Year End Wrap Up

Wow, a whole year has gone by - this year I had 116 posts (down vs. YAG at 155). Honestly, there are times I think I don't need to blog anymore. Ravelry has dominated the knitting world for sharing and communication. Still though, my blog let's me have a ramble/rant every now and then and I guess that's good.

Last year I bemoaned the fact that my Knitmeter reset and I forgot my totals for 2009. So I saved it the other day and here's what I knit in 2010!







I also have a final FO for the year - a baby sweater for our dentist's little girl born a few weeks ago. The pattern is Summer Chills Cardigan and I made it in the 6th month size using Classic Elite Summer Set (which is on sale at Webs and only cost $13 for this sweater).

I also reviewed my goals I set last year (not New Years Resolutions as I'm not a fan of those). Here's what I had:

1. Finish Inca Marl Coat (preferably before March) - the collar is going to take forever. Done! I checked and I finished it on March 7th. The collar DID take forever and I ran out of yarn. Thanks the the wonder of Ravelry I found more in the same dyelot and a very nice lady sold me a skein. I LOVE this sweater.

2. Finish the sweater I'm designing for Miss America - it's sat alone for 2 months now. Not done but kind of done...I frogged it as it wasn't working and made a whole new sweater which she loves and wears a lot.

3. Take a class - I know I had this one on last year's list but I still need to do it. Not done again for the 2nd year in a row...I will this year! Thing is I hate committing to several weeks as it cuts into my substitute teaching times potentially. I'll have to find a one or 2 day class and go for it.

4. Learn to crochet (Kimberly if you read this I'm talking to you sister...this summer!) I'm not doing well here am I? No, Kimberly and I never pulled off the crochet class on the beach...we WILL this summer as my schedule will be much easier. I have several things I want to crochet that she's designed.

5. Knit something I've never done before - gloves? Something with a zipper? I dont' know what to say for this...I didn't make gloves or something with a zipper. However I did branch out to different weight yarns...I have never used lace or fingering weight before and did use them this year.

Well, looking at the amount of red above I guess I need to try harder with next years goals. Now, what shall they be? Hmmm...I'll save that for my first post in 2011.

Happy New Year!

It Arrived and It fits

Better picture later - however, the smile says it all. It arrived and it fits and it looks great on her.

Lucky Me!

We draw names every year for Christmas in my family (with my parents having 4 kids and 10 grandkids it is a good call)...actually, I keep a list from year to year and re-shuffle the names so no-one gets their spouse or the same name 2 years in a row.

This year my knitting sister had my name...lucky me! I opened a rather large package to find this wonderful basket loaded with goodies. Books, yarn, spot remover, and note cards came pouring out of a wonderful lined basket with a drawstring top. Love it! Hmmm...perhaps I can arrange for her to have me again next year?!?

Been knitting a lot...will show you another day.

Sometimes I Amaze Myself

I started this sweater on November 17th for my sister. We purchased the yarn on November 13th and she jokingly asked if it would be ready by Thanksgiving. I never expected that I would be done before Christmas. I gave myself the deadline of getting it to her for the new year but ended up mailing it today and I hope it will be to her by Christmas Eve...if not she'll have it for New Year's Eve.

It is Big Frill by Sublime Yarns. The photos aren't great but I made her promise to take a picture of her wearing it so I'll post them later.

My VERY Clever Friend, Kimberly

This summer I was a witness to a work of art in creation - my clever crocheting friend, Kimberly, was creating a pullover for Interweave Crochet. As we sat on the beach she worked on this sweater now called Frosted Windowpane Pullover. What I love about it is that it almost looks like it is knit!

The thing is when you are as good as Kimberly is they send you yarn to work with...when Kimberly got this divinely soft Manos Silk Blend we both loved the yarn but not the colorway. It had a lovely sheen to it which to me made it look like the belly of a pidgeon. Kimberly kept saying they must have something in mind when they photograph it...and they did as it really looks a million times better here! They chose a dark haired model - the reason Kimberly and I weren't crazy about the color was probably because we are blondes and would look awful in it!

Anyway, it is STUNNING and I feel so lucky to have seen this being created from beginning to end. Congratulations, Kimberly! Now I MUST learn how to crochet! :)

A Little "Just Because" Present

This past summer my mother said how much she used the scarf I made for her 2 years ago. My parents live in Florida but they are right on the frost line and it can get chilly there sometimes. So I promptly started the Firefly Scarf for her and gave that to her in early November.

When I saw some Skacel Merino Lace on sale I purchased a skein and cast on for Citron. I finished this on Wednesday...it took me about a month of inconsistent knitting. It is a fun pattern and you really need to trust in the magic of blocking as it really looks so much better after blocking.

I mailed it off yesterday and told my mom to open it up as it isn't a Christmas present - it is a "just because" present...just because she asked for a handknit item and just because I love her.

Aidez Info For Sarafina

Sarafina,
I couldn't email you via your comment so I'm letting you know how I did my Aidez neck on my blog - who knows...maybe it will help someon else!?

I knit the neck bit for the 3 3/4 as it told me to...when you get to that point see if you can gently stretch it to reach the center of the neck. If it works then you are good. Do not make it the full length to get to the center of the neck as I don't think it will set well...it will bunch. When seaming you just need to put the two neck ends together and then ease the fullness of the body to what neck you have knitted.

I hope this helps!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Just hung up this year's wreath with a few new sweaters - I chose some bolder colors so they really pop! I have over 20 mini-sweaters so the rest will go on the tree...more pictures to follow after we decorate our tree.

Where Did November Go?

We are getting our tree on Saturday and today we started our Advent Calendar...I truly worried our kids would think themselves too old for it but they love getting their chocolate treat out of the mitten every morning. I married a chocoholic and gave birth to 2 chocoholics...they have checked out what kind of chocolate is hidden in the mittens. No Hershey's kisses for these kids - they like Lindt!

I saw this on someone's blog and it is a little different from the last one I did so I figured I'd fill it out.

1. Wrapping Paper or Gift Bags? Mostly wrapping paper but gift bags are great in a pinch.
2. Real tree or artificial? Real...preferably balsam.
3. When do you put up the tree? First weekend in December.
4. When do you take down the tree? Usually, the day before New Years Eve...by then I'm ready for the new year and the tree is rather dried out.
5. Do you like Egg Nog? Since I do not like milk, I definitely do not like Egg Nog. My mom used to make homemade egg nog and quite frankly it was vile even when it was liberally laced with bourbon.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I remember getting a box set of the Little House On The Prairie series - I still have it.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, we have 2 in fact. A small simple wooden one and the Playmobil one that the kids loved playing with when they were little. I wish they weren't so expensive as I'd love a nice one.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My sister-in-law (I could go off on her right now but I'll hold back) and my brothers-in-law.
9. Easiest person to buy for? My daughter...girly stuff is so easy.
10. Mail or email Christmas Cards? We do an email card with photo to people we see a lot/local friends and then mail a photo card to those who aren't email types or far way.
11. Favorite Christmas Movie? Hands down...It's a Wonderful Life. I cry every time.
12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Pannetone...when I was 16 we spent Christmas with my grandparents in Italy and I fell in love with Pannetone. I don't buy it often as I'm the only one who eats it and I could eat the whole loaf in one sitting.
13. White lights or colored? White!
14. Favorite Christmas Song? The Christmas Song by Dave Matthews...not traditional but I love it.
15. Travel or stay home at Christmas? Stay home. We used to travel to my in-laws on Christmas morning and one year we couldn't due to family visiting us and a snowstorm. After that wonderful time of being home and having a relaxing/stress free time. My DH informed my in-laws they could come to us if they want but otherwise we're staying home and we'd come to them the next day (Boxing Day)...they weren't thrilled but the change has been wonderful for us.
16.Can you name all of Santa’s Reindeer? Yes, but I have to hum Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in my head to do it.
17. Angel or Star on the top of the tree? Usually an angel - that's what I grew up with...however, when our son was young he insisted on a star as it was "the star that shines on Baby Jesus". Can't argue with that. We have a star but it requires a very strong treetop which can be hard to find.
18. Open presents Christmas Eve or Morning? The kids can open one on Christmas Eve but everything else happens in the morning.
19. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Angry people fighting over parking places.
20. Which looks best, theme trees or homey trees? Definitely homey trees with handmade ornaments.
21. Gingerbread or Sugar Cookies? Butter cookies which Iguess would be closer to sugar cookies...I use a cookie press and put Hershey's kisses in the center. Yum!