2008 - really?

Yup, it's really January 4th already. Happy 2008, everyone. (Better late...well, as usual.)

I have been knitting. Robyn picked up some of my knitting today. It's (or was?) available in her January sock kit - the pattern I mean. What this means in return is that I can't show you my knitting. I tell you, it's a vicious circle.

I bet a lot of you come by and want to see pictures. I'll do my best to deliver some soon. Keep your fingers crossed. Oh, and I've already had enough of snow this Winter. We had to shovel out the car again after the New Year's Day surprise, but at least today our side of the street got cleared.

Wait, there was something else I wanted to tell you. I got an e-mail today from Interweave Knits. My "Tweedy Vest" is No 7 of Knitting Daily’s Top 10 Most Downloaded Patterns of 2007. Who'da thunk?

Here's the whole scoop:

1. Modern Quilt Wrap — designed by Mags Kandis for Folk Style (Interweave Press, 2007) in Rowan Kidsilk Haze, this wrap/oversize scarf is very loosely based on the traditional Log Cabin quilt block and worked square by square in the easy and satisfying mitered-square method of color knitting. This is as effortless as working in stripes, but the results are far more impressive.

2. Knitting Needle Knitting Bag — designed by Pam Allen for Bag Style (Interweave Press, 2007) in Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Chunky, this quick-and-easy knitting bag was the most popular handbag on Knitting Daily in 2007.

3. Icelandic Lace Shawl — designed by Sigrídur Halldórsdóttir (adapted for publication by Carol Rasmussen Noble) in fingering-weight wool yarn, shown in 100 percent wool Jaggerspun Main Line 2/8.This previously out-of-print pattern originally published in the July/August 1996 issue of PieceWork magazine is called the Thórdís shawl. The original of this traditional Icelandic shawl is part of the Icelandic Craft Council’s collection of textiles. It is thought to have been knitted by Thórdís Egilsdóttir, a resident of a small fishing village on the west coast of Iceland.

4. Tomato — designed by Wendy Bernard for No Sheep for You (edited by Amy R. Singer, Interweave Press, 2007), this sweater is knitted in Blue Sky Organic Cotton but worked at a tighter gauge than the ball band suggests to improve the drape and wearability. It’s designed to be close fitting, with waist shaping and a flattering scoop neck.

5. Corset Pullover — designed by Robin Melanson in Filatura di Crosa Elena, this feminine top combines lace, stockinette stitch, and twisted ribbing. The bodice is shaped with short rows and fitted with cinch straps, just like the corsets that Robin’s grandmother wore. (Robin is doing another design for JCA for Fall 2008 - I am thrilled.)

6. Knitted Cuddlies — designed by Louisa Harding for Natural Knits for Babies and Moms (Interweave Press, 2006) in Green Mountain Spinnery Cotton Comfort (cat), Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton (rabbit), and Vreseis Fox Fibre Chenille (teddy bear), this exclusive KnittingDaily.com excerpt offers one of the easiest patterns ever written for a knitted toy animal.

7. Tweedy Vest — designed by Mona Schmidt in Tahki Donegal Tweed, this vest can be worn as a knit tank. The tweed yarn and ribbing give it even more character.

8. Connections Red Scarf — designed by Sandi Wiseheart in Filatura di Crosa Zara for the Orphan Foundation of America’s Red Scarf Project, there are two ways to make this scarf: with the cabled border ends (for the more adventurous) and without (for those wanting an easier pattern). Wiseheart designed the scarf with its intertwined stitches as a meditation on family, connectedness, and the many ways we can say “I care” to those around us.

9. Pine Cone Scarf — designed by Robin Melanson in Mountain Colors Mountain Goat. Melanson used the familiar Old Shale pattern for this fringed scarf, but worked just one pattern repeat with a double strand of dark, richly variegated yarn to produce a chunky effect.

10. Broken Cables Socks — designed by Ann Budd in Regia 4 Fadig, this is the only sock pattern to make Knitting Daily’s 2007 hot list. The ingenious cable design is one that knitters will want to create over and over again.

Not bad. Not bad at all.