Many Happy Returns

I made this yesterday as a prototype. The next one will be neater, with different seams and a deeper flap-over. Still, I think it’s so cute –

My new scheme to begin making money from knitting is a series of items in rainbow yarn. In addition to their general appeal, I’m going to use them as HIV/AIDS awareness-raising vehicles. I have a close friend who is gay and has kind of brought my attention to some of these issues. It occured to me that I could donate 25% of the proceeds to an appropriate charity. I like this idea.

Twelve Koigu Rainbows.
What to make?

The blue scarf for my dad is now over three feet long.
I am heartily sick of it.
But, I will persevere.

Every UFO must adhere to the program of:

I am looking for ANY excuse not to sit here working on work-work that I brought home, as opposed to house-work, play, knitting, or exercise. ANY excuse. Maybe that’s why I changed the blog banner to a close up of a Koigu rainbow bookmark?

1:30 p.m. One case done, two to go, and the game is about to start.

2:30 p.m. We’re up by three.
Another possible blog banner:

Sunday – Okay, blah blah, most of the chores are the Heels lost, etc.

Question Five of the Warm Ewe Up Swap asks us to consider what knitting we might find enjoyable even if done repeatedly.

None.

I hope to reduce my UFOs by means of the newly patented

method of UFO reduction.

But, if I have this much trouble finishing a single example of a given pattern, clearly I’m not the one who would make the same thing over and over . . . I don’t think.

Question Five of the Warm Ewe Up Swap asks us to consider what knitting we might find enjoyable even if done repeatedly.

None.

I hope to reduce my UFOs by means of the newly patented

method of UFO reduction.

But, if I have this much trouble finishing a single example of a given pattern, clearly I’m not the one who would make the same thing over and over . . . I don’t think.

Guess what I found in the mailbox yesterday? The second
Warm Ewe Up package from my Spoiler, “Quelle Surprise.”

It’s lovely!! Just look:

The softest ever merino/camel yarn, in 3 favorite colors.
How did she know I have a weakness for exotic fibers?

Spring green sock yarn!

. . . cute little post-its with cute little kitties . . .

Hemp yarn – and I was just reading about hemp and
thinking it would be fun to try!

Finally, mini-yarn balls for my I-cords!

Now, I know what you’re thinking, but No!
You can’t have Quelle Surprise, she’s MY spoiler!

Does anyone else remember Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre?
In one episode, Puss ‘n Boots, the cat says in a purring voice,
“It’s all part of my plan . . . my master plan . . . ”
My husband and I have been repeating that line ever since
the kids watched that a million times in the 1980’s.

So, anyway, the plan is this:

I will not start anything new until all the UFOs are resolved
one way or another.
Either finished, frogged, or flung away.
Hey! I like that!

New Motto: UFOs must be Finished, Frogged or Flung!

Okay, all together, my collection of unfinished objects:

Blue scarf for my dad.

A scarf for my coworker, Lydia:

Socks for Nora, my daughter:

Entrelac scarf for ????

Baby sweater for my cousin’s baby, Diego:

Cardigan for me!

Lace scarf for ????

Afghan for an Afghan.

Ribbon Yarn bag.

Soft wool ribbed scarf for ???

Now to extract some Important Lessons from the UFOs.

The last group of UFOs! I saved the best for last.
These are items that I’m really looking forward to
working on, as soon as I clear out the underbrush.

Number Seven is an afghan I’m making as part of the
Afghans for Afghans project.
I just posted about it, so there it is.

Number Eight is a bag knit from ribbon yarn.
I’ve finished the main sections. Now I need to:
(a) make a lining from the scarf I found at the thrift shop;
(b) sew it all together;
(c) make an I cord from the other ribbon yarn, and;
(d) sew the button on.
Look! It’s pretty!

UFO Number Whatever Number I’m Up To is my first
lace scarf, barely started. It also was part of a class.
It’s lovely yarn and, like the ribbed scarf, its recipient
may become clear when it’s done.
Coupla Pix:

UFO the Last I Hope is a Louisa Harding cardigan begun
last summer. I am determined to finish it.
It’s hard to tell, but the yarn is kind of sparkly.

The UFOs in this group suffer from Diminished Knitter Enthusiasm,
for various reasons.

UFO Four is an entrelac scarf. It’s pretty, isn’t it?
But . . . the yarn is scratchy,
I have a zillion yards of it, and it takes forever.

Proposed solution: finish current skein,
and see if it isn’t long enough to give to
someone with a tough neck. Here ’tis:

Number Five is a baby sweater.
I made it in a class taught by the same wonderful woman
who taught the entrelac scarf class. It’s almost done.
I still have to do neck edging, and sewing it together.
Not much pressure to finish, but I will, on general principle.
Even though I’m really bored with it. Here it is:

The last one in this group is UFO Six.
Nice scarf, goes quickly, I like it, and maybe
when it’s done, I’ll figure out who it belongs to!

Note:
I feel myself getting bored with this Listing UFOs Project.
Just like I get bored with interminable scarves.
Hmmnnnn. ADD knitter?

Anyhoo, here are a couple photos of this scarf:

I am required to attend at least 12 hours of continuing education every year, including a certain number of hours devoted to ethics and to mental health/addiction. The end of February is the deadline for making up a deficit from the year before. Naturally, I owe about 13 hours from last year, including all the mental/ethical hours. So, naturally, I’m taking them all next week, the last week in February. Also, naturally, I’m once again resolving to do CLE bit by bit during 2009.

Meanwhile, next week I have 15 hours of videotaped replays of CLE from the past year. Because these sessions are on videotape, there is no live human to not-understand that I pay attention better while knitting, and no human to be offended at my knitting during the sessions.

You know what this means, don’t you?
Fifteen hours of knitting time!
I hope to use this time to move a few items from UFO status
to the much more satisfying category of FO.
More on this later!
Now, back to work.

Oh no! Should I send her with the yarn??

The Warm Ewe Up Swap Question was
What are your Valentines Day Plans?
Mine have all come true:
1. Remove the “Valentines knitting ideas” from my website. Done.

2. About two years ago my father took my sister and I
with him on a tour of Provence and the Riviera.
Today we had a delightful Valentines Day reunion lunch.

3. My husband and I are fans of the
Plant Delights Nursery.
For Valentines Day, I signed him up for one of their classes.

4. *wink wink, nudge nudge *

So, there you have it.