A year in knitting

I have been reviewing my Ravelry project page to see just what I achieved knit-wise in 2012, its actually quite a list, 50 projects and only one frogged, one in progress.  I have used mainly stash. Only buying odd balls where needed apart from a major spend in March and a few odd charity shop hauls.

I have achieved a few knit related goals - learnt how to dye and how to crochet, both of which need practice.  We won't talk about drop spindles, something that needs major concentration!


2012-12-26
In progress
SB12#49 Yoked Cardigan
Seamless Yoked Baby Sweater Carole's Baby Knits

2012-12-17
Finished
SB12#48 Another "L"
Oliver Patons #3413, Play Days

2012-12-09
Finished
SB12#47 He's growing out of everything
Design G - Striped Sweaters Sirdar 260, Trendy Tots 4

2012-11-29
Finished
SB12#46 Shoes for the Boy
Saartje's Bootees Saartje Knits

2012-11-25
Finished
SB12#45 Lucy for Lucy
Lucy Patons #3313, Nursery Days

2012-11-21
Finished
SB12#44 Pudding Vest
British Classic Simply Knitting 55, June 2009

2012-11-19
Finished
SB12#43 Baby Eyelet Cardi
Baby eyelet cardi clickertyclick

2012-11-06
Finished
SB12#42 Childry Shawl
Childry The Scrumptious Collection Volume 1

2012-11-04
Finished
SB12#41 Poppy Time
Poppy Knit on the Net

2012-11-01
Finished
SB12#40 Twice as Nice
Oliver Patons #3413, Play Days

2012-10-26
Finished
SB12#39 Pompom Wreaths

2012-10-25
Finished
SB12#37 Little Deck Shoes
Little Deck Shoes Sublime #6006

2012-10-25
Finished
SB12#38 Smockie
Smockie Sublime #606, The Second Little Sublime Hand Knit Book

2012-10-24
Finished
SB12#36 Rosy Posy Hat
Rosy Posy Hat Sublime #617, The Fourth Little Sublime Hand Knit Book

2012-10-20
Finished
SB12#35 More Hats for the Boys

2012-10-18
Finished
SB12#34 Shocking in Pink
Little Sorbet Cardie and Peach Sorbet Cardie
Sublime #617, The Fourth Little Sublime Hand Knit Book

2012-10-16
Finished
SB12#33 - Headband
141-12 Rainbow - Head band in Big Fabel Drops Design

2012-09-27
Finished
SB12#32 Lady Kina
Lady Kina a pelote masquée / kids tricots

2012-09-13
Finished
SB12#31 Rainbow Hats & Mitts

2012-09-09
Finished
SB12#30 Team Speechley

2012-09-03
Finished
SB12#29 Dress - 200th project
Little sister's dress (Kjole til lillesøster) Tora Frøseth Design

2012-08-27
Finished
SB12#28 L for Laurie
Oliver Patons #3413, Play Days

2012-08-21
Finished
SB12#27 KAL Jumpers
Blank Canvas Kid's Raglan Sweater My Knitting Patterns --by Noirin

2012-08-12
Frogged
SB12#28 Lace Shawl
Lace Shawl Rowan Members

2012-08-05
Finished
SB12#26 Simple Pram Blanket

2012-07-27
Finished
SB12#25 Spiral Bath Mat
Ten Stitch Twist Frankie's Knitted Stuff

2012-07-19
Finished
SB12#21 Slouchy Jumper
Child's Denim Sweater Home: 26 Hand Knits For Living

2012-07-14
Finished
SB12#24 Chocolate Stars
Chocolate Stars/Flower Power/Hearts Hats
Granny's World Blog

2012-07-12
Finished
SB12#23 Heart Hat
Chocolate Stars/Flower Power/Hearts Hats Granny's World Blog

2012-07-10
Finished
SB12#22 Flower Hats
Chocolate Stars/Flower Power/Hearts Hats
Granny's World Blog

2012-06-28
Finished
SB12#20 Ribbed Sweater
Design B - Ribbed Sweater With Round or Zip Neck Sirdar 328, Secret Garden - Supersoft Aran Knits

2012-06-26
Finished
SB12#19 New Arrival Cardigan 3
Design E - Baby Cardigans
Sirdar 301, Early Arrivals No. 2

2012-05-23
Finished
SB12#18 New Arrival Cardigan 2
Seaside Cardi Sublime #617, The Fourth Little Sublime Hand Knit Book

2012-05-09
Finished
SB12#17 New Arrival Cardigan
Design G - Cardigans, Waistcoat and blanket Sirdar 301, Early Arrivals No. 2

2012-05-08
Finished
SB12#16 Yet another Ten Stitch
Ten Stitch Blanket Frankie's Knitted Stuff

2012-04-27
Finished
SB12#15 Subscribers Blanket - NO bike bags
For Your Eyes Only Simply Knitting 93, May 2012

2012-04-19
Finished
SB12#14 Morocco for me
Morocco
Sublime #623, The Second Luxuriously Exotic Soya Cotton Hand Knit Book

2012-04-07
Finished
SB12#13 - A Bit of Bunting
Knitted Bunting. Party Flags Audrey Wilson at The Design Studio

2012-04-03
Finished
SB12#12 Kiddie Cadet
Kiddie Cadet KathrynIvy.com

2012-04-02
Finished
SB12#11 Cotton Beanie
Design F - Baby Hats with Fun Options Sirdar 301, Early Arrivals No. 2

2012-02-18
Finished
SB12#10 Teddy for Mel
Three Hungry Bears Knitted Toy Tales

2012-02-15
Finished
SB12#9 Molly
Molly Cardigan Patons #3313, Nursery Days

2012-02-12
Finished
SB12#8 Belle Cardigan and hat
Belle cardigan
Patons #3313, Nursery Days

2012-02-10
Finished
SB12#7 Lucy Cardigan
Lucy Patons #3313, Nursery Days

2012-02-05
Finished
SB12#6 Spiral rug
Ten Stitch Twist Frankie's Knitted Stuff

2012-01-28
Finished
SB12#5 Spiral Bath Mat
Ten Stitch Twist Frankie's Knitted Stuff

2012-01-17
Finished
SB12#2 In the Mood
Short-Sleeved Cardigans (In the Mood) Sirdar Click DK 9410

2012-01-15
Finished
SB12#4 Its a rainbow
Design B - Cardigans, Ballerina Top, Socks and Hat Sirdar 301, Early Arrivals No. 2

2012-01-14
Finished
SB12#3 Breaking Heart
Design F - Baby Hats with Fun Options Sirdar 301, Early Arrivals No. 2

These are some of my favourites













So what is planned for 2013?  I already have a request for a ten stitch blanket for each of my grandsons. Two more baby cardigans for a friend.  I need to have another try with the drop spindle, get to grips with crochet

and I think that because I was so good yarn wise in 2012 that I deserve a bit of stash enhancement. So watch this space to see what I treat myself too.

Wishing you all a knitty new year x

Pockets of colour

Autumn is underway.  Misty mornings - cooler temperatures - wood burner - jumpers and boots -  casseroles and stews (yum)..... but still in the garden there are pockets of colour......... and weeds and nettles. I need to get outside and have a good tidy up, but procrastination is my best friend

Getting leggy but still pretty.  The basil is suffering now with the lower temperatures

So sour!!

How pretty does my yarn look wound up.  I am itching to get started on it, but I must finish the projects currently on the needles

To Dye For

Yesterday I had such a good day.  Pauline & I attended a Dye Workshop given by Clare of Boo's Attic fame.  What fun, this really was more me than the spinning.  More like cooking and I felt more or less in control of what I was doing.

Firstly, I dyed a skein of sock yarn - which was a Super wash wool and nylon mix.  These are the colours I went for

and this is what I got - wow!

I then followed up after lunch dyeing my skein of Black Hills Boucle Chunky which is 70% wool and 30% mohair.  It was interesting to see the difference in take up of yarn.  With the super wash there was no surplus dye in the rinsing water, but with the Boucle; I nearly had a heart attack when I took it out of the steamer and saw a huge purple mess, so much dye, not sure how much water I used to rinse this but the end result is very subtle. I wished there had been more green and the orange is more of less lost, but the overall result is very organic looking. 

This yarn I plan to make into a cowl or a short scarf - there is only 150 grams and so not really much else I can do with it, especially as I'm not a hat person

The super wash sock yarn 100grams/400 meters - so there is enough for a shawlette.

Can't wait for the yarns to dry so I can wind them up and see how they look. A big thank you to Clare for a great day out

New skills week

Yesterday we had a spinning class at Medway.  Great to have a day off work and do something different.  Not sure that I will become a spinner though. I seemed to have a mental block when it came to trying to get my hands to work independently of each other.  I think my grip is far too tight.  Anyway I came away with a drop spindle and a bag of fleece and instructions, so I can try to practice at home!!

Today, Rachel and I went up to see Beck and Laurie (10 weeks).  Rufus was with his Nana, so it was just Laurie to play with. When I say play I mean amuse between sleep and eat, which actually isn't very long!

Tomorrow I'm off to learn how to dye yarn, hoping for a better day, I think this will be more "my thing".  I plan to take some yarn with me that I got given last year.  This will be additional to whats included on the course.  So we will see how it ends up.



I hope you all have a great weekend.  Currently its raining here - again, lets hope its dry on Sunday so I can get some garden clearance done.  Have fun.