I’ve found myself becoming addicted to various online sites these days, now that I’ve got more time to kill during the day. Etsy is one of these sites. I try not to let myself get too drawn in, but it’s hard. Especially because their search function kinda sucks, so you end up browsing through a lot of stuff that doesn’t really meet your intended criteria. But still, it’s inspiring to see all this stuff that people create, and amazing to see how low some people price their stuff. (The insanely high prices of some items don’t shock me as much, since they’re closer to the prices you see in upscale boutiques.)

I’ve been browsing through Etsy these past few days because I’m trying to put together the final package for my secret pal. I’ve got a few goodies lined up already, including some fingerless gloves and a skein of my hand-dyed sock yarn, but I want to include a bag. A tote bag, or a messenger bag, or even just a small clutch… Something cool, though. And of course, if I were to go to a local shop, I’d expect to pay upwards of $40 for something like what I’m looking for. But I’ve already bookmarked a few Etsy buys that are in the $10-20 range. And yet, I can’t decide. There are literally thousands of things to see there, and every time I think I’ve made a final decision, I see something new, and I just keep getting drawn back in.

I finished my first pair of Aurelia socks the other day. (Sorry there are no pictures today - my camera batteries are dead, and I haven’t had the opportunity to run to the store to buy new ones yet). While I’m eager to start on the second pair that uses the actual pattern I’ve written up and will eventually be sharing online, I’ve grown just a tad weary of knitting on size 0 needles, and have opted to pick back up on the Soft Twist V-Neck Sweater after its 2-month+ hiatus. It’s sort of what I need right now - mindless stockinette on normal-sized needles. I did run into an hitch last night, though. The center-pull ball I was working from somehow managed to get all twisted up, and what I ended up with was one giant knot (which was exacerbated by the fact that this yarn is so splitty to begin with). It took me several hours to get it untangled and rewound, and even then, I had to resort to snipping the yarn in a few places, so what I actually finished up with was four separate smaller (but neatly-wound) center-pull balls. Oh well. I may end up not even needing that ball, so I’ll hold off on using it til the end.

I’m having a very difficult time not starting any new projects right now, actually. I’ve got so many ideas floating around in my head, but there are a ton and a half of UFOs lying around the house that I really ought to finish before I start anything else. I at least need to finish a few of them, anyway. My UFO list is ridiculous:

• Merino Lace Socks
  [pfmeter id=6 progress=50/100]
• Sgt. DayGlo Socks
  [pfmeter id=7 progress=75/100]
• The Handspun Socks from the stuff mom spun for me for Christmas
  [pfmeter id=8 progress=10/100]
• The Soft-Twist sweater (back’s finished, 10% of the front done)
  [pfmeter id=5 progress=35]
• The fingerless gloves I started at Christmas (I’m so stupid to have let this one sit for so long)
  [pfmeter id=4 progress=99%]
• My secret pal’s gloves (1 is done, but it needs a mate)
  [pfmeter id=12 progress=50%]
• The feather-and-fan scarf
  [pfmeter id=1 progress=60/100]

I told you, it’s a ridiculous list. And that’s just the current stuff that I can remember and plan on finishing. I’m sure there’s a crap-load of stuff up in my stash that has been forgotten and will eventually be frogged. So, there’s lots of knitting to do before I can even think of casting on for another project. Tonight’s Gilmore Girls night over at Eva’s, so at least I’ll get some knitting done on that sweater. That’s assuming, of course, that the yarn decides to behave itself and not make any more knots. Seriously. Can’t take any more of that!