Spring cleaning is underway early this year here in the Philistine crafting household! Having taken stock of my vast numbers unfinished knitting projects, I have decided to dedicate the entire year of 2009 to finishing as many WIPs as I possibly can without beginning any new projects. This is going to take some extreme dedication on my part, as there are many, many new patterns + yarns out there that are siren-singing my name. That is not to say that I won’t start *any* new projects this year–claiming that entirely would be an impossibility–I can start new projects, but I have to commit to finishing those new projects this year and can’t let new WIPs languish.

And so Project WIPs-to-FOs commences! But first things first, I have been trying to get an accurate count on just how many WIPs I have that need finishing . . . and yes. The “have been trying” should be a clear indicator to you all just how dire the situation is. Just when I think I have them all accounted for, I find another something-or-other that I have totally forgotten about. Eeek!

According to my Ravelry projects page, I currently have 45 (!!!!) WIPs. But, oh dear friends, if only that were everything I actually needed to finish. I’m afraid there is more . . .

But I am nonetheless ready to get cleaning out the ol’ Rav closet and get some FOs brewin’ for 2009! So happy belated New Year, everyone, and get ready to see those FOs go marching across your screen! And hopefully Project WIPs-to-FOs will encourage me to blog more frequently in the coming months, as well!

Catching up on all those knitted items that I haven’t yet shown off . . . this pretty little lacy number was a particularly happy finish! Scarves knit with fingering weight yarn, I suspect, DO tend to evoke happiness upon completion–not so much as they’re being knit, though. This one seemed like it took me a little bit longer then for-EVER, but once I bound off and slung it around my neck, it seemed so, so worth it. I could even imagine knitting the same scarf in the same yarn again.

This lovely is, of course, the Lace Ribbon Scarf, knit using Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks merino/tencel sock yarn, a yarn I would definitely recommend. All in all, I’d chalk this project up to success!

And thank goodness for finished scarves, since it is already FREEZING here in Philadelphia–um . . . can someone please, please tell me me which crack Fall slipped into when I wasn’t looking? Winter is already here, friends. Stay warm!

I promised you I’d have something finished next time I posted, and I’d hate to disappoint, so here it is . . . a very finished (even blocked!) perfectly perfect scarflet for fall. My sock knitting mojo is certainly disappearing more + more quickly these days, and I’m newly obsessed with knitting any + all types of neck warmers. Shawls, scarves, cowls, they’re all good. This little scarf was a pleasure to knit . . . an easy, but engaging lace pattern + the most wonderful yarn in a gorgeous, verdant shade of fall. And it only took one skein of yarn to make a wonderful neck wrap, so it took no time at all to knit up! This little number is highly recommended + I can see myself knitting more of these scarflets in the future. The very near future.

Finished: Lace Leaf Scarflet
Pattern: Lace Leaf Scarf from Vogue Knitting (spring/summer ‘05)
Yarn: Pigeonroof Studios Siren Two sock yarn in ‘Lichen’
Full details on Ravelry
More photos in the Gallery

And speaking of fall, I’ve been hard at work making some new little fall goodies for the s h o p to celebrate the most perfectly perfect time of year! They should be ready very soon + I’ll be sure to let you know when they are! Until then, you can sneak a peek here.

Have y’all heard the latest? The new fashion trend for this fall is funky, handknit unmatching socks! Totally chic. Totally. { At least they’re color-coordinated? }

rococo sock knit using sundara sock yarn in ‘lilac’

‘Nother single sock can be added to the stack. I’m on my last two singles for my little Project Spectrum Elements project, which I’ve been working on for the past 6 months. I have two singlets left: one to represent BLACK + one to represent BLUE, both of which are on the needles. Project Spectrum concludes at the end of the month, and then… and THEN, friends, it will be all about knitting mates to each and every single sock. I have no idea what sort of system I’ll use to determine the order I knit mates. Maybe I’ll take suggestions? {Do you have any?} Maybe I’ll go in the order of most favorited on Ravelry. Maybe it’ll be random. Who can say? Socktober is my oyster . . .

kellokukka shawl in progress, knit using handmaiden mini maiden in ’smoke’

What happens when a single sock knitting maven gets distracted from knitting single socks? She knits lace. And more lace. And then some more lace.

shetland triangle shawl in progress, knit using malabrigo lace in ‘azul profundo’, yarn held double

Ooops! But she doesn’t knit all the same lace! That would just be too responsible of her. And she is anything but a responsible knitter–otherwise she’d have, like, twelve pairs of socks, instead of, like, twenty-five single socks. (And, yes, for those of you wondering, the Official Single Sock Count is 25).

kiri shawl in progress, knit using rowan yorkshire tweed 4-ply in ‘barley’

Okay, so that ’she’ is me. And while I am the most fickle knitter you know, someday I’ll have lots and lots of pretty lace shawls. And socks. Let’s hope that Fall is for Finishing, because, people, I have lots (and lots!) of finishing to do!

The leaning tower of socks, that is. Look it here, proof that I still knit, despite my summer vacation from blogging! Okay, so maybe this particular leaning tower is built out of single socks, but they won’t be singe for much longer. This October (or, rather, Socktober), I’m going to start methodically working through the single socks I’ve accumulated and crank out the mates. This new blog needs new FOs, yes? Yes.

Thank you for all of your comments on the new site + store! I’m pretty pleased with both. I mean, posting again after just 2 days?? Clearly, change is good.