Ribbon Rose

As soon as I touched the Juniper yarn, it was hopeless. So soft! Must cast on! So I did. I absolutely love this pattern. Just knits and purls. I’ve been doing a lot of lace socks lately, and I have such a talent for “losing” yarn overs, it gets a little frustrating when I have to fix mistakes over and over. I hope I don’t jinx myself by saying this, but these socks are zooming right along.

The book that is barely visible under the sock? Laurie Perry’s “Home is Where the Wine Is”. It arrived from Amazon the other day, and it is making me laugh out loud. If you read her blog, Crazy Aunt Purl, you know that she is a knitter. There is some seriously funny knit-related commentary in this book, and even some patterns.

I haven’t completely neglected the Veronik socks. I have wound the other skein, and will probably cast on sock number 2 later today. I think that the severity of Second Sock Syndrome may be inversely proportional to the cost of the yarn one is using. That’s my story, anyway.

Since I pinched a nerve in my neck in November, I haven’t been able to knit very much. It’s improving, thank goodness, but I am still an honourary member of the “sock a month” club. That’s about how long it took to get through this one:

The pattern is “Socks for Veronik”, from the Holiday 2007 issue of Interweave Knits. I used 2mm needles (2 circulars) and Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in “South Shore”. I had hoped the colours would blend together a bit more. The stripey look is not what I was expecting. It’s the first time I’ve used this yarn, and I really like it. Not splitty, and quite soft even though it is 25% nylon. I will definitely use it again.

I’m being sorely tempted to cast on another pair before I get to the second Veronik sock. On Ravelry, the “Socks From the Toe Up” Knit ALong group is starting the “I Heart Toe Up Socks” pattern for January, and I have the perfect yarn to knit them!

Alchemy’s Juniper sock yarn (100% merino), in the Cherry Tart colourway. Yep, it’s really that screamin’ pink. I love it. Usually, though, if I don’t cast on the 2nd sock of a pair as soon as I finish the first, I am infected by the dreaded “Second Sock Syndrome”. And how long will it be before I have a new pair of socks if I keep knitting alternate singles? I guess I’d better do some laundry.

I love reading what other people are blogging for the New Year. Some have chosen a word or phrase to use as a theme for the year. Others are making the usual resolutions about living more healthfully and learning to say “no”, all admirable ambitions.

I’ve probably mentioned before that I don’t make resolutions in January because I find September is more a time for making new plans and starting new projects. This year, I feel like there needs to be some kind of a pause for reflection, though. All in all, 2009 was an unsatisfying year and I am glad it is over. I can’t explain it, but it’s like something is in the air today. I just have this feeling that 2010 is going to be a  happy and creative and surprising (in a good way) year.

So I will make a resolution this year…I am going to do a little something that is creative every day. It will keep me cheerful, and maybe give me some fun stuff to blog about.