January, where have you gone?

It may sound bad, but I really have no idea where this past month has gone. It's the 25th already, and I'm still working on my first January sock, have not woven at all, and am not nearly done with my January Aran. What I have been doing, I think, is trying to get back in the groove after the holidays.

I have been swimming 3 times a week, working my way back up to a mile. I have started doing yoga again, adding one more sequence from my favorite dvd each time. I have been teaching my first knitting class in a long long time and thoroughly enjoying it. I have been doing blocking and finishing work for other people, and some knitting on commission. I have been cleaning up in the living room (found 2 fleeces shoved in the corner I completely forgot about, how could I not see them?). I knitted 100+ rounds on the Scheherazade I rescued from the UFO basket. I have knitted 17" of the body of the January Aran. I did knit a tiny doily and start knitting a small doily I've had my eye on for a while. I have been baking regularly, working a little, sleeping well. Not bad, all told, if you look at the proper criteria.

Here's a link that's too cool not to share: Knitting her CoWorkers

Knitter's Almanac - January Aran

I was thinking about knitting my way through Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac, then saw a friend post on Facebook about the same thing. Well, that decided me! Chris said she was going to knit one thing from the book each month, but not necessarily in order. I decided to start in January with An Aran Sweater and go from there. Finn could use a new sweater (the last one I knit for him was 5 years ago and it barely fits) and I have a lot of stash to use up, so the aran will accomplish two things at once.

Here is the first fishtrap pattern repeat, completed last night:

For an aran, it is a very soothing pattern. The cable needle is only needed every 7th round, and once you establish the stitch patterns and put in markers the chart is only really a reminder. I'm using up some Lion's Brand Fisherman's Wool that I bought on clearance at a chain craft store years (like, 7 or 8) ago. I knitted my February Lady with some of this last year, an afghan a couple of years ago, dyed enough of it purple to knit 3 kids sweaters, and there is still enough in the bin for one or two more adult sweaters after pulling out enough for the aran. Yes, I bought all they had, from more than one location. It's pretty good yarn.

I did a swatch in stockingette, but not the gauge hat (he already has several). The smallest size in the "pithy directions" is 38 inches. Mine is coming out 36 inches, but since Finn is a rather slim 12 year old that ought to work out just fine and should fit him for several winters at least. He is looking forward to wearing it and keeps coming to look at it, which makes me want to keep knitting. ;) I may just finish this in January!