I started the year with every intention of knitting one pair of socks per month – 12 pairs total – but unfortunately work got in the way. I had the same goal for 2008 and even surpassed it, knitting a total of 14 pairs…I think (I’d have to refer to my Ravelry account to know for sure). I did however, finish eight pairs in 2009 and that’s not too shabby. In the process I learned some new techniques such as toe-up, magic loop and turkish cast-on.

Sock knitting came to a grinding halt for me back in September as I attempted a fitted knee sock (pictured above) – which I christened the “sock that ate New York” – and came to the sad conclusion that I will probably never wear these crazy knee socks and the yarn would be better utilized in the service of TWO pairs of socks (instead of one). Does any of this make sense? I thought not.

I saw sad proof of my sock knitting mania the other day when I opened my sock drawer and out popped pairs and pairs of socks that I don’t even wear anymore! What’s up with that? They’re beautiful articles of knitted handicraft but what good are they sitting in a drawer. The story gets even funnier when I realize that my favorite socks are really the SmartWool socks I recently bought at REI. Aren’t they fabulous? It’s pretty obvious that I love orange socks, isn’t it?

My resolution for the New Year is to actually wear the socks I’ve knitted or find them good homes. I’ve already gifted the purple ones and I think I’ll have plenty of opportunity to wear a few pairs as I venture North to Oregon and Washington on Thursday. I also resolve to knit smaller socks…to fit Alice.

Continuing my recent tradition of quickie blog posts, I want to wish you all a Happy Holidays. Have fun whatever you celebrate.

No, the yarn above did not come from Etsy. It came from Webs and is intended for the Monday Morning Cardigan continuing my current obsession with all things purple.

I bring up the subject of Etsy because of an article that ran in today’s NYTimes. It seems that some people are actually making a good deal of money selling their handknits on Etsy (but spending all of their time knitting to do it). My brother’s gf, Maggie, has been after me to sell some of my own handknits and I am definitely considering it. Stay tuned for handknit items to come…probably in the new year.

Just a quick note in between jobs to boast about my anniversary. On December 12, 2006 I quit smoking and morphed from a chain smoker into a chain knitter. Thus began my knitting obsession.

To those of you who have tried this, you know how hard it can be but it’s been worth every tear and extra pound. To family, friends, readers, fellow knitters and especially my children, I want to apologize for my mood swings, snarls and temper tantrums. I’m eternally grateful for your continued support.

Like most people today, my attention span seems to have shrunk to the size of a gnat’s. We all lead such crazy busy lives that it’s hard to squeeze in pleasurable activities such as reading and reading has been sorely missing from my life recently.

The solution for me has been short stories. I picked up Both Ways Is The Only Way I Want It by Maile Meloy at my local library. Don’t you just love the library? The book’s been very highly rated in several reviews lately and even made it on at least one list of the Top Ten Books of 2009.

The stories are so quick and engaging that I read one on my lunch break today. Another outstanding short story collection that I can recommend is Jhumpa Lahiri’s Unaccustomed Earth. Exquisite.

It seems that I have passed through my “grey” (gray?) stage and I am now in love with all things purple.

I bought a purple skirt…

…to match my purple vest…

…and purple tights…

…even some purple makeup.

A also ordered some purple yarn from Webs (second row far right) to make a purple Monday Morning Cardigan. I love the color of the sweater modeled but I already have a seamless sweater in that color.

To show you how completely and utterly I have fallen for purple, I even picked up my purple shawl again. Yes, there are signs of knitting in the universe. It’s progress however slowly but progress nonetheless.

This purple bug is currently spreading around the knitting blog-o-sphere. Do be careful – it’s quite contagious.

When I finally overcame my block about the edge for the log cabin blanket, it actually went very fast. I’m very pleased. Instead of working in the round, I knit each edge separately and sewed them at the corners. Easy peasy! Why did I think it would be so difficult?

I threw it around Max on a recent excursion to Stinson Beach.

Now it keeps me warm on these chilly November nights.

Everyone’s flown home and flown the nest and once again I find it’s just the three of us…me, myself and I. *sigh* Ah well I can’t complain. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast at Karen and Jeff’s house as you can see. The crowd seems to grow bigger every year.

I hope you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving too!

I’ve been completely obsessed with hats recently churning them out at the rate of one every few days. This is my kind of project requiring absolutely no sewing except for weaving in the ends. Fantastic! So quick and easy but I have to work on not making them quite so BIG!

Max is modeling the extra large one at Muir Beach (80 stitches on 10.5 US with double strand of Patons Classic Wool Merino). Remember, this hat is a variation on the pattern Thorpe by Kristen Kapur and starts from the crown of the head. Each hat I make is a new adventure and I modify every subsequent version every so slightly. Currently I’m working on a grey one with pointier ear flaps – more of a “V” shape.

I’ve even started Nell on her first hat in the round – the Adults-Only Devil Hat from Stitch ‘n Bitch. Also a blue hat like the one she’s modeling below. This hat obsession show no signs of abating. My next hat will be striped using all the colors of PCWM that I have on hand.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I’ve got family in town this week for the holiday, namely Max and Nell (pictured above at the Caffe Trieste in North Beach), and we’ve been running around the SF Bay Area taking in the sites. Today we were at the California Academy of Sciences (along with Alice and Liz) which I haven’t seen since it’s been remodeled. We also had a hat modeling session at the beach the other day with photos coming soon. Stay tuned!