Dear Ellen,
There’s something I love about setting up the computer file structures for the new year. I only have chronological files for my pictures and those are pretty straightforward. There’s “2010″ and “2010 Knitting”. Under the former I have a folder for miscellaneous shots sorted with folders for each month and then the big events get their own folder. Under the latter it starts out pretty empty. I move in the folders for the projects from the previous year that didn’t get finished and guess what? This year there are only three. Then I add folders for each new project when I cast on or have planned them out to the point of readying the project bag. I have 5 folders already. 
A Stitch Away from Genius (down to a few rows of the collar, some blocking and some buttons!), Cinnamon Tee and the Hugs and Kisses Socks are carry-overs. Sea Glass and Not So Naive are new starts. I’ve decided to make Cinnamon Tee and the socks my WIPs Wrestling entries for Ravelympics. Not sure I’ll do a bigger effort, finishing the 2009 work will be Olympian enough!
Not So Naive was planned, but never packaged nor started last summer. It’s the Ingenue sweater from Classic Knits. I’m making it from a luscious chocolate brown llama yarn spun from fiber generously shared by Narcissus, one of the llamas at Table Rock Llamas Fiber Arts Studio in Black Forest, CO. (I’m verifying the llama’s name with the store…was so sure it was Jack, but then the tag said Narcissus.) That, and the occasional bit of straw, etc. that I come across in the yarn makes me feel very close to the source as I work on this. The sweater is knit from the neck down and has a wide neck opening. I’ll appreciate that as I don’t like being choked by sweaters…I overheat too quickly. The pattern stitch for the neckline is repeated at the cuffs and hem.
Sea Glass is…the Hanami Stole. You and the cell mates have tempted me over. I’m calling my version Sea Glass because…well, just look at the picture. You’re bright enough to figure it out. I may try the cast on tonight. My plan is to try to do it with the beads already strung…I hate screwing around with a tiny crochet hook. If it doesn’t work, oh well. I may see if I can figure out how to use the Gansey cast on as well. Pictures to follow if it works.
A belated, but very sincere happy birthday to Wilson! And I hope you can ease into the new year smoothly.
Love, Jan
Jan and Ellen are identical twins who have always had an innate fashion sense. Crafting is an integral part of their lives and they stay stitched together sharing their love of knitting, family and community.
January 3rd, 2010 at 4:52 pm
It’s so interesting to hear about how different people organize. Branden is definitely a by-date organizer, and I’m a by-project type. Makes for fun shared drives. =)
I like how your method helps track which things get carried over from year to year; for mine, I need to go look them up on the blog whenever I want to know when I actually knitted something.
Love the colors in those yarns! Especially the Sea glass and the brown alpaca. Looks like there’s some good knitting to come!
January 3rd, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Sea Glass is the perfect name, indeed! I am inspired to get my files organized, because they are a complete mess.
January 3rd, 2010 at 5:16 pm
My photos are all organized by event (project), and for everything else, there is search.
If you are truly inspired by the cellies, you will cast on, knit two or less inches, and hide it in a corner. Not for lack of qualities in the pattern, but because another shiny object will come along.
Wouldn’t it be interesting if every package of meat were labeled with the name of the animal from which it was sourced? (I just read the J Saffron Foer’s book, Eating Animals. It has me thinking…)
January 4th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
So much good knitting to look forward to! I adore the sea glass color — stunning. Happy New Year!