What an incredible year this has been for my knitting and I don’t think that I’m going to quit anytime soon!  When I look back at all the projects that have hopped on and off my needles in 2010, I feel like I’ve really progressed with the creative part of my life. 

I challenged myself to knit 12 sweaters in 2010 and I only managed to get half way through that goal and knit 6.  But that’s ok because I know that next time I will set realistic goals for myself.  I also realized that as much gratification I get from knitting those quickie hats and mitts, sweater knitting will be my favorite drug of choice!

Ahem…. there are some projects here that look very my like they are unfinished and there are some FOs that weren’t even photographed because I was in too much of a hurry to mail them off to far away places.  But trust me, this is my 2010 FO parade!

Knitting was something that I got into to keep my fidgety fingers still while watching TV or for passing the time while waiting at the dentist’s office for a root canal and believe me, time passes so much quicker in the waiting room when you’re knitting!  When I was “forced” to learn knitting at school as part of my Home Ec grade (“S.U.P.W” was what it was called at my school) I would find any excuse to avoid working on my stockinette square.  I still remember the yarn I used – it was garden variety acrylic in the prettiest shade of cornflower blue.  But that square kept falling apart every time I picked it up – dropped stitches and accidental yarn overs were to blame.  Added to that was my lack of enthusiasm to play with sticks and string and all I ended up with was a dirty, fangled piece of something with a few stitches holding things together.  My teacher was the sweetest lady though and helped me unravel that mess and begin again.  I ended up with a semi-decent square-ish piece of fabric with just a couple LARGE holes!  But she was so happy and oohed and aahed over my first finished object.  She was the sweetest teacher:)  I brought it home and used it as a blanket for my doll for a long time.

I never knit another thing after that until I went to a craft fair in 2003 and saw this Danish lady knitting all sorts of pretty little things.  She made it look so lovely and interesting and easy even!  I picked up the needles again and cast on for a hat…using a pattern!  I haven’t been able to put the needles down since!

This knitting thing that I took up as a hobby has become a part of my everyday.  Sometimes I have to force myself to stop chanting the one-more-row mantra and put my knitting down.  But the best thing about knitting is the joy that working with my hands has brought me.  It’s amazing when you knit something for a friend or a loved one and they can’t stop grinning when you give it to them.  (Yes, the Shawl Collared Cowl I gave Vineet for Christmas has been used almost constantly since he opened the package…  WIN!! Free Smiley Face Courtesy of www.Smiley-Faces.org I will post pictures soon)

I’m excited about continuing my knitting journey in 2011 because my love/obssession/passion/whatchumaycallit for this craft has made me a better person! 

 P.S: Also, I love to play with pretty yarnzzzz

Happy 2011 everyone!!!!

I felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders once the Christmas knitting was done.  I’m kicking myself for not photographing a couple of pieces before they were wrapped and mailed away.  I knit two Porom hats since this pattern has passed the hat-stays-on-my-head test.  I used the same yarn but different colors.  The finished hats turned out great and the recipients are going to love them, I’m sure.  They were so quick on and off the needles that I didn’t even document them on Ravelry and I’m usually good about stuff like that!

Once the overload of accessories were off my needles, I just wanted to cast on for a larger project.  You know me and my sweater knitting bug!  I’ve had my eye on Metro for a while and thought that this pattern would be a perfect match for my Madelinetosh Sweater Club yarn

This yarn is such a joy to knit with because the base is just gorgeous – merino, cashmere, nylon…mmm, mmm, mmm.

I just hope I don’t run out of yarn!

Over the weekend, we visited the Vancouver Christmas Market to enjoy some holiday festivities but mostly to indulge in German yumminess and spiced mulled wine, mmm! 

The Ice King and Queen and The Nutcracker were some of the stars

But look at all those knitted hats (probably machine-knit, but still!) 

Nothing like a hat to keep you warm on a cold evening

…and of course, hot apple cider helps too!

especially if you sip it through a stick of cinnamon 

There was more knitting, this time as store decor.  Knitted olives…how adorable!

My Christmas knitting is almost done, yeehaw!  I had to shelve a couple of planned projects because my index finger was beginning to feel a bit sore.  I have an annoying habit of pushing the needle tip on that finger every time I knit a stitch.  Ouch!  Although I have enjoyed knitting all these gifts for the ones I love, I am ready to get back to sweater knitting.  The weather outside is frightful… perfect to curl up with a warm wool sweater on the needles!

I hope everyone is staying warm and happy this holiday season.

Even though we have all the other preceding months warning us of December’s arrival, suddenly, it’s here and the crazy Christmas knitting marathon begins.

On a whim I decided this year that I would indulge in some Christmas knitting.  If I had this idea in um…July, it would have been great.  It’s crunch time now and I’m still 6 Christmas knits short and I keep getting more “requests” everyday from family that they would “really, really, really love a handknit gift this year please, please, please”!  I just can’t say no to this sort of plea which is why I have been knitting like a crazy woman. 

I finished a pair of Fetching mitts using Malabrigo Silky Merino.  Crazy soft!  I took this picture when I was half way through the knitting, but trust me, the pair is done.  I just have to steam block and weave in the ends and this project will be 100% complete, woot woot!

I’ve also finished a Honey Cowl using Tosh DK :: warm and cushy.  Here it is on cast on day. (FO pictures of all these quick knits coming soon)

Then there’s this project I’ve been knitting for the hubster.  (No specific deets or pictures yet because he reads my blog sometimes)  I’m torn about this design because I don’t know if it will work for a guy.  Although, the yarn is swoon-worthy Madelinetosh Eyre so maybe I could pull this off?  Let’s see, I will go to Plan B if this goes south.  At this point, I don’t have a Plan B, eeep!!

So, do you have any Christmas knitting plans?

Instant gratification knitting has commenced thanks to the fast approaching holidays.

Guaranteed to keep your noggin warm, this hat was a quick knit and was requested by my cousin.  It fits my 3-year-old’s dome (!!) but that was before blocking.  Once this hat is dry, the yarn will relax enough to fit my 23-year-old cousin just right (who has a very tiny head, whew!!)  Well, that’s the plan anyway!! 

This was an easy pattern to knit and the mmmMalabrigo… need I say more!

Felicity

Pattern: Felicity by Wanette Clyde
Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted in “Ravelry Red” 
Needles: Size US 7/4.5 mm

Next up, warm hands…

Breathe Deep is a Through The Loops pattern ♥ and I used Malabrigo Worsted again.  I have to say that these are the warmest, softest mitts evvvah!  These are going to a friend who absolutely loves handknits and I’m sure that she’s going to love them 🙂

Breathe Deep

Pattern: Breathe Deep by Kirsten Kapur
Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted in “Ravelry Red” 
Needles: Size US 7/4.5 mm

During our vacation to Vancouver Island this past summer, I cast on for Audrey in Unst thinking that I would get to wear this little cardi over summer dresses.  Yeah right, summer is long gone and we’re well into fall and all I can think about is piling on warm woolies and cranking up the heat!  Even though I don’t think that I will wear this cardigan anytime soon, I wanted to show you my very own Audrey in Unst, or Audrey in Van Isle as I call my version:)

 I love the vintage inspiration for this design and the Shetland lace at the yoke.  Also, this was my first time with seamless set in sleeves and me likey a lot

The fit is perfect and I couldn’t be happier with my finished Audrey:)  Vintage never goes out of style!

Audrey in Van Isle

Pattern: Audrey in Unst by Gudrun Johnston
Yarn: Sundara Yarn Sport Merino in “Flower Studies #152” 
Needles: Size US 4 & 5 /3.5 & 3.75 mm

The Shetland lace pattern originating from the island of Unst was Gudrun’s twist on this classic sweater style. 

The yarn is lovely to knit with… you can’t go too wrong with Sundara yarn.  But for this project, it was all about the pattern ♥♥♥

A five minute walk from our house leads to this trail

The perfect Sunday evening walk when you have a couple of stir crazy kids who just want to get out of the house

Who wants to stay stuck indoors when there are leaves to be kicked

Or treasures to be picked (am I the only mother to discover stones and sticks and pieces of string and scribbled notes stuffed into every pocket?)

Or whispers to be listened too

And if we hadn’t gone out and hit that trail, we would have mostly definitely missed this

Daylight Savings is upon us which means the sky looks like this at 4.30 pm, yes you heard that right, 4.30 pm!!  It’s not all bad though because I was grateful for the extra hour of shut eye “fall back” provided on Sunday morning 😉

The kids were out till late last night trick-or-treating and they came back with a stash so awesome that I’m tempted to call dibs on some of their goodies.  But I shall refrain since this is their stash, so I’ll stick with yarn! 

Being a part of a smaller community like ours is great for celebrations like this where everyone gets involved and it all ends with a good old late night BBQ.  This huge sucker wasn’t on display in our town last night but I had to share this picture since it was Pumpkin Day yesterday (picture taken at the Fort Langley Cranberry Festival)

And now the kids have enough candy to last them well into 2011!  Fun times!!

…and because I’m biased being her mommy and all, more cuteness…

I’m in complete sweater knitting mode right now.  This maybe the reason, no?

Being the (mostly) monogamous knitter that I am has helped with the latest project on my needles.  Emelie is growing at a steady pace and it won’t be long before I separate for the fronts and back.  The construction of this cardi is almost like Audrey.  While there are similarities in the two designs, they are quite different and so the knitting has been very enjoyable.  Add to that the joy of knitting with Bugga!  Oh yeah, I’ve told you all about that.

I was aiming to get this cardigan knit in October, but um…reality check…not going to happen. 

I am terribly behind on my IntSweMoDo2010 goals.  The journey and process has been nothing but positive and I’m glad that I joined this group.  I may not repeat this Sweater Dodecathon in 2011, but I plan to continue knitting useable garments and accessories.  What better satisfaction than a closet full of warm and comfy handknits!!