So Many Options, So Litte Time

I have way too many options - too many projects that I want to do and no idea how to prioritize them.

I've had this idea about doing washcloths for the holidays next year. My initial plan was to knit a bunch of washcloths and hand them out with homemade soaps to my children's teachers. I got this idea when my mother gave me a bunch of old cotton yarn that she had intended to use for a sweater but then abandoned the idea. While the yarn pre-dates the organic trend, its color is natural, and it is textured, almost like a yarn spun by a new spinner who is still working on technique. I knitted a swatch to see if the cotton absorbs water. The good news is that it does. The bad news is that it looks a little burlap-ish. I'm going to run the swatch through a wash of towels tonight to see how it does. If it survives, then I'm going to knit a sample washcloth. If not, does anyone want three skeins of textured cotton yarn?

I'm also dying to do EZ's surprise baby jacket. My brother and SIL are expecting their first child this summer, and I'd love to knit something other than a baby blanket. When I first looked at the pattern, it looked very manageable. Then I heard Kelley mention in her podcast something about a trick with the jacket, and I was instantly intimidated. If you have any tips on the surprise jacket, I would love to hear them.

If I was smart, I'd sit down and begin knitting baby bibs immediately. My nanny is becoming a grandmother to her first granddaughter next month, and my DH's cousins are expecting their first daughter as well. Knitting the bib for the cousins should be a lot of fun. They are very outdoorsy people - they live at the top of a mountain (not a tall hill - a mountain), wear snow boots most of the year and run run 5 miles every morning. They are having a girl and believe that they can keep her from being a "girly-girl." Naturally, I see this declaration as a challenge. I plan to give that child nothing but pink frilly clothes and dolls for her first five years. So maybe I will try my hand at two bibs - one that is tasteful and one that is over-the-top girly.

As if the washcloths, baby jacket, and bibs are not enough, Sunday morning I saw a fabulous project on the PurlBee blog - crocheted yarmulkes. She posted them today as Passover yarmulkes, because Passover begins April 10. In fairness, these are not really Passover items. One month is not nearly enough time to knit yarmulkes for Passover. Before I can even find the right yarn, I have to begin cleaning out my pantry, refrigerators and freezers for Passover. I need to begin Passover shopping as well. Passover food has been in the stores for several weeks already (!), and I know if I don't go shopping soon, the good sweets will be gone before April. And now I'm supposed to knit yarmulkes for 30 dinner guests? I'm thinking . . .no. However, they will make awesome Chanukkah and b'nai mitzvah gifts. Some people carry socks with them for public knitting; I will carry yarmulkes and washcloths (assuming the yarn works out).

I get the feeling that I had one more project to discuss, but I can't remember what it is. It's probably better that way. I get the feeling I have enough to keep me busy for a while.

Thanks for listening!