January Challenge- Complete!!

As I type, the lace nightmare is upstairs, blocked and drying. I had to switch gears and knit a different shawl than the one I had originally begun knitting. I started the new pattern on the 22nd. I DO NOT advise knitting lace against a tight deadline! I will still knit the other shawl, but it will have to be a two-month-long challenge. I know it can be knit in a full month.....I'd like to be able to take enough time to do it properly, though. I kept screwing it up. Might have something to do with chasing a very mobile, very fast, almost 9 month old baby around my non-baby-friendly house. Yeah, I guess I need to do more than sweep the cat fur from the living room floor and plug up the outlets. Maybe I'll work on baby-proofing and cleaning during the next two days during my knitting time-out. (I had to swear to my husband that I wouldn't knit for at least two days once the lace was finished. And after my 19 HOUR knitting marathon last night.....my fingers are super swollen. I should finish typing and go stick them in the snow.)

Sorry for the bad pictures. Blogger and I continue to have disagreements on how well my pics should load. (I believe they should look normal, and Blogger believes otherwise. Oh well. This is a free service, and I shouldn't complain!)

Pattern: Fir Cone Wrap by Wendy D Johnson

Yarn: Knit Picks Shadow in Lost Lake Heather (This was an old color that I bought a few years ago.)

Lessons Learned in January:

1. As stated above, don't knit lace against a tight deadline.

2. Don't give up.

3. Be open to change.

4. Keep going even when you think it's impossible.

5. I am married to the most understanding and supportive husband in the world. (Ok, Ok, so I already knew that, but I had to say it again!)

6. You can't add days to the month. (I tried to tell Jason that January might have to be extended to the 32nd or even 34th, but he wasn't buying that....)

7. Sometimes you have to stop and read a book. (I read The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club by Gil McNeil to break up the monotony of k8, k1, YO, k3, sk2p0, k3, YO, k1, YO, k3 and so on for 44,460 stitches, not counting all the stitches I had to rip back and re-knit. I do recommend this book.)

8. The dishes don't do themselves. Nor does the laundry wash, dry, fold, and put itself away. If only!

February challenge project to be announced soon.......