New Beginnings

The house is quiet, company is gone and we have a four day weekend starting Friday.  Everything at the office is finished up until after the first of the year.  The weather has been warm and beautiful and the little bit of  rain that came in Monday night didn't dampen our spirits.  Valley snow is expected tomorrow.  It all looks good from here.

New Years Day is not only the trifecta holiday of Chanukah, New Years and a birthday for Cara, it's a time to start new knitting...new, wonderful, special day knitting.  I'm trying to decide what my special something should be. 

Kim is starting a Stash-A-Long which could help with two possibilities that have been in my stash for TOO long, Gloria and Rosarie. Gloria has been sitting on top of my stash bins for the last couple of months, with intent...intent that has not come to fruition (color on the right). She would be nice to wear before this winter is over.  Rosaire was ordered from Virtual Yarns a long, long time ago. When I asked about yarn the amounts needed to make it a bit longer, (this 6 foot body of mine requires a couple of inches be added to nearly all sweaters), customer service said that Jade Starmore(!) would rewrite the pattern so the buttonholes would be placed in the right spots. Every pattern from Jade and Alice are autographed, but this was an added bonus to have Jade's help.

Another project that is calling me is the Bi-Colored Cable Cardigan by Annie Modesitt from the Winter 2005 IK.  I ordered the yarn  the day all the Stitch 'n Bitch grrls went shopping at the Wool Cabin and it should be in by the 1st. Instead of joining the Crossed in Translation KAL, I could be a bi-colored crosser.

All three projects are on the slate for 2006 knitting but, which would be more fun, most rewarding and best way to start the New Year? Do I jump in with both feet and knit with colors bright and fair, should I knit a simply glorious sweater, or cross my cables and hope to play, eh?  It is hard to decide since I like them all so much and know they will all be knit the coming year.

Here is a poll so you can help me decide.  I may just wake up January 1st and see which project speaks the loudest but, I'd still like your input.

Not much knitting was accomplished over the Christmas Holiday, as we had too many other things going on.   This weekend is quiet and a photo shoot is scheduled in the canyon, weather permitting, which will show progress has been made on Seaweed.  Tomorrow I'll put together a post to show you how Sally's Funnel Neck sweater is progressing, too.

Comments

[Wendy]

Oooooh . . . Rosarie!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't do much knitting over Christmas. I have high hopes for the next couple of days though. We'll see . . .

[Laurie]

What a fun vote! And, a great set of choices. New beginnings resonates.

[Cara]

You are SO FUNNY! G keeps calling Jan 1 a trifecta as well. I swear to you - those are his exact words!

I voted for Rosarie, basically because I'm completely and utterly fascinated with fair isle. And not a little intimidated by it.

[Norma]

Hah, I voted. And I voted for the "anti-Norma" thing. Guess which one.

[Cassie]

I voted for Rosarie. I've seen you knit lots of single color sweaters, but a masterpiece fair isle vest would be a great way to start the new year with a bang. Go for it!

[Kim]

All 3 sweaters are so pretty! I am finishing up a few projects here and then I will start contemplating what is next as well ;-)

[Kathleen]

Geesh, I thought I was voting in the minority--having not read the comments yet. As the daughter of an AS addict--I had to vote for Rosarie!

[Kim]

All that gorgeous snow---it's warm and wet up here, and the snow has been long gone. I'm having some serious snow envy...

Hey, I'm taking a class that Judy is teaching next week! Wish you could come up on Tuesday nights & knit along with us!

[Vicki]

Looks like Rosarie is running away with it, and I'm surprised that Gloria is edging the bi-color cable cardi. To me, that's a close, close second -- a toss-up really -- and I think the bi-color cables would look FABULOUS on you!

But I, too, am fascinated with the Fair Isle and Rosarie is simply stunning (and, to me, mind-boggling).

[Carole]

I voted, I voted! And I'm trying to decide what to start on New Year's Day myself. Flower basket shawl? Cable vest for Dale? Diamond Fantasy Shawl? So many choices!

[ann]

I vote for two of them - Rosarie being the main new project, and one of the other two being the thing you work on when your eyes need a break!

[Anne]

I voted for the new Annie M pattern - mostly because I want to knit it myself and I'd love to see the finished version live. There - how totally selfish is that? :)

[Julia]

The good girl in me says Rosarie, because I think it was so nice of Jade to do what she did for you, and it is beautiful. That said, I think that this may be a time for instant gretification, rather than loving contemplation. Whip out Annie's cables or the Noro sweater if it speaks to you more and then sink your teeth into Rosarie, which has a lot of substance and requires time.

[PumpkinMama]

I'm voting for Rosarie, if only because I am slowly coming to a close on my JS vest, and it has truly been a pleasure to knit every inch of it. I can't really see how you could go wrong with any of your choices though.

[Rachel H]

Gloria, Gloria, Gloria! I love that cardi, and think it will look fabulous in those colours. And, because I'm just as selfish as Anne, because I've had the yarn for it sitting in my stash since October - exact same colours as the photo in the book - and I'm hoping seeing yours in progress will get me started on mine. I do think that the first project of the year ought to be something relatively quick with a minimal potential for frustration. Start the year with success.

[Kim]

I picked Rosarie--I'm so envious of anyone who can knit a Starmore :) Hope to see you Stashalonging with us--no pressure though. Happy early New Year!

[Lisa in Oregonl]

You know, Gloria just doesn't do it for me. The Bicolor Cables peaks my interest a bit...but Rosarie made me lean into my screen and my mouth got all drooly...So that's what I went with :)

[Stephanie]

Man, that's a tough choice. I voted for Rosarie - that is one gorgeous sweater. I may have been influenced by my burning desire to start my Jade Starmore vest (I had a wonderful customer service experience too), but I just don't see how you can go wrong with that pattern. However, I love the new Annie M. sweater - that was my pick in the new IK too. An Gloria is lovely and would be a quick knit. So, how's that for being absolutely no help at all? It's a skill, really.

[susan]

Hmmm . . . a stash-a-long. Just this morning I was thinking of going on a yarn diet and finally knitting up some of the mounds of yarn I already have. I'll have to think on that a-long.

[Kathy in San Jose]

Looking at your choices, I remembered the bi-color cable and thinking I'd like to make that someday. The Gloria, nice and potentially something fun. But Rosaire...sharp intake of breath! It's gorgeous, therefore, the perfect next project.

[Sara*]

I'm all about Gloria. I might have to track down that book and some Noro just to knit it. That's gorgeous.

I'm finally living in a county with a yarn store. In fact, there are THREE yarn stores in the county. I'm pretty happy.

I'm still voting for Gloria.

[Imbrium]

Oh, so tough to choose! I had to go with Gloria, though...something about the simplicity and elegance of it is very appealing. I'm sure whatever you choose will be glorious.

[Chris]

How to choose between those options... Flip a coin? :)

[Cathy]

Rosarie got my vote. Anytime a designer goes to the trouble of rewriting a pattern for you - well, I would immediately pick up the needles as a thank you. :-) Not to mention, it's gorgeous.

[--Deb]

Yeah, Rosarie. The bi-color cable sweater is one I like, too, and Gloria looks perfectly nice, but yeah . . . Rosarie is the one to drool over!

[MJ]

Rosarie, because it's stranded knitting, and completely droolworthy!

Happy new year, Margene!

[Snow]

Yep, I'm with the majority on this one. Rosarie it is. I can't wait to see it done!

[Jennifer]

Rosarie!! Of course anything made from all that gorgeous yarn will be lovely.

[Vera]

I like them all, but I'll choose the bi-cable sweater.

BTW, that Jane Ellison Noro book has some cute things. I need to pick it up.

[Esther]

All the projects are beautiful - I think I vote for the bi-color cable ;-)

[erin]

I voted for Gloria, although I see it is trailing behind in the poll. I enjoy all your lovely photos. I haven't skated since I was a teenager, but the ice skating in your last post seems fun.

[claudia]

Good thing you are a fast knitter.

;-)

[Wanda]

I don't think you can go wrong with either of the knits. I chose Bi-Color Cables as that is one I plan to make at some point in the future. I absolutely love it. But then Gloria is one that I want to knit as well. Rosarie is nice too, I'm just not big into knitting fair isle, but it looks pretty good, so I'm sure whatever you choose next will be a good one. And the other two will probably get started on soon too, eh?