HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The Selbu mittens are still not finished. The totals for this year are:

Socks : 16 pairs
Gloves: 2
Mittens: 8
Rabbit Finger Puppets: 7
Washcloth: 1
Hats: 5
Tea Cozy: 1

That makes a total of 40 small FOs plus 10 skeins of rabbit fur spun for the rabbit shelter to sell and one knitting pattern booklet. This is about half as many items as I knitted last year but out of the 40 FOs, 22 of the projects were my designs. I guess that is because it takes me a lot longer to design my own items.

I forgot about another fun pattern I did this year - the Tipsy Knitter socks from Socks, Socks, Socks.



Unfortunately I'm finding that the yoga socks pattern I posted last week have become too loose after a few wearings - perhaps the ribbing pattern is not the right one to use. Anyway, I'm removing the pattern until I can figure out a better way to do them.

My favorite book of 2005 was Marcia Lewandowski's Andean Folk Knits because it was the only book for several years that focused on stranded color knitting. My favorite retailer was Knitpicks because I'm not sure I could continue knitting if I had to pay some of the high yarn prices I've seen.

I forgot to add some projects I want to knit for 2006. I want to make the Debbie New sideways garter stitch socks from IK a few years back. I also want to make the Del Mar lacy wristwarmers from the winter issue of Spindlicity out of some hand-dyed merino singles and the Fair Isle hat pattern HERE. Tomorrow I'll have the last FO of 2005 and a list of what I've knit.

Here are my two favorite projects of 2005 - the Aran Island mittens from Folk Mittens and the Floral Fair Isle Gloves from Interweave Knits.

I hoped to have the Selbu mittens to show today but yesterday was just too busy. First my 10+ year old monitor decided to go bonkers so I bought a nice new big 17" monster. What a difference on the eyes! Then we had to go to Santa Fe to meet some old friends. We went to India Palace and a wonderful new spot off Guadalupe Street, Gelato Benissimo. I had some hazelnut chocolate gelato that tasted a lot like cold Nutella. I'll definitely be back.

Today I'm busy cooking up a storm. I'm making some white beans with sage and garlic in the pressure cooker, whole wheat bread in the bread machine, stuffed mushrooms and zucchini, and a chipotle-red pepper risotto recipe from one of the Biker Billy's vegetarian cookbooks.

Lulu pays quarterly and the first check won't arrive until February but through Cafepress for 2005 Stranded Color Knitting made $500 for rabbit rescue which was sent to the Colorado House Rabbit Society. I expect to make more this year with the extra pattern booklet.

I want to do 2 more pattern booklets this year: one on wacky hats for kids and one with Christmas knitting patterns. Some of my other 2006 goals include the black and white mittens from the cover of the Latvian mittens book, the Alice Starmore Celtic Keynot Pillow, the Blackberry Ridge Step Dance socks (F on the chart), and some lovely cabled Log Cabin socks Jessica just made from Handknit Holidays. I'm waiting on the book but otherwise I have everything to get started on these projects.

Peaches is currently taking her 3 hour afternoon nap in the sun. She usually sleeps with her eyes open while flopped over on her side.

This pair of socks is from several years ago and is based on one in the Socks, Socks, Socks book. I hope to have the Selbu mittens finished to show you Monday but we'll see how that goes. I also want to do a year-end round up of best and worst and possibly post a simple sock pattern. Happy Holidays to all!

I ripped out the Alice Starmore Malin sweater. Although I had finished both sleeves and about 6 inches of front and back (I was working them simultaneously), I realized the sweater wouldn't look good on me. That means the only other knitting project in progress I have are the socks shown above. They are the Dancing Violets socks from Blackberry Ridge knit in lace weight yarn and size 0 dpns. It may be an effort but I want to finish the socks and the Selbu mittens by the end of the year.

I have two stalled spinning projects. I was making some cabled wristwarmers made from a combo of Kool-Aid dyed merino wool and fur from my Himalayan cat Bosco. His fur is quite slippery so it needs to be blended with something else. I used the Tracy Eichheim production spindle he sent me last year - I have the one with the hearts.




Unfortunately I ran out of the orange KA dyed merino and am too lazy to dye more just to finish some wristwarmers that will only be used when I'm trying to keep my hands warm while knitting. So I've scrapped that project.

My second project was initially designed to highlight Peaches' fur along with some beautiful angora blend fiber Anne sent me from her wonderful rabbit Hank. I was using my fancy Tracy Eichheim rabbit spindle . I have many fine spindles - Hatchtown, Bosworth, Kokovoko, etc. but I love Tracy's spindles the best.

Honestly I didn't really like the part with Peaches fur on it as it would always be shedding. I think I'd prefer a project that just uses the beautiful fiber Anne sent so I'm going to design some mittens or wristwarmers with fancier cables.

I've been meaning to post this recipe. DH & I made several batches of these to accompany the Christmas knitted gifts. I've seen instructions to cut the muffin tin liners down so the peanut butter cups fit perfectly but it really isn't necessary.

EASY PEANUT BUTTER CUPS

Makes 12

12 oz package chocolate chips (milk chocolate chips are the best for this I think)
1 cup natural peanut butter (I use the stuff freshly ground at my health food store)
2 Tbsp confectioner's sugar
pinch of salt

Melt chocolate chips in a bowl in microwave on MEDIUM heat for 1-2 minutes. With half of the melted chocolate, coat 12 paper muffin tin liners (swirl them around in your hand or use a spoon or pastry brush) about halfway to the top. Mix peanut butter with sugar and salt and roll into 12 discs. Add to muffin tin liners. Then add the rest of the melted chocolate to the tops of the peanut butter cups, completely covering all the peanut butter. Put in refrigerator to set.