Sunday, July 3, 2016

Year of Projects Year 6: Week 01

Gavin checking the wind and waves

It's a whole New Year on my knitting calendar, but where to begin? For the past five years I've been knitting the all the patterns in a book, but I fell off the wagon with that last year. Combining Knit. Sock. Love. with the Cookie A Sock Club left me with Cookie A-exhaustion and I just couldn't bring myself to cast on one more pair from her patterns. Maybe this year I need to change up my approach?

So here's the new plan:

one pair of vanilla socks for charity every month. I really enjoy working simple vanilla socks from sock yarn scraps while having a more complicated pattern on the go on a second set of needles. That way if I'm on a train or a bus without a pattern book, I'm covered. And some days (and evenings) I'm just too tired to deal with something "chart-y".

• one pair of fancy socks from a different designer every month. Seemed like I spent last year knitting cuff down socks with twisted rib cuffs, a bunch of travelling stitches and the same old gusset and flap heel construction. Time to change that up! There are sooooo many amazing sock designers out there to try, one pattern at a time. And it'll be nice to tailor my pattern choices to match the yarns that I have and the upcoming birthdays on my calendar, too. Looks like I'll make some progress through my Ravelry favourites this year, rather than a book of patterns!

And that's it. That's the plan. Simple, huh?

Gavin windsurfing at the cottage
It'd help if I actually spent some time knitting though - that hasn't happened in weeks. Work's been crazy busy and so has my home life. Crazy in a good way - we bought a cottage at Lake Erie! Between back and forth with the offers, meetings with lawyers, viewings, moving, cleaning, scrubbing, inventorying and catching up on the yard work, there hasn't been much time to knit. It hasn't all been hard work though, there's been some swimming, hiking, biking and paddle-boarding too! So far, we love it at the Lake. I CANNOT WAIT to retire!

The plan then is to finish the two pairs of socks currently on my needles - Crest and Necker - and then getting going on my list. And when I'm not knitting, look for me in the Lake! It's gonna be a great year I think!

16 comments:

Dianna M said...

Sounds like a great plan!!! Oh a cottage on the lake sound splendid!!!!!! Enjoy!!!!

Leftycrafter said...

I have always admired the speed at which you knit a pair of socks. So excited tomsee which socks you pick this year to make.

Wanderingcatstudio said...

Ha - just this morning I found myself wondering to myself where you'd gotten to!
Congrats on the cottage - Lake Erie is my favourite great lake!

Elka said...

Oh what a view. I am jealous about your cottage. Your blog introduced me to YOP so am excited to watch your new projects unfold

Anonymous said...

Gavin is awesome and lookin' sharp in his cargo shorts. I love your plan. Gonna join in this year. I need to get moving on my post. I am learning so much this year about socks while knitting Christmas presents.

Becki said...

I look forward to seeing the different socks you knit, Lynn I also hope to see more lake pictures. As we head in to the dog days of summer I can enjoy (vicariously) the thought of playing in cool water.

Kim said...

A cabin on Lake Erie?? How wonderful! We just book a cabin rental right on the ocean in Long Beach Washington for our August vacation. I would love to our own little vacation getaway. I am sure once you get all settled in there will be plenty of sock knitting done....at the cabin. I love your idea of trying out different designers-it should help keep things interesting.
xoxo

Jen said...

Congratulations on the cabin! That's wonderful. I love your sock knitting plan. I look forward to seeing what you come up with this year.

Ruth said...

I've been dying to see what you were going to do this year, I suspected last years disenchantment shall we say with Cookie A was going to be a deciding factor and I like the way you're heading with this years list. You always inspire me with sock patterns, ones I never thought of knitting always look great and of course the mods you are able to make to ensure perfect fit for you are as always enviable so I'm glad this year still features socks, I'm still learning from you! Now as for the cottage on the lake....ohhh my just the teeniest tiniest bit of envy here...says she who has a lake behind the house...yours just looks nicer at the moment :D Enjoy the time there and do take lots of pictures (further stalking shall happen now on Instagram!)

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the new home! THat sounds wonderful and relaxing! As soon as this place sells, that's where we'll be heading --- to the WATER!!!

Enjoy your vacation!

Sam I Am...... said...

Oh, Lynn, I'm so happy you're back!!!! Also, congratulations on your wonderful cottage on Lake Erie! I love the big lakes where when you look out you can't see any houses! LOL! Nice picture of your hubs and windsurfing...look at him go! Do you do that too? I like to look at water but not necessarily have much to do with it...ha! ha! I would cheer from the beach! LOL!
That is so exciting and no wonder you have been busy! How about a picture of you and the cottage....I have a lake across the street but it doesn't do anything for me because they're too many people and houses and the people on the lake side of the street are arrogant snobs because they're on the lake and you're not. They can have it with their water moccasins and other creatures here in the South that like to hang out by the water! LOL! Keeps them away from my house. I loved the North Shore up by Duluth, Minnesota which is on Lake Superior...the great lakes are like looking out on the ocean....just gorgeous! I can just picture you out on a lawn chair with your knitting watching Gavin windsurfing...awesome! I find your Crest socks looking very much like the waves or current in the lake...coincidence? I don't think so! I'm so happy for you guys!
Also, I may be moving to Canada considering that we have 2 dodos up for president. Is it true you guys are building a wall to keep the Americans out? I'd like to know before I get all my stuff packed in the moving van. LOL! I would like to clone your PM! Have a great summer and Happy Belated Canada Day!

Lucy Bowen said...

I too am so glad you are back - I learn so much from you and I rather suspect that my love of sock knitting has come in part from watching your progress through the books. I love the way your list is this year to allow you loads of scope. The cottage sounds fantastic and I look forward to lots of pictures on that front!

Frieda said...

Congratulations on your cottage , hope you have many happy times there ! Wishing you a fun -filled summer and happy knitting , hugs ...

sharon said...

Great plan, the different designers sounds a great way to add variety.

Cyra said...

At a guess, I'd say you like to make socks, lol. A fabulous cottage on the lake, how lovely to enjoy all those water activities. I live on the coast and love the water and scenery too.

Breathing Life said...

I love knitting socks too. I will be following your progress from the West Coast of Canada!