Happy New Year's Eve

No Vampires Here (my pattern based off of Laura Linneman's Socks on a Plane)
SweetGeorgia Yarns Tough Love Sock in Silver on size 2 Prym needles

Zigzagular Socks by Susie White
Cascade Yarns Heritage Handpaints in Londonberry on size 2 Prym Needles

Business Casual by Tanis Lavallee
Shibui Knits Sock in Fulids Anime (for body) and Tweed for the heels/toes

Beekeeper's Quilt by Tiny Owl Knits
random bits and bobs on size 3 DPNs from Michael's

Block and Tackle Blanket by Sarah Burton
Red Heart Soft Solids and Heathers in Berry and Turquoise on size 9 needles from Michael's

Hope you all enjoyed! Happy New Year!! And of course, linking with Ginny and friends!

No Knitting Was Done...

But I still finished something yesterday that I've been meaning to finish for a quite awhile now…
I finally finished reading A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (aka the second book in A Song of Fire and Ice Series aka Game of Thrones).
I've only been working on it since…July, nbd. I have read other books in the meantime I would like to add as well. I'm just looking forward to giving it back to its owner…and maybe starting on the third book…

Since I don't have any FO photos for you today, I thought I would share the best kid photo from Christmas…pup included, of course.

Sister-in-law (Hermoine's Hat), brother (BigFoot Socks), Me, Hailey (aka the pup), Sister (Boot Toppers).
Hope your Tuesday is lovely! See you tomorrow for a very special post!

Ba-Boom!

Another WIP has been blasted!
This picture is less than perfect but I would like to present the Oh So Sparkly Shawlette which is basically only ever going to be worn as a cowl and which I refuse to block cuz I loves it just the way it is!

And in case you are wondering, yes, there is a most terrible selfie on Rav that I thought about posting over here but decided against. If you want to see it, you gotta click the link and check out the Rav page.

Another One Bites the Dust

Which means only 6 WIPs to go! And I'm actually getting ready to do the bindoff on the Oh So Sparkly shawlette which will pop me down to five! Which just makes me beyond excited because I so ready to start some new socks for me!
Without further ado…

The SF Mitts

So named because they were going to have an orange SF embroidered into them for a Giants fan. However, embroidery is not a skill set I currently possess and honestly, we all kinda liked them the way they were. And yes, that is my already chipping Christmas manicure I got done on Monday. What can i say? I'm rough on my hands/nails.

Back to marathoning/binging on Knit Girllls episodes…I was at about episode 47ish or so as of before Christmas…I am now working my way through episode 66 (and I've only skipped four total because they weren't working).
Hope your knitting is going well. I've read of a couple other people trying to clear up needles before the New Year. Anyone else feeling some pressure to finish things up?

What's Up Ahead

I have an FO post for today. Why? Because I plan on doing a big, state of affairs WIP post on Wednesday and then posting new finishes with the new year…so basically anything I finish in 2014 is getting posted ASAP so that I can have fresh finishes for the new year. Also hoping to weed down my UFO pile (which is currently sitting at 7 projects) between now and 1/1/15 (which is less than 5 days away!).
So…what did I finish for today?

Window Pane Coasters

They are done, done, done and even got a bit of an overnight block! I'm excited to have finished them and hopefully give them to the recipient soon! So close to finishing up two skeins of yarn with them but  not quite :/
I actually really like having them in the two different color ways. Obviously the pattern shows up better in the semi-solid, but I really like how it breaks up the variegated. It was fun to experiment.
That's all for me today…back to busting through podcasts and knitting and even writing some thank you notes, I think.
Happy Saturday!

In Case You Were Wondering...

…you can knit you can knit 431 rows and still not completely finish any 1 item (although the BigFoot Socks are included in the 431 so I guess something did get finished…). Also, yes, that is how many rows I knit between last week's Wednesday WIP post and this week's Friday WIP post. So what exactly did happen within all the rows?

No Vampires Here

Well, I made my way through the heel and up the leg since you last saw this. This is still sock number 1 but it is getting it's cuff so almost there!

Ziggy-Zag Socks 

Mom's Christmas socks…these weren't yet a thing the last WIP post I did and now they are past the heel!

Window Pane Coasters

These weren't a thing either and I've cast-on for the fifth (and final 1)! These could very well be finished today if I so choose…

SF Mitts

These weren't a thing either! I'm two rows away from starting the thumb increases on this first mitt.

I'm planning on keeping track again of the numbers of rows I knit between this WIP post and next week's which will hopefully actually come on Wednesday and be a wrap up for the whole year. I would love to finish a few of these as well as make some progress on some of my oldies before the new year starts!

A very Merry Boxing Day to you and yours! I thought of you all yesterday and wished for much yarn goodness for each and every one of you!

And special for Kathy B, two of the cards I handmade (the rest went home with the recipients before I remembered to grab photos!)

Hello, Wire

You seem to be getting awfully close…

Yesterday, I knit 105 rows. I still am not done with all my presents…

But I did finish making my Christmas cards for my immediate family!

Back to knitting-hopefully some progress pics tomorrow :)

I'm So In Love

The best friend and I got our matching tattoos yesterday. It was her first one and my third one. I love it so very, very much and have spent a good deal of time today just staring at it because it makes me so happy.

72 hours till Christmas, ya'll

Calendars are Overrated

As shown by my inability to post an FO post on Friday even though the object was done before than! The struggle is real, y'all…

But look! I finished the BigFoot socks which means…
1. One pair of socks (sock 1 is on gusset decreases)
2. One pair of socks (sock 1 has a finished cuff and the beginning of a leg)
3. One pair of fingerless mitts
4. Set of five coasters (2/3 of the way done with coaster #2)

is all that stands between me and being done with Christmas 2014 knitting!!!

On Tough Stuff...

Knitters are generally happy people. Yes, we may be snarky and sassy and have mood swings out the wazoo but trust me, we're much happier people with our needles than we are without them. There's just something about knitting (and I imagine crocheting, though I don't know because I always screw that up) that can soothe the soul. Yummy yarn, a tasty pattern and great needles all come together to create something out of a dream.

Except for the days or weeks or goodness, yes, even months where everything sucks. You become the opposite of King Midas and everything you touch (heck, sometimes even look at) turns to trash. It pretty much sucks. As a knitter, losing your knitting mojo-that thing that settles you-really, really, really sucks. 

I'm lucky to be in a good place right now. I have beautiful yarn, I have beautiful projects and I'm constantly feeling inspired without feeling overwhelmed. Yes, I have a lot of WIPs, but that's okay. 

So why write about this now? 

Because I'm afraid it will come back and I'll fall down again. 

And as scary as it is, it's okay because I know something fabulous will guide me back. 

This is kind of a love letter to all of you for constantly sharing your astonishing projects with the world (and letting the rest of us in to your daily life, too). You all motivate me to try new things and actually finish things, too!

And for anyone who feels like their mojo is leaving them, it's okay. Take some time to yourself and know that we will always be here when you're ready to come back. 

You all bring special love and light into this world. I'm so glad I've gotten the chance to know you all :)

So much has changed

Bigfoot Socks have 11 rows till they are done, Vampire socks are getting ready to start gusset increases and yep, I'm totally ignoring that I have two not even started pairs of socks and five coasters to do by 12/25. This first year of Christmas knitting has definitely been adventurous…

Oh yeah-all the finished stuff is drying on a rack after being soaked and rinsed on Sunday….

Linking up with the dear, darling Ginny and all her lovely friends!

The Goose is Getting Fat

Why? Because Christmas is coming!
3 FOs this week (though 2 are technically from last week…)

My Fingerless Mitts

Nothing too crazy here, but I really like them. I almost always forget how much I do love fingerless mitts. Definitely thinking some more pairs are in my future after holiday knitting is done.

Hermione's Hat

I am head over heels in love with this hat and just hope the recipient loves it as much as I do! I cannot wait to make mine (after Christmas, of course!)

Moss Stitch Coasters

These were the ones I added to my list yesterday. Whipped them out in not too much time…and now Mom wants four more for another present :) The list never ends…

Hope your Christmas knitting is going well! We are finally seeing sun after the crazy storm of the past 36 hours. Happy Friday!

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Things to be Knit for Christmas 2014 List (Pt.2)
5. Two coasters to stick under coffee mugs (to be finished by 12/24)

And this is why we make our lists and put them in multiple places XP

Come Clean

By the one and only Hilary Duff is my favorite song to listen to when its mega raining…and right now, it is mega raining. So my pictures kinda suck…also, I kinda suck at blogging lately. I'm sorry! Hoping after Christmas knitting stress is over I'll be better. Love all of you for sticking with me!

Because the weather and the lighting sucks and I'm getting a little nervous about how much I still have left to do, I took a combined pic. Its not the pretty-but luckily you've already seen both of this week's projects before :)

A little bit of progress on the Vampire Free Sock-and yes, that is the very beginning of a BigFoot Sock which means I am busy on number two! So the big question is-what do I have to do and by when?

Things That Still Need to be Finished for Christmas Knitting List
1. Sock Number 2 of the BigFoot Socks
2. Sock Number 1 and 2 of the Vampire Free Socks
3. Sock Number 1 and 2 of Mom's Socks (still tbd…maybe try and finish Business Casual for her?)
4. Sock Number 1 and 2 of Meg's Socks (I have the yarn ready to go but haven't picked a pattern yet…).

Items 1 and 3 need to be finished by 12/25, item 2 by 12/24 and I think item 4 can probably be held off until 1/5. The crunch is real! What do you do to stay ahead and make it out in time? Linking up with Ginny and the gang.

Why you take so many pictures of me, lady? 

Number 1 Snugglepup

Such a Tease...

I really seriously meant to post yesterday for WIP Wednesday-I honest to goodness swear! However, yesterday got busy with TRX (time #3!) and walking the dog and going out for round one of a friend's birthday (because when you're a 20-something, there are usually multiple nights of celebration). Long story short- WIP Wednesday is happening on Thursday…again. Shocker of the century, I know :)

All Christmas presents in the WIP list this week-I do have an FO for tomorrow that is for me, me, me :)

Bigfoot Socks

Now at a more correct foot length! Making some good progress on the leg-thinking cuff time is rapidly approaching. Hoping that sock number 2 will go a little more quickly…not ripping back almost 40 rows should help a lot :)

Hermione's Hat

Just picked up a skein of Malabrigo in Emerald to make one for me after Christmas knitting is done. I really like how this is looking and hope the recipient likes it as well!

No Vampires Here

Something new! I'm using a cable pattern from the second Vogue Stitchionary called the Garlic Braid and the basic math for toe-up socks from Laura"s Socks on a Plane pattern. These are for my grandma and I am so totally enjoying them. The yarn is Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock in Silver and it is absolutely delicious :)

Although a day late, still linking up with Ginny and the rest of the crew! Happy Thursday!

Lest I Delude You...

…I am very far from being a perfect knitter. This picture was taken after S&B on 11/23. This sock was supposed to be just over 11 inches long. So what does it look like now? Tune in tomorrow for WIP Wednesday! And don't forget to post your own :)