Knitty Updates

I have been doing some knitting not just entering swaps and contests. ;O) I have made a bit of progress on three different projects. I'm trying to finish up these little ones before I start on too much else. I am really battling against an awful case of startitis. I think the only thing holding me back is that my left shoulder, elbow and wrist have been troubling me -- perhaps the marthon sessions to get the Volleyball bag done - irritated it. However, I feel lost, stressed, overwhelmed, sad, etc. when I can't knit. It truly relaxes me after and during a stressful/busy day at the office.

So what do I do - but keep knitting continuing to irritate my arm and order more knitting books to make my startitis even worse. :O\ My grandmother wanted the Stack & Whack book by Beverly Reynolds - so what was I to do but order more books to get free shipping?? (ignore the fact that I could order 1 more book and still get shipping for free). I can rationalize just about anything. I have sock yarn on route from Loopy Ewe - so I ordered Cat Bordhi's Socks Soar on Circular Needles. I really would like to try another sock method other than double points (although the DPN's are ahead in my poll as people's favorite method). The second book I ordered is Nicky Epstein's 15 fabulous felted bags -- because I need to pick out a new pattern for the Fall Felted Bag Exchange, right? After all my swap partner will be assigned by tomorrow...

I do have a tendancy to go full force into my hobbies. So after all that rambling here is my knittery progress thus far this week...

WIP report:

Ankle socks - finally almost done - just a 1/2" to go before I finish the toe. These have been taking forever for some reason.

Read in Bed Shrug -- past the half-way point on the lace pattern repeat

Checkerboard Pleated Tea Cozy - I'm about two repeats from the top of side 1. It is a version of the "Easy Pleated Tea Cozy" pattern by Rita Taylor. My LYS did an interpretation of the pattern for one of their displays that I really liked. There's a picture of their cream and burgandy version on Pam's Blog. I thought I would make one for my Mom/Dad and one for me. We're big nightime tea drinkers. It's so relaxing to sit down with a little hot pot of tea.