2015 Crafting Resolutions

Now seems like a good time to figure out my crafting plans for the year. So without further ado:

Necessary Projects:
Baby Blanket for Ilan and Anna (Op-Art in KnitPicks Swish DK in Eggplant and Squirrel Heather) Due By: March 2015

Baby Blanket for Suz and Steve (Linus Blanket with KnitPicks Swish Worsted in Jade, Dublin, and Squirrel Heather)
Due By: May 2015

Spin the Bin 2015:
 

I'm starting small, since this is my first Spin the Bin year. I also wanted to leave room for the BME top I have incoming and the quarterly SALs, so I stuck with only 2oz a month. Included in that bin (with my plans for it) is:

2oz - Gradient skein from Friends in Fiber Flight of Fantasy

2oz - 2-ply sock from Nest June Bug

8oz - Combo spin 2-ply from Nest Superstitious and Nest Fernwey

4oz - 2-ply sock (?) from Hello Yarn Headbanger

8oz - N-plied fingering weight from 2 bumps of Nest Shoshoni

Sundara Plans:

Finish my Middlefield Pullover, or rip it out and make a different sweater.

Knit a non-purple Sundara sweater, preferably a cardigan. Maybe finally make the Deco sweater I’ve been planning in my Raspberry Sport Merino.

Knit with some of my FMC or FM - I have so much and I haven’t used it at all! Maybe a stripey project? Maybe a shawl?

Knit/weave a winter set in my Lunar Eclipse. I bought 2 skeins of Aran Merino for a hat/mittens set, and 2 skeins of FSM for a scarf/cowl. I originally planned on weaving a shawl/scarf, but now I’m thinking of knitting a cowl.

Finish my darn Snapdragon Mittens and make a cowl with the leftovers!

Miscellaneous Plans:

Knit some socks! I didn't finish a pair all last year, and I miss them. Maybe try for 4 pairs over the year? At least one patterned?

Knit a looser sweater. Maybe Margot in my MadTosh Sport in Spectrum?

Finish my Starry Raglan.

Knit something out of my handspun (finishing my Multanomah will count).

Knit something with colorwork. Fiddlehead Mittens?

Final Thoughts:

I truly doubt that I will be able to complete 2 baby blankets, 4 sweaters, 4 pairs of socks, and miscellaneous accessories this year, and spin a bunch. But, nothing ventured nothing gained. Maybe I can finally get started knitting on the train again? That'd help.

I finally finished my Hap Blanket. Just in time to find out it's rather too small. Oh well, it's still pretty and good for warming my toes.

2014 Rhinebeck Sweater

I actually managed to get to Rhinebeck, complete with Rhinebeck sweater this year!

I couldn't just stop at one Wollmeise Lace woven shawl, could I?



This time I only have about 80% of a skein, so I had to narrow the width down a bit. It's still pretty darn wide. All I have to do to finish it up is twist the fringe and make it pretty.

That crazy cowl? 430 stitches a row in laceweight? Yeah, I finished it in barely over a month.

 

 Who knew stockinette could be so addicting?

I am nuts.

No seriously. I'm nuts. And it's all my friend Gretchen's fault. If you're wondering what that is, it's 430 stitchen joined in a round (hopefully not twisted) of Wollmeise lace. Yes. I'm apparently making a cowl that will reach to my knees out of over half a skein (that's over 1,000 yards) of laceweight yarn. Once again - all Gretchen's fault.

Ombre Monkey Socks

Monkey socks are the best socks. And they're even better when they change color all by themselves. Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A. Yarn: Bounless Sock Moki by Play at Life Fiber Arts in Acid Trail

Iron Maiden

I knit a shawl for a friend: Pattern: Iron Maiden by MaidenBrooklyn Yarn: Wollmeise Pure in O Tannenbaum

I Have Lost My Mojo

I have lost my crafting mojo. My loom sits warped, but unwoven. My quilt top is still in strips. And my knitting is going just about nowhere.

I finally finished the second toe on my Whirly Socks this morning, though, so maybe things are looking up? I can hope.



Yarn: GothSocks in Fairy Folk
Pattern: Whirly Socks by Louise Robert

Ruby Asterope

I finally managed to finish and block the shawl that's been on my needles since...April. Wow, this should not have taken so long. It was a really fun shawl to knit, but I'm not 100% sold on the finished project. The pattern is great, but the yarn may be slightly too variegated for my taste. I may end up gifting it.



Pattern: Asterope by Romi
Yarn: Sundara Fingering Silky Merino

Sweater Progress

I'm still plugging away on my WM DK sweater. I followed the instructions and blocked it before joining the fronts and backs, which made for a nice photo op.



Since this pic I've started the left sleeve. Hopefully I'll be able to wear the completed sweater in the new year.

Kissing Koi Cast-On

I've been in love with the Kissing Koi Mittens pattern for years. And I finally realized I had the perfect reason to knit them! In my quest to finish off some of my winter accessory sets, I found the blue malabrigo sock yarn that I'd put aside for gloves/mittens to go with my Gretel hat and Honey Cowl. After some Rav searches I had the brilliant idea of using the blue as background to some bright orange koi! I cast-on last night - it's looking pretty spiffy so far.



Pattern: Kissing Koi Mittens by Lisa Perruse
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock in Impressionist Sky and Wollmeise Pure Sock in Campari Orange

As Fast As A Speeding Bullet

I made a very late in the day decision to make my mom's birthday present this year. Well, actually, after the day, since I started knitting on the day of her birthday.

I wanted to use the yarn I had recovered from the sweater I made for her a couple of years ago (it didn't fit). It's a LE blue in Sundara's Aran Silky Merino.

I started with a shawl, which went from cast-on to blocking in two days, due to non-stop election coverage viewing.



And since I had a bunch of yarn left over, and my mom keeps complementing my berets, I made her a matching hat. In 24 hours - cast-on Friday night, wove in the ends on Saturday night. It was a miracle of efficiency.



Together they make a lovely set.



I had a chance to give them to her when she came into the city - turned out to be the perfect gift as she had not dressed for the cold, raw weather. All in all, a success!

Yarn: Sundara Aran Silky Merino
Shawl Pattern: Autumn Blush  by Joji Locatelli
Hat Pattern: Gretel by Ysolde

WM DK

As I have fallen for the siren call of Wollmeise DK, I felt the need to actually knit with it. So I've cast-on an Anna Maria Cardigan from Connie Chang Chinchio's book Textured Stitches. I've been getting in some good knitting time watching the playoffs (which came to an abrupt end due to the Yankees inability to hit) and the presidential debates (or actually, avoiding the presidential debates, as I ended up watching the last one on mute).

Woven Shawl

I finished my Wollmeise LaceGarn shawl. It's truly spectacular - pretty much all owing to the beautiful color. Although I'll take some credit for the awesome fringe. :)