Happy Wednesday! I’ve been busy knitting this week.

I’m actually making progress on the cocoon sweater. I bound off the bottom ribbing yesterday. I have yet to pick up the 192 stitches for the collar. I’m not looking forward to doing that. I don’t mind picking up 80 stitches or even 100, but 192 is intimidating. It isn’t mindless knitting – you actually have to think when you pick up that many stitches. I’m going to do it tonight because John is going to a movie. I will have plenty of time for quiet concentration once the kids go to bed. Honestly, I might celebrate picking up the collar with some hot chocolate or a glass of wine and a bubble bath. I feel like I will have earned it after picking up all of the stitches.
I am done with the first monkey sock and about halfway through the leg of the second. I should have that sock done by next Wednesday. My plan is to not cast on any additional projects until I’m done with that sock. We will see how that goes.

I couldn’t help myself last week and I cast on a slouchy navy hat.  I decided to bang out a The Favorite Knit Slouchy hat. The pattern calls for a thin worsted weight, but I went with a thick worsted because that is what I had in my stash and I knew I wanted an extra toasty hat. I love it. It is like my head is getting a hug.

My plan for knitting this week is to spend 15 minutes each day on the collar of the cardigan. It will probably take me about a month more if I’m knitting on it every day. If my thumbs ever heal completely I’ll spend more time on it, but until they are healthy the acrylic yarn really bothers them.

Once I finish the monkey socks I’m going to cast on a pair of St. Patrick’s Day socks. I’m probably going to do a very simple pattern on them. Maybe SKYP or School Pickup Line Socks. I haven’t decided yet. I am using sparkly green yarn I picked up last year in Winterset at the Heartland Fibers Fiberpalooza. If I’m going to buy any yarn there this year I need to knit with at least some of my yarn from last year. The festival is on St. Patrick’s Day this year, so I thought it was only right that I use that yarn.

What are you planning to cast on next?