Happy New Year!

Thanks again for all the kind words and thoughts about our Julie. She's still doing well.

Well, it's that time again. Time to inventory all the projects I've completed in 2006 and make a few goals for 2007. I've completed a grand total of 22 projects this past year (keeping in mind that several were actually started in 2005 and that I'll have several to carry over into 2007). Broken down into categories:

Shawls/Stoles/Scarves (nine):
Hexagon Spider's Web Shawl
Wool Peddlar's Shawl
Icarus Shawl
Madli's Shawl
Swallowtail Shawl
Faux Russian Stole
Trellis Scarf
Landscape Shawl
Clapotis

Sweaters/Vests (three):
Snowman Vest #1
Bella
Lizzie

Socks (ten pair):
Shade Garden Socks
Purple Trekking Socks
Blue Austermann Step Socks
Waterfall Rib Socks
Red Austermann Step Socks
Mom's Opal Petticoat Socks
Blue/Mauve Socks
Pink and Purple Socks
Chevron Socks
Mosaic Socks

Now for my knitting/spinning goals for 2007:
1. I vow to finish all current UFOs on the sidebar. (Stop laughing. I can do it. Really.)
2. I vow to finish all current spinning projects (which remembering that I usually spin laceweight will take a while. Do you know how long it takes to spindle just two ounces of silk?!) And I want to use some of my spindle and wheel spun goodness in shawls.
3. I vow to acquire more spindles. I love them – they are portable and beautiful to look at and so meditative.
4. While some are vowing not to acquire more yarn in 2007, (You know who you are and I truly admire you for it:), I plan to acquire much more yarn. I've decided that there may come a time when I am not so easily able to afford yarn and a large stash may come in handy. So, while I'm able, if I see a yarn I just have to have, I'll probably get a bit of it.
5. I vow to try out more colors, especially in sock yarn. I'm in a bit of a rut with purple and pink (just check out how many of my 2006 projects were either pink and/or purple). Although, I don't think I'll ever rid myself of the love of those colors (and just pure black), I think I'm going to pick a few colors I normally wouldn't. Maybe add some more blues and reds to my palette. With each sock yarn purchase, I think I'll try at least one colorway that wouldn't be my first or even second pick.
6. I vow to organize my stash and to keep it neat. (Really, DH, stop laughing. I'll do my best.)

The Blob Returns

Or the magic of blocking.
The blob:

The blob approaches soapy water:

The blob submerges:

The blob oozes out to dry:

(By the way, you probably don't want to know how I got that shot of the shawl on the bed. Let's just say it probably wasn't such a good idea for a klutz such as myself.)

The specs:
Pattern: Hexagon Spider's Web Shawl from the new Victorian Lace Today
Needles: Starts on size 7s and progresses up to size 10s
Yarn: Alpaca Silk from Webs in Eggplant, just over 1 cone (see a more accurate color, click here)
Stitches: Counting the crochet border, over 100,000!
Size: 72 inches across (That is a yard stick in the center there.)
Start date: Thursday, November 9
End date: Saturday, November 25 (That's a mere 17 days.) And yes, I neglected a lot else to accomplish this and I don't think I'll be doing any marathon knitting again any time soon. In fact, I think I'm not going to be knitting at all for a few days. I still have a dress to finish before next Saturday (the front is done; this afternoon is for the back). My hands are really tired and I realize I am insane. It is beautiful though and I am so glad I'll be able to wear it to the party.

I found no errors in the pattern though there was one time I was cursing it heavily because I thought there was. Turns out it was my error; I had an extra yarn over per section for a row and it threw my count off. Easily fixed. The crochet bind-off border (chain 8, knit into shawl stitch, chain 4, knit into shawl stitch, repeat) easily was the most annoying part because I thought I was so close to being done. I stayed up last night until nearly midnight trying to finish and only succeeded in binding off two sections. I finally finished this morning.

And I hope to get back to my regularly scheduled blogging. I hope to catch up on my commenting in the next week or so.