Pattern:Just Enough Cowl
Yarn: Malabrigo Chunky in Polar Morn, 1 skein
Needle: Think I used a US10 or 11…so long ago I cant remember!
Timeframe: December 2010 over a couple days
Summary: Knitted this for a quick & easy project to shake the stress of the 2010 December month - Disney World, Marathon, Holidays, Move…..#whew
Perfect solution for the desire of a comfort knit!
Wanted it to match my Malabrigo Polar Morn beret knitted in 2009 to have a matching set.

BONE CRUSHER

Pattern: Boneyard Shawl
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Tonal, 4 skeins in #6321 - Always wanted to knit with this yarn…didn’t like the rabbit hair though.
Needle: US8 on 40” circular
Timeframe: June-July – I wanted something to cover my arms in the church’s AC!
Summary: During this project I declared: “Crushing My Knitting Blues Away!!”
Bumpy start since I was on a knitting hiatus, but it was great practice on my M1L M1R again and of course the good ole fashion K,P! This is my 1st project since I tied the knot :)

HIS CHRIStmas HAT

Pattern:Hurricane Hat
Yarn: Noro Kogarashi – Had to get my 1st love in!! Hadn’t tried this line yet. Colorway #21. Used up ¾ of a hank
Needle: US5 magic looped
Timeframe: December 2011
Summary: My husband Chris’ 1st knitted item by me. He is super excited.
I wouldn’t knit for him until after we were married :) #newlyweds #8months #overdue
Because of the natural texture of the yarn (including color/specks) it really wasn’t necessary to do the pattern as you can barely see it…but it added character. Plan to make matching fingerless gloves for him.

And I trust 2009 has been treating you well thus far!

Been seeing the whirlwind of everyone's "new year posts" and have enjoyed reading/scanning thru them ;op
Now appease me for a moment, as I still have to document highlights (= not all of them) of my Knit Reflections from this past year and want to share them now as my 2008 Knit Year in Review

I ended up getting Dye-Virgintized

And had a great learning experience on dyeing my own yarn!! Hopefully, I will knit with it this new year Haha!

Then I truly started knitting fearlessly!!

Hemlock really changed it for me, and opened up a new level of getting beyond what was my "safe knitting".

I took my very 1st knit retreat to Purl Jam over the summer! And met some really great people!! Shortly afterwards I exercised my needles on making more Socks

And then went into a knitting comatose participating in Ravelympics! Haha!My Indigo Ripple Skirt is one of my favorite knits from the year....okay who am I kidding it is THE one! ;o)

But I so love my malabrigo loafers, Ponchita, my 4,821 neckwarmers (tee hee), etc. I could keep going! ;op

I never got around to blogging about it but I actually tried out Spinning this past fall!It was definitely an experience and you gotta get the hang of it. Glad that I tried it out and exposed myself to something different!!

Here is the fruit of my labor on my own spindle! ;op

And it hasn't grown either Haha!

Now.....I can firmly say that I am more than willing to kick in the extra dollars in buying all of my fiber already dyed and spun for me! ;op

In keeping with my tradition of not doing a mosaic of all my finished objects, I decided this time to do a Slideshow: 2008 Knit Year in Review

If you are not feeling motivated or too antsy to wait on a slideshow you can click on the 'finished objects' link (for the project details) that is listed below on my blog or click here for a f.lickr mosaic.

Keeping my thoughts and mind on the future!
I would like to knit more socks and doing some colorwork projects, along with more sweaters!

Alright! Alright!

I have much more I want to talk to you all about, but this will do for now.

And I have my 1st F.O. for 2009 to show too! ...y'all know the drill...as soon as I can get good pics I will load it up! :o)

Have a memorable MLK weekend!!

Happy 1st Post in the New Year to me!! :oD

Yeah so I have been doing my usual blogstalking on some of my knitterly friends ;op and been enjoying everyone's "year end review" and "new year knit resolutions" that have been exploding everywhere over the week.

Well.....I have been planning & truly wanting (for my benefit really) to do the same.....but sitting down to get all my thoughts together and even making one of those cute mosaics just seemed way too much energy than what I desired to put out! ;op Ha!

Thankfully, Alyson unknowingly liberated me of this dark looming cloud (which should not have been over me b/c blogging should be fun and not a chore!). So I said 'screw it!'

What was the whole point of me doing a F.lickr badge in the first place if I am not going to use it?!?!! Haha! At least I wasn't too lazy and went back to shuffle them around in chronological order ;op

So if you are at all interested in viewing my '2007 Year in Review' of my knitted projects in one neat little spot then click on that link at your leisure. ;o)

Now if you are just really really interested (bored) in all the gory details then you can click on the "Finished Objects" link at the bottom of this blog to pull up the blog journal entries!

Just in case someone asks......Yes! All about knitting!!
Come on! Lets all read it together, right above in the top left corner
"This blogsphere is about my journey in knitting" Gracias! ;o)

Nope...no cute pictures yet (won't be many). Hang in there though! Keep reading!

In my mind, which I truly believe, this is my 1st year of knitting...YES!

I was actually introduced to knitting back in Dec. 2004 and was a seasonal knitter. I really didn't start making an effort at it until 2007. In fact, 2007 was my 1st year I ever knitted all year long! That alone was a big accomplishment! LOL

For your additional reading pleasure you can read "my knit story" and know when I started blogging...it hasn't even been a year yet!

SO I really consider 2007 my "true" first year of knitting since that was when I really became dedicated to it!

*Are your eyes crossed yet?!?* Stay with me here! Haha!

With all that being said, I realized I have learned a lot over the past 12 knit months!
From not knowing how to increase (really) to knitting backwards!

Here are "Reflections of my Growth in Knitting"
a.k.a "I learned how to":

• Increase by making a ton of freakin' bobbles!


• Realized that mattress seam is a knitting wonder! But didn't know what the heck I was doing.


• Contrasting yarn, and that I don't really care for mohair! Haha!


• 3 needle bind-off, what a whip stitch is and my 1st taste at wrap turns, as well as picking up stitches


• How to felt!


• Intro to socks with baby booties...how there are 'parts' to a sock?!? ;op


• That I hate DPNs, and it is official that I am allergic to them...unless I am doing an I-cord...which I had never done before until much later!


• Ooh! How to make ruffles...that I hate doing those and will avoid them at all cost!

• Continuous K1,P1 ribbing is.....wow


• Discovery of Magic Looping really is magical!!


• My 1st pair of socks were birthed by magic looping! YAH! And sagging feet are so not cute! ;op


• Made my 1st miniature garment and setting sleeves was a new awakening! Haha....mmmh yeah


• Learning the basics of crochet!!! Woot! Woot!


• Had a taste of lace knitting and picking up a neckline that slowly went into hibernation (Lillian Tank..what?!?...plan to pull that back out again this year Haha)


• That choosing the right yarn for the right project is imperative! *cough*Ms. Marigold*cough*


• How to be the master of short rows (gotta love Lizzie!) and knitting backwards


• The true meaning of fortitude...did I mention how much I love Lizzie? LOL


• Seaming is hell-acious on the floor for long periods of time....okay I am really getting off of Lizzie now Haha!


• Magic Loop 2 socks on 1 needle toe-up and made some very fugly socks!


• Not all cute items are functional, and yarn substitutes do not always work or you will end up making giant size baby booties ;op


• Tried out the cable, knitted, and turkish COs


• Negative negative ease should never be underestimated or misinterpreted (red croquette) and is crucial so you can party like a rock star later! (red croquette)


• How to make those "fake me out I am really not that difficult" cables!


• My 1st attempt at 'big people' garment and actually split sleeves...wow


• Did a little surgery and figured out how to work provisional stitches (intro to mitts)


• Couldn't get away from picking up stitches and practiced on the Winter Obi


• Made 4 mini charity baby hats...actually my first time making hats!


• Yep then I had to finish making that adult cable hat


• How to add fingers on a mitt to form gloves!

This list ended up being a lot longer than I had anticipated :oD Which is actually good and shows that I did grow up a little in knitting! Like I said this really was my 1st year of knitting.

But I must highlight 'My Proudest Knit Item(s) for 2007'

my 1st pair of gloves!

Both of these items I didn't not see myself actually conquering so soon, but I did! It was a great boost of confidence to get ready and try my 2008 Knit Goals!

I really don't get into forcing myself to making commitments for the fear I won't follow thru, so I only have 2 main knit goals I will work on in 08:

1. Well, this is the Year of Socks for me!
2. Working on a fair isle project

Thanks that's it! Really I am all done! :oD That wasn't so bad!

Many blessings to each of you this new year!