New Year, New Projects...

Since my previous post was a collection of finished projects, I thought it would be appropriate to write a post about the knitting I have on the needles right now. I have a feeling 2008 is going to be a busy knitting year. My head is full of ideas that are just waiting to come out.

I started "the Big Green Sweater" last year, and I'm still working on it, although Christmas knitting slowed it down a bit. I'm already on the first sleeve, but this is what it looked like about 10 cm before I cast off the neck.

Very green, and very huge turtle neck! Can't wait to finish it so I can wear it.

I got my hands on some of the new and hyped Noro Kureyon Sock yarn, and it's all I could ever dream of! It has the Noro colors, the Noro thick-and-thin structure, and it's a bit rough. The roughness is a major plus in my book, because I want my wool yarn to feel "real", and not soft as cashmere. This is of course my own opinion, and if you're scared of this yarn because you've heard it's really scratchy, it's not that bad. I would say it's a bit softer than the regular Kureyon, and I can imagine it gets softer when it's washed.

So, I wanted a pattern that would look a bit like cables, i.e. stand out a bit, but wouldn't eat as much yarn as cables. I started knitting from the toe up, experimented a bit with yarn overs, k2togs and SSKs, and this is what developed. I'm just as surprised as anyone else! I had no idea this is what I would come up with. It's funny how the hands just go on auto-pilot and knit something! I'll write up a pattern for these when they're finished. (I know I say that a lot, and it never happens, but I promise I'll try!)

I also started another mitten over the Christmas holidays. This one is from Eeva Haavisto's book Sata Kansanomaista Kuviokudinmallia, and the pattern is from Kurikka. I really like how it's coming out. I wasn't too sure about it just from looking at the chart in the book, but I like it much more now.

The yarn is 100% Finnwool from Honkarinteen Tila, that I got at Turku Christmas market. Lovely!

And to balance things out with the thick wool projects, I started a lace scarf. The pattern is Travelling Roses Lace Scarf. It's so beautiful! And it's a nice change to knit a lace scarf instead of a whole humongous shawl.

The yarn is, again, from Turku Christmas market. It's 100% Finnwool, 1 ply, and really thin and soft. I have a feeling it's going to felt a bit, but that doesn't matter. It's so thin that the pattern will show anyway.

This is what I have going on at the moment. I haven't included the really old WIPs that are will-maybe-get-finished-sometime-projects. I also have a semi-secret project in the making that I can't show you. I hope you've all had a great start of the year 2008!