Eastburn Adventures

So, like I've mentioned before, I have a knitting plan for 2008 to work in conjunction with my Ravelry queue so that I'm focused, challenged, and efficient. The plan gives me focus so that I don't look at my queue and get overwhelmed - I know what I want or need to knit in a certain month. I want the plan to challenge me, both in improving my knitting skills as well as learning new techniques or trying projects that I've not done before. Although the plan started January 1st, I still have 2 projects that I've not started that I wanted to finish in January, including a Christmas gift for 2007. Oops. The other project is a pair of mittens, which I plan to start today and hopefully finish in a couple of days. The only things left on my February list are another pair of mittens, and a pair of Monkey socks for me (although I've got to change the name because I hate monkeys and it's freakin' me out). Maybe by March I'll be caught up.

One of the projects on my January list was the Baby Matinee Coat and Saartje's Booties for my SIL who is due in March. That gift was finished and delivered, at which time my SIL said, "oh, that's so cute - could you make me another sweater in white and another pair of booties to match?" Uh, yeah. Sure. Why not? How could I say that it's not part of my plan? Nope. I couldn't bring myself to turn her down - especially in front of Robert's entire family. So while I've been home sick this past week, I finished my Child's First Socks and as an incentive to move on to something else I want to knit for me, I made myself start the new baby project first. So Thursday night while watching "Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End" (don't waste your time on this one), I made the booties. Friday I cast on for the Baby Bolero/Shrug from Debbie Bliss, and I finished it up this morning and gave to my MIL for delivery. I think it turned out pretty cute, and since it was so fast to make, it will stay on my list of baby gift options.

I used Knit Picks Swish DK, and have to say this is a fabulous, inexpensive, soft, and washable yarn perfect for baby gifts. And since I had to place a KP order, I also threw in some more Essential in Pumpkin and Shine Worsted in Terra Cotta. Yeah, I'm on an orange kick.

And now, back to the plan. I've got some mittens to make!