I haven't gotten around to doing my end-of-year 2010 Knits collage, but I've definitely been knitting. Currently, I have 3 projects OTN: Herringbone Rib Socks, Laura's Cardigan, and Wright. The Herringbone Rib Socks pattern was a freebie book excerpt from the Handpainted Socks book via Knitting Daily. I'm beginning to dread the stitch pattern less, but that might be more due to the fact that I'm nearly done with one sock than due to me having become familiar with it. If you're in a hurry, these aren't the socks to make. Also, I should mention that I'm not exactly pleased with how my colorway is lending itself to the stitch pattern. I'm using Berroco Comfort Sock, and the colors are muted and therefore don't pop on the crosshatched sections. I would suggest a more variegated yarn than what I'm using.
My Laura's Cardigan is nearly done. Notice the lack of exclamation point: I'm crossing my fingers that it fits well enough to wear this spring. I lost 10 lbs to begin making it, but I think it will take another 10-15 lb before it fits how I'd imagined. All I have left are to sew in the sleeves, weave in the ends, and sew on some buttons. I have a lot of tails, so that part might take a while!
Wright has been sitting on the back burner... again. But, once Laura's Cardigan is finished, I'll be able to focus more attention on it, though I plan to cast on for Opulent Raglan next - yay! My Opulent Raglan by Wendy Bernard is going to be done in Knit Picks Merino Style in the Basset colorway (no longer available, but I can tell you it's a lovely brown with gray undertones).
Very recently, I finished an OSU Football double knit hat for Jared. Fallingblox (blog site), the moderator of the Double Knitting group on Ravelry who had a pattern (Four Winds) published in the 2009 Winter Twist Collective usually double knits by twisting all stitches. The twisted stitches create a totally different effect whether using just one color or more. I happen to really like the look of the twisted stitches, especially since they get tighter when stressed. Using twisted stitches, I made the following hat. I should mention that I knit each hat separately rather than double knitting them. Using Judy's Magic Cast On made it very easy to start the second layer.
As for running... I'm just about injury free! I've been running since 3 weeks after getting injured, but suffered lasting pain and difficulty in movement for a while. However, I can now stand up quickly without pain after sitting for long spells, and I can shave my legs in the shower without the fear of sudden pain. Hopping and jumping is possible again. It's nice not to hobble around anymore :-) All that's left is slight stiffness or faint stabs of minor pain (I call it phantom pain) that requires extra stretching attention. I've been running 1-2 weeknights (w/my headlamp) and either Saturday or Sunday afternoon.
I bought two things with my Christmas money: Icebug MR4 trail running shoes and Cookie A's Knit. Sock. Love book. I love them both so much! The Icebugs were designed for ice, snow, and slippery, wet surfaces. They're waterproof breathable and have little retractable carbide stud spikes on the sole which grip into the ice and hardpacked snow (i.e., NOT to be worn indoors!). I just ran in them at Highbanks this past weekend on 3-4% grade hills covered with hardpacked and loose snow -- easy peasy (the footing, not the hills)! As for Knit. Sock. Love., I can't wait to finish my current socks so that I can cast on a pattern from my new Cookie A book!
Over the last month or two, I've been checking out the Harry Potter audiobooks from the library. So far, I've finished the first two books and started the third. It's a slightly different experience listening rather than reading them. Jim Dale is an awesome narrator! How he does all those different voices with their detailed mannerisms, dialects, and pitches is incredible. Since Hagrid and Professor McGonagall sound almost exactly like the actors in the movie, I'm guessing that they (the actors) listened to the audiobooks before filming. Anyway, I plan on finishing the audiobooks before the next movie comes out :-)
