It's the End of December!? WHAT!?

Yeah- December crept up and got the better of me and time wasn't there for a blog post.  I kept telling myself I'd catch up once the Christmas hub bub was over- plus I could regale you of tales of Boxing day yarn deals and I'd make up for it with a big post Christmas blog.

Then we all got sick.  Again.  And then Boxing day wasn't what it normally was.  And quite frankly... I found myself having not really knit anything, and not much to tell you.  But guilt it is a funny thing and I've decided to get at least one more blog out there before the new year.

First- let's talk Christmas haul.  There were books for inspiration, gift certificates from enablers (including the husband... so he can't complain about yarn acquisition!) and a circular needle holder case and glorious T pins.

The Quick Baby Knits book is probably going to see some action in the new year (one "for sure baby and 2 friends who have dubbed 2013 "the year of baby makin'"), and I have a goal to learn how to double knit something, hoping that the master color knitting book will hold my hand through that process.  As usual... great haul and thoughtful gifts from family members.

As I mentioned Boxing Day wasn't it's usual yarn diet binge of gluttony.  The are 2 reasons for this: 1) I was missing my Boxing Day Yarn Saling Enabler/Companion... better known as my Mother in Law. Unfortunately she had to attend a funeral- which one can hardly fault her for.  This meant I didn't have anyone to get caught up in a frenzy with.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing.  Frenzy yarn purchases lead to "why the hell did I buy that" stash items.  2) Even if MiL was there to go crazy with me, I'm not sure I would have.  I have systematically been working through my stash pretty well, and quite frankly, it feels good to get things going out the door.  I've become a smarter yarn consumer- less caught up by great deals (although I still feel weak when alpaca/cashmere/soft yarn are on sale... I'm only human!) and more thoughtful about what I buy.  I've finally gotten to a place where just because yarn is on a great sale, doesn't mean that I have to buy it.  I'm more a "buy what I need" kind of girl and it suits my stash and me just fine.

And yes, I have done a bit of knitting... just a little but enough to call progress.

Dad's sock- second one cast on.  I will fully admit I have second sock syndrome pretty bad with this one.  I just don't feel inspired to knit it.  I'll probably have to instill a "knit a so many rows" rule and reward myself with something else in order to complete it- and given that it's Dec 30... I'm going to say that the liklihood I finish these before Jan 1 is not exactly a reality.  But taking one unfinished item into the New Year isn't so bad, so I won't be too hard on myself.

Speaking of the new year, I do have a few knitting resolutions or goals to achieve.

1) 3 baby blankets.  I know.  You're sick of them.  I'M SICK OF THEM.  But these are 3 special friends who will have baby #1 and quite frankly... I want them to have something made by me.  You're going to have to see me through this.  I've got a couple of interesting projects planned... hopefully that will see me through the monotony of blankets.

2) Double Knitting.  I mentioned this above but I would really like to learn how to double knit.  I love the idea of a reversible fabric and feel ready to tackle this particular project.

3) 12 (+) Pink hats.  12 is the minimum that must be done. I bust out the purple acrylic stash in 2012... 2013 I need to bust down the pink stuff.  The rules are slightly different, the pattern can be the same but no hat can be identical, I have 3 balls of pink acrylic, I know I can achieve this.

4) Leftover Stash.  I need to figure out something for the leftovers stash.  Stash that has already had a destiny but I also have enough to have a second destiny.  I hate throwing this stuff out but OH MY GOD I have a lot of it and I need to do something with it.  Ideas and suggestions will be gladly taken into consideration.  (I'll address this situation in particular in another post on another day.)

I'll finish this post off with a slight peace offering... something to apologize for the lack of blog posts this month.  Here's a cute pic of my kid... late Christmas greetings and just ever so slight early New Years greetings!