Back in the saddle again…

It’s nice to be back in the land of the living! That sickness kept me out of work for two days. I don’t think I’ve ever missed two days in a row for being sick. It tried to kick my ass but I prevailed! The saddest part of it all is that I didn’t knit one stitch during all of it. In fact, Thursday night was the first time I had picked up my needles since Christmas Eve. I think the all-day-every-day Christmas knitting extravaganza was to blame for my little break.

I still haven’t finished Trellis but there is a definite renewed interest in it. I thank High Energy Jenny for that. She, too, had a project that was languishing and decided to switch out the needles with metal ones. Voila! No more struggling with the yarn and therefore no more putting it aside for other projects! I was knitting Trellis on bamboo needles and the yarn just wasn’t a good fit with them. The stitches didn’t slide along the needles easily and I was constantly fighting with it. Because of that, it wasn’t fun to knit! But after switching to metal needles, everything is progressing very nicely (and much quicker, too). I hope to have it finished by the end of the month at the latest so that my nephew can at least wear it for a little while!

I’ve also been getting excited about knitting projects for 2006. My knitting list is endlessly long but here are some things that I really want to knit this year:

1. Butterfly (the dress) from Rowan 37

I’ve seen so many beautiful camisole versions of Butterfly (check out Eilene’s and Becky’s)! But I’m not sure if I’d wear the cami version. And I think it would be great to have a really nice dress that I can say that I made! We’ll see if I get up the nerve to try it!

2. The Hourglass Sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts

I didn’t think too much of this pattern when I first saw it but the more I saw people knitting it the more I wanted to, too! It’s a very simple and flattering design. I love the flared sleeves. It’s a quick knit, too! What more could you want?!

3. Minty Fresh from Rowan 36

I fell in love with this pillow the first time I laid eyes on it. I was thinking of doing one (or two) for our couch in a dark burgundy color. And wouldn’t one of these make a great gift?!

4. Aran Tree Skirt from Handknit Holidays

I loved this pattern when I saw it. It’s simple and understated yet beautiful. And it will be something really special to bring out during the holidays every year. I can’t wait to get started on it so that I can leisurely knit it throughout the year.

I’m so excited!! It’s going to be a great knitting year!! But right now I must concentrate on Trellis (and Geoff’s scarf!)…