Who's to Say When the New Year Starts?

I've never been good at setting my resolutions on New Year's Eve or Day. I've been ruminating about what they will be, and here they are:

1. Better health:
a. Bring lunch to school instead of buying.
b. Jog the 2.5 mile Petroglyph loop 1x/week (until May. Then jog at McClean's with the mutts).
c. Yoga class 2x/week.
d. Lift weights/cardio at gym 3x / week.
e. Jump rope every day.

2. Writing
a. Write 18 hours/week.
b. Write draft of novel.
c. Keep craft journal.
d. Post Short Story Sunday each week.

3. Knitting
a. Learn Norweigian purl.
b. Yarn diet until the end of the semester. I can buy yarn for my Secret Pal.
c. Learn how to dye yarn.
d. Finish all projects I start.

I like Jenny's check in method, so I will follow it. My New Year begins tomorrow.

January 2006

Current on the needle projects:

--Jaywalker socks
--Stripes are Stars sweater (back finished)
--Clapotis

Waiting in the Wings

--Neal's socks
--MB's socks (don't know what pattern)
--Klaralund
--Baby Bobbi Bear
--Baby sweater for Sarah's soon-to-arrive baby
--Paisley Carpet Bag from Loop-d-Loop

Gift List

I'm not going to list what I'm making, just in case any of my giftees read this, but here's the list, just to help me to keep track:

Mom
Dad
Steve
Kate
Dan--have idea
Abby
Margaux--have idea
MB--have idea
Drew
Alexis
Maureen
Doug
Auntie
Lisa
Cristina--in progress
Sabrina--in progress
Joe--have idea
Neal--in progress
Dana--in progress
Mike--have idea
Gail--have idea
Martine--have idea
Brenda--have idea
Julie--have idea
Cae
Julia--have idea
Sara
Derek
Haley
Reeve
Fred Sr.
Kathy
Fred Jr.
Sarah & Rob
Grace
Brian
Laurie--in progress
Kurt

Don't read if you're on my Gift List!

Here are a few things I'm making as Christmas gifts, in case anyone is looking for ideas of their own:

--legwarmers (lots of free patterns online, but I'm using Sally Melville's pattern)
--purses: I like this pattern as well as this cable clutch
--Convertible shrugs--the pattern is from Ruth, a customer at Threaded Bliss Yarns and is as follows: I used Noro Silk Garden (3 skeins). CO 54 on size 15 needles. Gauge is not really important. Measure from one wrist to the other (across shoulders) Feather and fan pattern until piece reaches desired length. If you need more give in the shoulders (for broader shouldered women), gradually go up 3 needle sizes as you reach the should area. Now, this is convertible b/c you'll add ties (either single strands of the yarn, or make a crochet chain) along the arm part. I'll try to draw a schematic if anyone wants it.

Feather and Fan pattern: Row 1: Knit; Row 2: Purl; Row 3 * (k2 tog) 3 times, (yo, k1) 6 times, (k2 tog) 3 times, rep from *

For MB's, I used Bling Bling, Quest (brown), Checkmate, Nobile, Soiree, Quest (black). The black Quest was done in garter stitch to give her more stretch across the shoulders, then I reversed the order so that the arms match.

--Socks
--Hand mitts (Last Minute Knitted Gifts and Weekend Knits patterns)
--Bubby bear

If you've got a great pattern you're using for holiday gifts, I'd love to hear about it.

Do we need to make this list?

Yes, I think it's time, Missy. Here it goes, to the best of my memory...

1) Om yoga bag from SnB.
2) V-neck sweater from Yarn Girls Guide (Stripes are Stars sweater)
3) Clapotis (clap-o-tee, as I've recently learned, is the correct way to pronounce this lovely scarf's name).
4) Colinette Point-5 purse...despite the shopowner's assurance that one skein would make this bag, alas, I don't have enough for the handle. I started it two years ago, though, so I'm getting creative with the handle. Thinking of lining the bag, too.
5) First felted purse--needs handles. See a theme here?
6)Lots 'o Christmas gifts that I won't mention until December 26. Then I"ll have pictures and everything.
7) baby booties.