What to do?

Big news in the Knitter's life at the moment... I heard just before I went on holiday that I've landed the research grant I applied for last November. Just in the nick of time really as I only had a contract until the end of this month. I now have another three years guaranteed in Glasgow which makes life simpler and more secure once more. On the back of this, the Resident Radiologist and I can now sell our house and buy a bigger one (more room for yarn -wheeee!). This means that in the short term, I'm going to be even more harassed than I was as we try to get the house in shape and get it sold, but in the longer term, there is going to be a pretty happy knitter!

In the midst of all this activity, I've once again found myself in a bit of a knitting interlude. I've finished the biggish projects I had underway and am currently just picking away at a couple of little things - socks for the Resident Radiologist and Wisp for my christmas knitting / gift stash.

This may not seem the best time for more projects what with the necessary packing away of my stash (sob) to make the house seem tidier, but I need something to keep me sane. Here are the options:

Monkey socks - for me
Jaywalker socks - for me
Christmas crochet scarf - for the resident radiologist (Rowanspun 4 ply)
Nantucket jacket (still on the list from last time, still no yarn for it)
Tank Top (still on list from last time, yarn - Freedom Spirit - still in stash)
Debbie Bliss A-line jacket- for me (DB Pure cotton - not sure I have enough though)

I really need to get these into some sort of order. Obviously there is a deadline on the scarf, but I can't bring myself to start it just yet. The time has probably passed for the DB cardigan as Glasgow has seen the last of the summer (such as it was) and feels distinctly autumnal again. This last point would make the tank top seem a better option and as the yarn has been in the stash for over 18 months, it's probably long overdue. The nantucket jacket would also fit the autumnal bill but as I don't have the yarn, then it should probably wait (though I absolutely love it!). Finally the socks are ones I've wanted to do for ages and I have some wonderful Koigu in my stash and some equally beautiful Lorna's Laces that I bought in Boston for them. I've never done anything beyond standard plain socks before and I feel the need to start branching out.

This mental splurge seems to have clarified matters and the tank top appears to have won, with the socks as sideline projects. Phew!

Wheeee

It's knitting night tonight. I love knitting night - all that coffee and those scones and the gossip... oh and of course the knitting. Now that I'm finished with the major project I promised not to mention again, I've been a lean, mean, knitting machine and finished Klaralund too. I pinned her up and tried her on last night - looked very Armani what with all the safety pins holding her together - and she fits beautifully. All that is left is the sewing up (crocheting up to be picky - have developed a definite preference for this lately) and a light blocking.

This means that I'm flat out of WIPs (how exciting).

I have a little list though... really a whopping great big list when I consider all the knitting involved... of all the patterns I've seen and want to knit, several of which I even have the yarn for.

These include:
Gloves for my sister to match her scarf and hat,
Betty from Rowan 38.
Cactus Flower from Knitty.
Tank top from Freedom Spirit.
Nantucket Jacket from Interweave.
Basil from Rowan Summer Tweed.

I'd also really like to knit or crochet a lightweight summer cardi for going over dresses (any pattern suggestions welcome!) and I need to rip back a pair of socks I knit in January and reknit the feet with smaller needles to get a better fit.

Obviously, I can prioritise some of this list: my sister won't be needing gloves again until late Autumn so they can wait, and I don't have the yarn for the Nantucket jacket so that can wait (it also looks like a lovely autumn project), but Betty, Basil and Cactus Flower are all vying for my attention. I think Betty might be first up, but she looks pretty tricky, so I might revise this idea soon...