If Only It Were This Easy

If I could erase parts of 2013 like this wave erases it…boy would that be nice and easy.

But no…that's not the case.  Instead of focusing on all that went wrong this year, I will focus on what went right with my knitting.  I did a lot more designing this year and it really has paid off.  Between my Fleckle Mitts and Just One More Cowl, I've had small successes (both patterns helped pay for Christmas in a lean year).

I also am writing and designing for Knit 123.  While my patterns haven't appeared in an issue yet, it's something to look forward to next year (I think April?).

I also started working in my LYS, Iron Horse.  It has been fun, interesting and has let me feel like part of a knitting community.  I get to knit samples for them and and I get to teach!

Some of my favorite projects that I knit this year (not my designs) are:

Warriston

Bedford

Asilomar

Last year I posted this line:
 I wish you a Happy New Year - 2012 is one that I don't care to repeat and I do hope that 2013 will be much kinder.  Happy New Year!

So here I go for this year:
I wish you a Happy New Year - 2013 is one that I don't care to repeat (in fact - GOOD RIDDANCE 2013) and I do hope that 2014 will be much kinder.  Happy New Year!

Schoonheid

One of the advantages of working in a LYS is you sometimes get to knit store samples.  When Berroco pre-released their newest free pattern, I volunteered to knit the store sample of Schoonheid.  All it takes are four skeins of Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light.  The pattern is easy and quick to remember.  I knit this up in a week and loved how it looked.  I definitely recommend this one!

He Understands

My Christmas gift from my DH shows he totally understands me and my knitting.  Check out this wonderful storage unit he gave me for organizing my yarn and knitting stuff.  The needle case and yarn were a gift from my parents and don't they look fantastic in this storage unit?  The cool thing is it fits in this odd space in our family room which must have been a fireplace originally or it was used to store firewood.  I can't wait to remove the Christmas decorations and put my yarn nook to use!  The other great thing is he got me 2 of these so I can put one upstairs for more storage.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

For the past few years I have sent my parents one of my hand knit ornaments.  This year when my mom saw the mini Santa Hats I knit up she quickly asked if she could have one.  So I kept one aside for her and mailed it to her - here's her Christmas tree.  What made me smile is seeing the mini stocking I sent her a few years ago too.  Hmmm, what will next year's mini knit be?

Merry Christmas all!

I Love Contests!

The other day I was reading Kristen's blog and she had a post about peg people ornaments with a contest to win an angel ornament.  Well, a few days later, I got an email from her saying I won!  Friday's mail brought this adorable ornament which I promptly hung next to two angels that my godmother gave me.   What I love most is the Swedish feel to this angel and that it goes perfectly with the angel that my godmother gave me which came from Sweden.  I can feel her smiling down from heaven as she sees this little section on my Christmas tree.

Thank You

I have been blogging for a while now and I must admit there are days I ask "why bother?"  It is a good outlet for me and I do enjoy sharing what I've done/learned/observed.  However, sometimes I still think that I am talking to no one THEN I get a comment like this from  Eileen:

Thanks in part to your blog, I've taken up knitting after many years. I was in Micheals a month or so ago and came across some gorgeous teal wool on sale (my daughter's favorite color!) 

I found a pattern for a cowl and made it up for her, and like your daughter she loves it!

Just the other day I was in a store and saw something similar on sale (on sale!) for $30. I paid less than $10 for the yarn which made me feel even more thrilled.

Your daughter looks lovely! Thanks for sharing.

It was the opening line that got to me - my blog got someone back into knitting.  That is what blogging is about - sharing a passion.  Thank you, Eileen, for reminding me why I blog.  While I may not post on a consistent basis, I do try to write about things that share my passion for knitting.

A You're Adorable

When I saw a bunch of Berroco Comfort Chunky in the sale bin at my LYS, I got an idea.  I was going to make matching sweaters for my husband's great niece and his newest great niece to be born in January.  Chances are that they will be together sometime and can wear their matching tops.

I found this pattern - it is well worth the $5.  I made the coat length version and trust me this knits up in no time.  The smaller one took 3 days and the bigger one took 6 days.  Can't beat that!  I think they are adorable and I know the moms will love them.

Favorite Knit in Action

I truly wondered when our daughter claimed this cowl how often she would wear it.  I figured it was a phase and it would live in her closet.  Well, I am glad to report I was wrong.  She wears it a lot!  I had to share these wonderful photos of her wearing it yesterday - of course, styled in her own wonderful fashion.