I was planning to cast on two pairs of socks. Instead I cast on one pair. twice.

I LOVE this yarn but I may never find a sock pattern that is a good match for it. I keep trying.
Dianthus Superbus Socks – Take 1 in yarn hand painted by me. ew.

Dianthus Superbus Socks – Take 2 in Deep Ocean Dragonfly Fibers Dragon Sock. ahhh. much better.

The pattern makes me think of waves, so this yarn really is a much better fit all around.

Also on the needles is a Gentleman’s Fancy Sock for The Husband in Solemate

Colorway is “Bigger on the Inside” but I tried it on his foot and it fit just fine.

Ps. To see what other folks are working on, go check out Tami’s Amis.

According to the blog, it looks like I may not have done resolutions in 2012. How unlike me. But, I guess that means I did them all, so yay!
This year, I’d like to:
1. Knit one pair of socks two at a time.
2. Knit with 5 yarns I’ve not tried before.
3. Learn to cook 10 new healthy dishes.
4. Increase my machine sewing comfort level (from you know, almost none).
5. Work on hand quilting. My current skill leaves something to be desired and I’m thinking about something like these for a 2014 project.


6. Do NOT buy any more items for wrapping gifts. My gift-wrapping supply inventory is starting to make my yarn stash seem sane.
7. Continue to enjoy driving my all electric Nissan Leaf. Spend all the oil change and gasoline money saved on more yarn!
8. Pay more attention to the garden. More tomatoes. Less basil.
9. Read a few classics (3+) via audio books from the library.
10. Blog at least 6 times per month.
11. Optional: Hunt down and buy a hank of Schaefer Yarn (leaning Heather) since there will be no more.
12. Optional: Knit a cranberry and popcorn garland for the tree next year. (might just end up making a real one if I run out of time. ahem. you know, like, if I spend the whole year knitting socks.)

13. Have a very happy 2013! I wish you all a fantastic year!!!

Ps. If these are your photos and you’d like them removed, pls just let me know. I did link back to what I believe are the original owners so check them out if you’ve a mind. :)

Ok, I really am going to try to knit something other than gnomes before the people that know me IRL check me into some kind of gnome rehab, but before they catch me and cart me off, I have a few random things to say.
The day my gnome yarn came in the mail, I couldn’t resist a picture before I got started. I love the colors!


Doesn’t this gnome remind you of Ivan Vanko from Iron Man 2?


If all of a sudden while you are weaving in the ends, a gnome is suddenly missing a leg, don’t despair. You can use the brown yarn you’re weaving in to kind of create a couple of loops that look like part of an i-cord and then make a loop through those to create the end of his leg, and then weave in the yarn you have left, then bippity boppity boo, you’ve created a leg after the fact. (This is much more clear when you have a leg there to try to match.) Ask me how I know.

Also, don’t worry if same gnome happens to look like Hellboy from some angles. This particular gnome had a bit of an identity crisis. He wanted to be different than all the other gnomes, so I let him be, although I did sew in his eyes.

Ps. Check out what others have finished at Tami’s Amis and Wisdom begins in Wonder and Natural Suburbia