Knitting, Sci-fi and other stuff...

      As the year comes to a close, I've been looking at my queue and starting to plan out a few projects for 2025.  After having to cold sheep for the majority of this past year, I'm going into next year with some guidelines.  When I purchase yarn, I really want to stick to purchasing for specific patterns.  I took advantage of Miss Babs annual gratitude sale and purchased specifically for two patterns.  I also want to continue to knit from stash whenever possible.  I have paired up yarn with patterns for several and they've been moved up in my queue.     I'll have more time, so I plan to participate in several swaps in 2025.  I'll be getting yarn from these so I'm going to try to stick to swaps only for "unplanned" stash acquisition.  I have several carry-over projects I didn't get to this year, which seems to be a theme every year.  So tentatively this is my meager list for 2025: - Butterfly--Papillon  with Urth Ya...

     I finished up my swap and got my package mailed yesterday.  More on that hopefully next week once my swapner gets her package.  I was able to go down to Syracuse Wednesday.  I had lunch with my former colleague and mentor Sal and then took myself yarn shopping.  It was really nice catching up and our lunch was delicious.  We went to a noodle place that has very good ramen and dumplings among other dishes.  Then I went to Yarn Cupboard in Jamesville, which is just outside Syracuse.  I got a skein of yarn for my swap and I also picked up the yarn for my next long term project.  I've been wanting to make  Butterfly Papillion  for several years and decided to finally take the plunge.  I got the Urth yarns specified in the pattern.  This is also Christmas for me from my husband.   I also had Susan order me enough Malabrigo Rios for another Killer Queen Cowl .  Since it's been very cold here I've be...

      I've been quite busy but unfortunately not with knitting.  I have managed to finish my  Always be Brave .  I even got it blocked which flattened out the i-Cord bindoff that wanted to roll.  We've gotten our first major snowfall of the season; the final tally was three feet where I live.  Our second snowstorm is in full blast right now.  I wore this for several days and unfortunately, it's a little too scratchy to wear for any length of time.  If I wear it on my short drive to work, it's okay.  I really enjoyed the pattern though, so I'm on the lookout for softer yarn so I can make another one. I've been wearing my Killer Queen Cowl this week.  When I first made it, I wasn't sure about the style and if I'd like it.  Now that I'm actually using it, I really like it.  It's soft and the neck area is long so I can pull it up to surround the back of my neck or my face if I need to.  I have a few other cowls in my...