I think this may be the Year of Knitting Promises. By which I mean the year I knit the things I have promised to knit. I confess that my thinking tends that way at the beginning of each New Year, but so far it has been something short of even a good intention — just a bit of musing as the Christmas cookies dwindle.
But now we are in the cold light (metaphorically speaking — it is actually more the cold murk) of February and I seriously think this could be the year.
I have been thinking about it this afternoon while working on Jeff’s Seahawks Hat ( which is my fifth not fourth Hawks Hat this winter, as I erroneously noted in in my last post). This project being a good example of Promised Knitting. Altho I am not sure that Jeff even knows I have promised it to him. At the risk of getting all philosophical here, I will clarify that these are promises by me and not necessarily expectations by others. There is the wedding gift blanket for my niece who was married last summer — I am still within the (possibly out-dated but still on the books) “gifts may be presented anytime within the year following the nuptials” rule of etiquette. So, I do not feel much guilt (yet) and I never actually told them I was knitting them a blanket. So, they are not expecting it, but it is my promise nonetheless. The promised wedding gift blanket for another niece who was married some years ago haunts me — I did tell them at the time of their wedding that I was knitting them a blanket, but no doubt they have completely forgotten as there has been a lot of life (including an adorable little boy) since then. Both blankets are on my list for this year.
My list includes a Spring sweater for Colette in the yarn her mom, Sonja, and I selected last August. I bought the pattern for “Baby Girl’s Jacket With Lace Collar” from OGE Knitwear designs today and will swatch it this evening. Colette’s Yzma Blanket is also on the list — and in my knitting bag. So, I am already fully embarked on knitting promises. Which makes the whole proposition, um, promising…?
There are projects for myself on the list too. Some are “in process” but laid aside. Some are still tight skeins of yarn paired with pristine pattern sheets. So, I can look forward to both reunions with the familiar and the excitement of casting on new ventures. What I will be trying to avoid is projects that lie beyond the horizon, as it were. Or — more realistically — not taking on more than a few absolutely new projects this year. This is not a total ban on new projects! But I want to focus on knitting what I have rather than seeking new acquisitions.
So, back to the Seahawks Hat! And from there it is on to the Baby Jacket, the Yzma Blanket, half a dozen sweaters, some lace shawls, socks….Looks like it is going to be a great year 🙂