Knitting Dreams

My SP12 spoiler asked for my thoughts about what I'm dying to knit -- a specific pattern, technique, etc. It's really an interesting and complicated question.

I never get as much time to knit as I'd wish, what with working more than full time, compulsively signing up for swaps, and trying to make new things for the Etsy shop. Not to mention the other aspects of real life... I love knitting -- I find it stimulating and relaxing at the same time. So my wish list seems to just get longer and longer and I don't have much time to get to it.

I also tend to do much of my knitting for gifts so that clouds the dreams a bit. But my family is usually happy to get whatever I give them...

Also, because I'm so busy, I tend to gravitate to simpler projects. They're easier to pick up and put down, and I can finish them pretty quickly. (I like to finish things because I have so many UFOs lying around right now!) But that doesn't mean that I only want to do quick and easy projects -- I'd love to do some larger, more complicated pieces as well.

In terms of patterns and project ideas:

• I want to knit a sweater for Tommy. The last one I made for him was quite a few years ago when he was a little guy. Now that he's moved out (wah!) I don't have to worry about keeping it secret. He's interested in a Mrs. Weasley Christmas sweater, but I'm thinking about one that would be a bit more classic (while still young) in styling.
• I'm working on a diet right now, and would love to make myself some sort of special sweater/jacket as a reward when I reach my goal. Right now I'm thinking about a 1950s style vintage trapeze/swing jacket, but I'll wait until I get close before I make a decision.
• I'd also like to make some sort of intricate felted bag (see photo above)

Techniques:

• I've been thinking about learning to knit cables for a long time. I thought it would be easier to take a class, but have never been able to find one that fits my schedule. My Summer of Yarn Love spoiler just sent me cable needles and a how-to book. I'm hoping to take them on vacation with me in a few weeks (one of my favorite places to knit).

Yarns:

Every day it seems like there are more and more gorgeous yarns available. I very much enjoy working with wool, but the softer or more out-of-the-ordinary natural fibers are the ones that really speak to me. I keep hearing about certain luxury fibers and would love to try anything like that. Especially if someone has experience with them and recommends them...

A few yarns I've heard about that I'd like to try someday:

• Great Big Sea Silk (50% silk, 30% wool, 20% seacell)
• There's lots of gorgeous hand-dyed yarn available nowadays. I bought a skein of Yarn Love's Marianne Dashwood for a swap partner recently. The colors were rich and complex and lovely. I'd like to try anything similar.
• Any natural blends with cashmere and/or silk

• I love gorgeous combinations of color! And, as much as I always list reds, sophisticated greens and blues as my favorites, I really like most colors. I'm not as interested in neons and blah pastels, but like pretty much everything else. I'd love some knock-your-socks-off-gorgeous colors...

Needles:

• I very much prefer to work with circular needles. I'm hoping for a set of Knit Picks Harmony circulars for my birthday, but would love one or two of their singular circulars.

Does that help?