I have a December tradition. Every December, I look through my list of works-in-progress (however old some of them may be) and decide their fate. And with December rapidly coming to a close, it’s time to make some decisions about a few projects.

First, the Lift and Separate from Big Girl Knits. I have 10 balls of Berroco Ultra Alpaca that I was planning to use for this sweater. Actually, I think I will have only used 8 of them, but that’s not the point. The point is this: as much as I *love* wrap sweaters, one made in this yarn would never be worn. The yarn is fabulous. The pattern is fabulous. The combo…not so much. You see, I would plan to wear a cami under the sweater, and if I got hot (as I inevitably would in an alpaca-blend sweater), I would feel too self-consious about my arms to take the sweater off. So, I’m thinking maybe a cotton blend for this sweater would be better. Thankfully, I only have part of a sleeve completed.

But the yarn has told me in no uncertain terms that it wants to become the Cardigan for Arwen from the Winter 2006 issue of Interweave Knits. I’m not a huge fan of the way it is constructed, but I’m a smart knitter. I think I can come up with another way. Notice that this type of sweater is more like a jacket. I like that. It makes me happy.  I’m thinking about raglan shaping, though I’ve always wanted to try Elizabeth Zimmermann’s seamless set-in sleeves, and this might just be the perfect opportunity.

Second, the Aran Weight Lace Cropped Cardigan. Pattern free from Elann.com. I’m using Classic Elite Lush. I changed the pattern a lot. I hated the way it was written and I didn’t like the lace pattern they used on the arms. Now I just hate the whole thing. This yarn is wonderful and soft and perfect. The sweater is not. The yarn hasn’t told me what it wants to be instead, so I think I’ll just rip it out and let the yarn age in the stash for a while longer.

Third, Babies and Bears for Grown Ups using Manos del Uruguay in a variety of colors. Again, I love this sweater, and I love this yarn. I just don’t love them together. I have the Noro Kureyon that I reclaimed from the ill-fitting Rambling Rows Cardigan. That yarn wants to be a Babies and Bears for Grown Ups. I think the Manos ultimately wants to become a fair isle yoke sweater, but not right away. It will be perfectly happy aging in the stash for a while too.
Fourth, Diagonal Rib Shawl using Dzined hand dyed wool/hemp/mohair. I hate knitting this pattern so much. I’m just not a huge fan of ribbing, so doing an entire large shawl in it is like trying to dig my eyes out with a wooden spoon. Not fun. The yarn, however, is fabulous and far too nice to let go to waste. It will be something someday, but it hasn’t told me what. I can be patient.
I also like to spend some time in December deciding which projects I want to move to the top of my list. Projects I’d like to finish during the following year. Some projects, like the Denmark Gefjon, have been on this list for a very long time. This year, the additions to the list are: Victoria’s Pi Afghan, Victoria’s Pi Jacket, and Aaron’s Wonderful Wallaby. I was hoping to have all of these done before winter. So much for that.  I may move the long-languishing Russian Prime to this list as well. I need to dig it up and see where I’m at with it.

Finally, I always start a new project on January 1. Always. It’s not always a project that gets finished, but I always start one. Tomorrow, I’m going to start a shawl. My original plan was to knit a shawl from Victorian Lace Today. However, after much thought, I’ve decided on the Faux Russian Stole from A Gathering of Lace, using laceweight cashmere from Hunt Valley Cashmere.

I think 2007 will be The Year of Lace for me. I very much enjoy knitting lace, and it’s been a long time since I knitted a shawl. (I know…I know…you are looking at the December 4 post thinking, “What? That’s a shawl.” Yes, it is. But I knitted the body of it almost 2 years ago. I just had to do the edging, and that doesn’t count as a big lace project. In fact, this lace edging was just mindless and boring.)

Anyway, once I finish the Faux Russian Stole, I definitely will start something from Victorian Lace Today. The projects in that book are stunning. I am particularly fond of the half-hexagon. But, some of the rectangular stoles are quite nice as well. I just don’t have the perfect yarn for any of the projects in my stash.

On that note, I have three more skeins of cashmere to wind before midnight. Then, I have to resist casting on until the clock strikes 12!  Somebody help me!