I’m not very good at setting and keeping New Year’s resolutions. This year, however, I have definitely resolved to continue with my resolution to cut down my teaching load; to allow more time for knitting, spinning and visiting my daughter in (warm) Vancouver. To that end I’ve been approved for a one year leave of absence from my school board, beginning next September. I’m looking forward to projects flying off my knitting needles and my spinning wheel getting a good workout!

For now, while I’m on Christmas holidays, and have had a bit more time, this is what I’m working on:

I bought ocean blue roving while vacationing in Prince Edward Island this summer and spun it into a sportweight 2 ply yarn for this scarf. It’s 50% bamboo, 50% merino and luxuriously soft and drapey. The pattern is reminiscent of ocean waves and will be available for free download soon, on this site.

I also purchased this 40% bamboo,10% soysilk, 50% merino roving from Belfast Mini Mills. I’ve just finished spinning it into a very fine 1 ply which will soon become this Smoke Ring (pattern purchased from patternfish.com )

There are also 2 sweaters hibernating on my needles at the moment. One is an experiment of sorts based on  Elaine Eskesen’s idea in her book Dyeing to Knit, http://www.amazon.com/Dyeing-Knit-Elaine-Eskesen/dp/0892726679  using up odds and ends of yarn for a colourful striped sweater. I love the challenge of deciding which colour to throw in next.

This cabled sweater has only progressed to about 4 inches of knitting in this busy month of December—I have to concentrate fully on this pattern and can’t be visiting with anyone while working on it. I’m knitting this in Cascade 220 merino in an incredibly rich eggplant/deep brown colour. It looks like there are some cold days ahead in my city so I’ll be housebound; perfect for cuddling up with my dogs and a challenging knitting pattern or two.

Keep on Knitting!

Posted in knitting, spinning