New Year, New Projects

Happy New Year from frigid Iowa! We're breaking all kinds of records, some of which have stood for over a century and are now shattered.

You know what I discovered is warmer than a scarf yet lighter weight? A cowl!




I knit this one over the weekend from Knit Picks' "Andean Treasure" (100% alpaca). It has a ruffled bottom which tucks into my coat. I knit it on US #5 and #7 needles. In retrospect I should have used #7 the entire time, but I was trying to make the yarn go further. (I was using up stash and had 1 and 1/3 balls for somewhere between 250 and 275 yards.)

The alpaca is lightweight, but keeps my cheeks, nose and ears toasty warm. It doesn't seem to inhibit my ability to turn my head when I'm driving. And when I get inside (say, at the grocery store) I just slip it down and it rides around my neck comfortably until it's time to return to the frozen tundra which is the local landscape of late.

My goal is to design one that is long enough and has enough circumferance to be used as a wimple/hood in the event I need to pull it up during precipitation. I have 5 balls of the Andean Treasure in wild rose color which I purchased on a closeout sale from Knit Picks. I want to knit the cowl/wimple/hood and a pair of mittens to go with it.

In other knitting news, I finished the socks I was knitting for DH. It is the Dream In Color Smooshy yarn in the Cocoa Kissed colorway. I think they turned out well!



I was reminded that one needs a certain level of dedication to knit socks for a guy on US #0 needles. (I hate to think how many stitches are in them!) I also pondered what it would be like to knit with the square needles Leslie now has for sale at Ewephoria in Poky. I'm hoping to get a pair of dpn's in the new square needles for my birthday later this month. I'd definitely put size #0's to good use, and probably a pair of US #1's as well.

We were surprised by a 2 hour late start for school this morning. (My kids don't ride the bus, but I can appreciate not wanting little ones out at the bus stop when the actual temperature is -18*F and the windchill is hovering around -30*F.) Since the weather pattern is in place for a few days, we may be starting late more days this week.

It has been too cold to go out shooting photos, though that is one of the things on my resolutions list. I want to shoot more "art" photos than simply doing what's necessary for work.

Also I've resolved to write daily. I have help via The Daily Writer and a book of meditations I'm reflecting on in my journal. I went on a 4 month sabatical from writing and found myself really missing it the last month or two. I'm very glad to be getting back in the habit. Hopefully it will improve my skills for work as well.

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!
Stay warm!