2012: The Year of Little Lacey Things & Colorwork, Too

I'm planning. What is it about the hectic, crazy, nuttzy days in between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day that forces us into a desperate reordering of our lives? Is it a planning for calm? Yes, I think so. I dream so for peace and quiet, for long moments of hot tea, Mozart, and knitting lace with a pointed kitty nearby...wishing for snow softly falling and piling up (which means no work!). Lately, our days have been ranging from the mid 40s to upper 50s so there's not a flake to be had...nonetheless, my planning gene is kicking in strong, and I'm coming up with a few ideas for 2012.

Mostly, I'm planning on the one-word idea for the new year, rather than setting up a bunch of resolutions...that said, I'll let you know my word soon enough. I'm settling, I think on two or three and I know one will emerge before too long.

That said, while I initially considered that 2012 would be my Year of Little Lacey Things - "Little" signifies items that aren't so large that I'm easily overwhelmed. Small shawls, lacy cowls, little mitts, small socks (okay, in a couple of ways...I do have small feet, too!) - I then started looking at stash, realizing how many projects I've purchased in colorwork. They are all small things, too.

2011 has mostly been about the hats: Warm Hats for Hot Heads; Warm Hats Warm Hearts; chemo caps; Christmas gift hats. They've been fast and fun, but I'm ready for the steady, blood pressure reducing capacity of lace. And then, for a bit of visual spice and mindful challenge, colorwork.

But rather than get ahead of myself, methinks there will be an initial bout of finishitis! I have so many lacey shawls on the needles, I think they have to get done first. But I want to have my All You Need Is Love mittens finished for February, so must get started right off on those...and I want to make Sheep Heid, too...Oh my, it takes so little to suddenly have a list as long as my arm!

Anyone interested in joining me for a Year of Little Lacey Things? What about a Year of Little Colorwork Pretties?

What will you knit? Short of the above mentioned projects, I'll be working on two pieces from Jackie E-S. I have the yarn and pattern to make Thinking of You Scarf for February's Knit Red for Women's Heart Disease project. Also on my list is a "little something" called the Smoke Ring with Lace Edging. I've adored this one for a long time...will check my stash for the best laceweight I have to make this one for a gift.

That's a start to my list. And since there's knitting from stash involved in this, it will fall into the plans Jocelyn and I have to have an informal KAL for knitting up a bunch of what we already have...I keep telling myself I will NOT buy a 6th bin for my accumulated yarn...I won't. Of course, I promptly went and bought two skeins of hand-dyed worsted from Wild Hare Fiber...

Okay, I bought them in 2011. Maybe that doesn't count Joce?

Oh...and I've exempted the yarn I have to buy for the class I'm taking in early January to learn beginner crochet. I'm really looking forward to that!

So tonight I'm off to sis-in-law's to watch old movies and knit these socks:

Yup. That's Trekkings Brach's colorway (think neopolitan ice cream). I've had it for awhile and I'm itching to have these socks. Plain vanilla with the picot cuff, toe-up all the way.

If you've an inkling, stop by Nana Sadie's Place as I've got some New Year's thoughts over there, too...different theme, of course.

Happy New Year!