KnitCrit

Knippets VI

Here’s another installment of my Knippets – snippets about knitting and other things.

1. I finally finished my Blooming Kudzu shawl and I really love it. The color is so deep and rich, while the drape of the cotton and bamboo yarn is perfect for this very long semicircular shawl. Although the pattern is rated as Experienced, I would probably rate it intermediate. Even though each row has many stitches – close to 600 by the end – there are not any complicated stitches that would be challenging for someone who has knitted other lace shawls. 
2. My friend Donna’s birthday gathering was last weekend, and I realized that I had never knit her anything; a situation that had to be remedied. So, I took some beautiful Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk Aran from my stash and cast on the Malabrigo Hand Thingies Mitts. She loved them! 
3. Yesterday, I visited the new yarn store in Fredericksburg – Old Town Yarnery. What a nice store! While she will be gradually adding more yarns, I especially like her vast assortment of Cascade 220. What’s funny is that I have never knit with that yarn, but that will likely be changing, soon. I did purchase 3 skeins of Debbie Bliss’ Eco Baby to knit a cardigan for a friend whose baby girl is due in June.
4. Recently, my primary pattern lust has been Bedford, a cabled pullover in Brooklyn Tweed’s Fall 11 Collection. Today, I have decided that I’ll use some Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Wool in the Frosty Blue colorway for it; and cast it on in the next day or so!
5. This pair of eagles has been hanging out regularly on my neighbor’s dock. Each time I look over and see them, it makes me smile. 

2012 vs. 2011

I have taken the first days of 2012 to think about which projects I want to knit and which year-long challenge groups I want to join in Ravelry. Last year, I set primarily monthly goals, with a few shorter challenges thrown in here and there. That put too 
much pressure on me, often resulting in my wanting more to just finish the project than to enjoy the process.

Yet, when I counted the completed projects from last year, I was blown away – 32 knitting projects and 4 sewing projects, plus several ounces of spun yarn! My choice of favorite two knitting projects is easy: my Wishful shawl and the 2011 Rhinebeck sweater.
    

Given last year’s accomplishments, I feel secure in identifying 36 knitting projects that I would like to complete in 2012. (Note the "would like to...") Included are 12 sweaters and 5 current works in progress projects. There are big and small projects, and gift and charity projects. I have not made any projections for spinning or sewing in 2012, but there are numerous goals for those that are spinning around (pun intended) in this old mind o’ mine.

I have joined two challenge groups: 12 Sweaters in 2012 and the Doubleknit twin’s 2012 Finish, Frog, and Slog Along. It’s a sure bet that I’ll join a Ravelympics group and my favorite, NaKniSweMo. Now that I’m spinning, I wonder if I’ll join this year’s Tour de Fleece or my ususal, a Tour de France knitting challenge; maybe both?

I will close by showing off my first project of 2012, a pair of fingerless mitts for Bruce. The pattern is from Bruce Weinstein’s Knits Men Want and the yarn is Brooklyn Tweed's SHELTER in the Button Jar colorway. I truly enjoyed this quick knit.  


I just love a new year and a new list!