarns Bulky Merino, Blues

Needles: 4mm and 5mm

Started: October 2007

Finished: January 5, 2008

Made for my 9 year old niece, Jackie, upon whom, with her white blond hair and clear light blue eyes, it should look stunning... as long as it fits - it should, but it wouldn't be a gift from me unless there was huge anxiety around the fit...

I FINALLY zeroed in on something to make pour moi - last night I cast on the Neckdown Wrap Cardigan from Knitting Pure and Simple with Dream in Color Classy, the Chinatown Apple colourway, purchased from Connie at Pick Up Sticks:

This is actually a better representation of the colour:, and wait! What's that? Could it be... well, I think it is probably the most adorable stitch marker ever! I cannot for the life of me remember where I got them from, but I know that Sabine Mills makes them, and they come in a set of 5, with 4 white and one black sheep. They make me laugh every time I pick up my knitting...

So, a new project on the needles. Another thought came to me while I marinated / ruminated / luxuriated in the holidays... I made a sweater a couple of years ago, from an older edition of Interweave Knits - it's a Kathy Zimmerman design called Hello, Old Friend. I had the yarn, a rich brown Chelsea Silk tweed by Tahki, for a long time before I took the plunge, and I loved knitting it. Cables are by far my favourite thing to make, the more complicated the better. I followed the directions exactly for my size, understanding that the sweater should be oversized. Somewhat.

When I tried it on, I found myself swimming in a sea of brown cables, unable to find my hands under the sleeves, and looking like I was hiding at least one more of me underneath. I was heartbroken, and put the sweater away. I include the photo, which is not at all close to the real, deep brown, just to show you the cables... Lord, how I love those cables...

So it has come to mind that perhaps I will dissemble my sweater - take a better picture first - and use the yarn for another cabled beauty that has caught my attention, the ubiquitous Central Park Hoodie from KnitScene's Fall 2006 issue. I hate to be making what everyone else seems to be, but I think it would be a fitting testament to this poor brown sweater... the frogging will be difficult, will likely call for copious amounts of alcoholic soothing, but I think I can do it...

Goodbye, Old Friend...

I know I promised stash updates, but this is a tough act to follow, so I'll go with those next time...