1. Clear the WIP queue from last year by the end of the month.
There’s still one outstanding WIP from 2008 in my queue, but otherwise, I did pretty well on the clean-up!  We’ll consider this one not complete, but close, right?

2. Knit two sweaters this year.
I got one!  I blogged about that one here, and got a good start on the second one, but haven’t yet finished it.  Hopefully soon.

3. Knit one pair of socks per month.
Oh boy did I EVER do this one.  And I think I deserve a HUGE GOLD STAR.  Because I’m awesome.

I knitted a few socks this year. Here are my official 12 per the year, but the total count is 19 pairs *finished* this year (some were started in 2008).  The links below are to flickr and the original post on my blog.

4. Spin four ounces of roving per month.
I might not have gotten them all in on the right month, but here we have it! Some of those are 8 ounces, so I don’t have 12 photos, but there are more than enough ounces to count at least four for every month of the year.  Yes, I realize October is missing, but there are two entries for March, so the math works out in the end, yes?  Yes.

5. Dye more yarn and roving.
Oh yeah. Did that. Hosted a dye-day at my house with the local Stitch n’ Bitch and it was super fun.

6. Knit at least one pair of stranded socks.
Nope. Not even a little. I really over-extended myself this past year.

7. Finish holiday gift knitting throughout the year instead of all at once in December!
I guess I got this one? Sorta cheated since I only did one item for one person. It’s so hard knitting gifts when there are five sisters-in-law to knit for. I’ve opened up next year for requests, so we’ll see what happens.

8. Participate in another test knit.
Yep. A few of them. I think three total?

9. Work on an original pattern.
*buzzer*  Not even a little bit.  It was a nice idea though?

The tally comes to five out of nine.  I think the list for 2010 is going to be more conservative.  More on that later, while I think up some goals to set.

3. Knit one pair of socks per month

Hanging Vines of Envy Pattern: Hanging Vines Designer: Kelly Porpiglia Needles: US 1 (2.25mm) Yarn:  Sheepy Time Yarns Sheepy Feet in, “Green Eyed Monster,” from the Sheepy Time Knits December 2009 Club -Ravelry Project Link- There was just no excuse for this one to be anything than what it is.  It’s the December colorway since I’m a speshul snowflake, and thus, these socks had to be knitted.  They’d been in my queue for a while and when this yarn popped out of the mailbox, I KNEW, just knew what the yarn was destined to be.  Not a super-easy knit, challenging enough that I wasn’t bored, but I definitely needed the chart the whole way through.  The results are very much worth it and I’m totally jazzed about how they came out.

4. Spin four ounces of roving per month.
I made up for last month and covered this month too.

This is 8 ounces of Handspun alpaca.  The roving comes from Black Diamond Alpacas, a local gal who sends the fiber from her animals to be processed together.  The names of the alpacas used in this blend were even on the label which is just too cute.  Unfortunately, the fiber was REALLY dirty and I think it’s probably from an oil or grease used during the process that draws out the roving to keep the fuzz from flying.  It washed out (after four rinses), and I’m rather happy with the results.  I ended up with about a worsted weight, approximately 350 yards.  This wasn’t so much a spin for a specific project, but I’m thinking a pair of thrummed mittens may be in order.

And that’s all I’ve got.  I have to get a few posts together this month for a resolutions wrap up as well as a 2010 resolutions (*gasp* 2010?!  DID I JUST SAY THAT?!).

3. Knit one pair of socks per month

Plain Old Socks Pattern: None – plain Stockinette socks Designer: Me? Needles: US 1 (2.25mm) Yarn: My Handspun from dkKnits Superfluff roving in, “Shooting Star” -Ravelry Project Link- I had so much fun spinning up the yarn and then knitting the socks.  The yarn is a basic fingering weight yarn that was spun on my SpinOlution Mach I and then navajo plied.  I broke the yarn at the heel and started from the other end of the ball so that the color progressions on the leg and instep would be continuous.  Yeah, it’s a few more ends to weave in, but.  Look at that!  Becky always does such a fabulous job with colors.

4. Spin four ounces of roving per month.
See above – the yarn was finished spinning about mid month.  Then it jumped in front of everything and decided to become socks.

 2. Knit two sweaters this year.
Still working on this. I really hope to be done with the second by the end of the month, but I’m just not sure that will happen.

I’m really looking forward to January so that I can post a big follow-up to this year’s resolutions and set another batch for next year. There are going to be some good ones, I can just feel it. Also looking forward to lining up all 12 photos of socks from this year and patting myself on the back a whole bunch of times. Speaking of which, I should probably start the pair for this month, huh?

3. Knit one pair of socks per month

Thrilling Jaywalkers Pattern: Jaywalker Designer: Grumperina Needles: US 1 (2.25mm) Yarn: Wollmeise Sockenwolle 100% superwash in colorway, “Thriller” -Ravelry Project Link- This project is part of Socktoberfest, a celebration of knitting socks in October.  I managed to knit up four whole pairs of socks for Socktoberfest, but these are definitely my favorites.  Squishy and BRIGHT, plus the colors are just perfect for Halloween.  These are modeled by Abbie at the Fonthill Castle.

4. Spin four ounces of roving per month.
This just didn’t happen.  I maybe got in about an ounce, but I spent the whole month knitting socks and really doing nothing much else.

That’s really it for the knitting resolutions this month.  I’ll put together a post later this week going over all the Socktoberfest knitting!

Just going back, again, to the Knitting Resolutions.

3. Knit one pair of socks per month

Twisted Flower Socks Pattern: Twisted Flower Sock Designer: Cookie A. Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm) Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Sock -Ravelry Project Link- Still going strong on the one pair per month goal. These were rather challenging in that there were a lot of twisted stitches, cables, and I had to pay attention on every row, but the result is a gorgeous pair of socks that I’m proud to have conquered. These came together in a trip to Loop in Philadelphia, on a whim, and just ended up being the pair-of-the-month. Dear friend Abbie graciously modelled them for me.

4. Spin four ounces of roving per month.

I got this one too! That is some lovely alpaca from dkKnits in the colorway, “Wheat Fields” and I’m just dying over how soft it is. This is the first time I’ve spun alpaca and it was like butter through the fingers – a very enjoyable spin! We came out to 400 yards from the 4oz of fiber which makes it fingering weight. Not sure what this will become just yet, but I’m sure it’ll let me know someday.

2. Knit two sweaters this year.

Wicked Sweater Pattern: Wicked! Designer: Sarah & Rachel Needles: US 6 (4mm) Yarn: dkKnits extrafine superwash merino squish -Ravelry Project Link- IT’S DONE! One sweater down and one to go. This blocked out perfectly and the color is just spectacular – it looks much more incredible in person. The yarn is soft and squishy and really easy to work with, not to mention, again, the incredible custom dye job that Becky put together for me. I’ll probably be wearing this to Rhinebeck, so if you see me, come say hello!

To wrap this all up, Socktoberfest begins today and I’m all prepared to cast on for a mystery sock.  There are four total socks that I’ll be doing this socktoberfest, so wish me luck!

3. Knit one pair of socks per month

>Handspun Wanida Pattern: Wanida Designer: Cookie A. Needles: US 1 (2.25mm) Yarn: My own Handspun -Ravelry Project Link- I’m fiercely proud of these.  The handspun is a superwash BFL by Twisted Fiber Art that I spun as part of Tour de Fleece.  It knitted up and wears absolutely beautifully.  Even though there’s a jog in the color change for the heel, I still like how they came out and worked with the pattern.  Knitted up quick and those colors are just spectacular!

4. Spin four ounces of roving per month.
We gots your spunroving right here. This is 632 yards of fingering weight yarn that was started during Tour de Fleece and finished up in August. When I realized I had 632 yards, I figured it was way more than 4 ounces to begin with, so I’m saying it’ll count for August. It’s navajo plied and is a merino roving that was found at Maryland Sheep & Wool festival this year. We had a dye day not too long ago and I dyed this at the event. Love the way it came out and now I have to find something that will use the whole batch of yarn.

Still making progress on that sweater, but as the year is already half-over, I’m not sure if I’ll actually complete all my resolutions and goals.  Well, there’s always next year, right?

3. Knit one pair of socks per month
Did it again. Seven pairs so far (well Eight if you count the ones I’ve already finished for August), and I can’t wait to get to December and post all twelve of them in one big post.

Rare Monkey Gems	Jupiter Lava Socks
Pattern: Monkey	Pattern: Hey Jupiter
Designer: Cookie A.	Designer: Liz Abinante
Needles:  US 1 1/2 (2.5mm)	Needles: US 1 (2.25mm)
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight – Rare Gems	Yarn: dkKnits Technicolor Smoosh Toes
-Ravelry Project Link-	-Ravelry Project Link-
These knitted up in FOUR DAYS.  Four days.  I had the pattern memorized after one repeat and it was so simple yet beautiful, I’m positive these won’t be my last monkey socks.  The rare gems came from Rhinebeck last year and I just LOVE how the colors pooled up.	This was the sock of the month from Yarn4Socks.  After a false start (too tight to fit over my heel), I added four stitches in and they worked out perfectly.  I did an extra repeat on the leg since there was plenty of yarn.  The color is FANTASTIC and the pattern was super fun to knit.

4. Spin four ounces of roving per month.
Well I got eight ounces in one month? Does that count? I decided to go ahead and put away the knitting for a month and spin along with Tour de Fleece, a yearly spinning event that takes place during the Tour de France. Well I spun my little feet off and ended up with two finished skeins and one half-spun chunk of roving.

	This merino/tussah roving was from dkKnits and is spun up to laceweight, 789 yards.  I think maybe this is why I only completed two skeins during Tour de Fleece!  It spun up delightfully soft and squishy and I just love how the colors came out.
	This is a roving from Twisted Fiber Art and is the Brilliant Roving (superwash BFL) in the colorway, Blaze.  It spun up to fingering weight and came out to 420 yards.  I’ve already knitted up a pair of socks with this and they are AWESOME if I do say so myself.  An absolute delight to spin and knit, definitely a roving I’ll be working with again.

And I think that’s about it.  I haven’t really made any more progress on the other goals, and should probably get started on that considering the year is well over half done.  

Going back in time to January again for the knitting resolutions..

2. Knit two sweaters this year
Started one. It’s tough knitting a sweater in the summer. I had a big rush of excitement when I started, gushing over the gorgeous color, dyed by Becky of dkKnits and then set it aside about 30% of the way down the body to do socks and lace and other fun summer type projects.

3. Knit one pair of socks per month
Got both of those!

April – Blue Angee Socks	May – Twisted Devon Socks
Pattern: Angee	Pattern: Devon
Designer: Cookie A.	Designer: Cookie A.
Needles: US 1½ / 2.5 mm	Needles: US 1½ / 2.5 mm
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Sock, colorway, “Impressionist Sky”	Yarn: Twisted Fiber Art Kabam! in colorway, “Terrain”
-Ravelry Project Link-	-Ravelry Project Link-
These were finished just in time to go to Stitch n’ Pitch with the Phillies.  Sadly, we were soundly beaten by the Nationals, but the socks told me that they didn’t mind.  The pattern is from Cookie A’s new book, Sock Innovation, and I’m absolutely in love with all of the patterns.  This one was pretty simple, but with a great effect.  And the yarn!  There’s a reason why we call it MMMmmmmmmalabrigo.  Squishy, Yum.	Another entry from Cookie A’s Book.  Both the yarn and the pattern came together to produce an absolute delight to knit and wear, even if one sock somehow tricked me into knitting an extra repeat on the leg.  I’d go back and rip the longer top down to match the shorter one, but there’s a cuff-to-leg transition set of stitches that I wouldn’t be able to do if I knitted back up the cuff.  So, we’re going to call them unique and leave them as they are, unmatched and beautiful.

4. Spin four ounces of roving per month.
My poor wheel has been feeling woefully neglected. I did get my 4oz for May though.

Corriedale from Maisy Day Handspun in colorway, “Water Lily.”  I never really liked corriedale, until now.  I got my hands on the raw roving in the past and did a little nose wrinkle – scratchy.  It’s not merino.  But, after it’s spun up and plied?  Not so bad.  I probably still wouldn’t make a scarf out of it, but it’s pretty and squishy and I rather enjoyed spinning it.  It clocks in at 285 yards and is about sport weight.

And that’s the wrap-up for the last two months of acheiving resolutions.  There has been more knitting, of course, that I haven’t detailed here, but with the garden growing, the lawn needing mowed, and a whole host of fun outdoors stuff to do in the lovely weather we’ve been having, knitting has mostly taken a back seat to a lot of seasonal things to do.

1. Clear the WIP queue from last year by the end of the month.
March down too, little to no progress.  Maybe by the end of the year eh?  I’ve re-started work on the lingering pair of socks that were struggling with second sock syndrome and should be done with those in a few days.  As some kind of explanation, they’re toe up (NOT a fan of toe-up socks) and rather complicated – not something you can really take along with you to stitch n’ bitch.  However, they are gorgeous and will be my first completed socks using the infamous Wollmeise.  I managed to get a spot on the sock club for this year and haven’t been doing the yarn justice yet.  I really hope to share those with you soon!

3. Knit one pair of socks per month
GOT IT!
Pattern: Lorna’s Laces basic socks
Designer: Kim Haesemeyer
Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock Multi
-Ravelry Project Link-

4. Spin four ounces of roving per month.
Got that too.  Posted the results of that here.

8. Participate in another test knit.
See the socks above!  When the pattern is available, I’ll put the link here.

3. Knit one pair of socks per month
So close on this one!  But, I think I’m still on track for 12 pairs for the year, so this shouldn’t be a big deal that I’m 4 days over budget.  February is short anyway, right?  Just finished up the socks tonight, so I’ll have photos of them hopefully tomorrow.

4. Spin four ounces of roving per month.
Boy did I ever make this one!  There were the four ounces of superwash BFL for Thorpe and then a whopping eight ounces of superwash Merino from Crown Mountain Farms for my Sunshine Surf Scarf.   I’ll post something more on that project later.

5. Dye more yarn and roving.
Got this one already too, though I hope to do this again throughout the year.  I attended a class at a local art center with the wonderful Pam Pawl who took us through the process she uses for dyeing.  It really made a lot of sense and I loved her method and great organization of the process.  I got to dye two skeins of yarn that the class provided (not great quality and really scratchy, but they’ll be wonderful for a felted project!).  With the leftover dye, I was able to dye some merino roving I had brought along.  Photographic evidence: