A New Favorite Color?

Back around second or third grade — after the standard adoration of pink — I picked blue as my favorite color. And loyal I was to all things blue for nearly 15 years. By the time I'd entered my 30s, though, green had overtaken it.

The other day I looked down at my WIPs and realized another change might be underway.



Hello, blue, my dear old friend!

Since this is a knitting blog and patterns matter, the projects are (clockwise from the top): Peaks Island hood, a Knitmore Girls Vanilla Sock (my first sock!), and a Fiddlehead Mitten (first mitten!).

I also have two other blue projects waiting in the wings — yes, there's another turquoise one, but the other is a lovely color named Robins Egg Grey.

I try to hold myself to no more than three active projects at any one time. It's an arbitrary number for sure, but one that keeps me from feeling like nothing will ever get done. Anyone else have a WIP limit for themselves? If so, what is your magic number?

Looking Back, Looking Forward

You could say I'm emboldened for having forged ahead with the Marin — and for actually meeting my 2012 knitting goals: three new items/techniques (baby booties, short rows, Fair Isle) and  "12 in 2012." Forgive me the following Ravelry documentation; it's just that a dozen shawls seemed so unlikely a few months back in the frenzy of the move and new job.



What are my 2013 knitting goals? More venturing into that territory of new items and techniques. This year I'm tackling socks, mittens, and Fair Isle that's more than rudimentary. And since I acquired quite a bit of lovely yarn last year, including holiday gifts, I'm going to dive into my stash with glee. (Goal is to try to use up three stash yarns for each new purchase.)

Final 2012 FO: Marin

This last knit of 2012 just may be my favorite — and not because it was knit practically straight through in the quiet days after the holidays. (Although, I definitely loved that.)

I've long admired this pattern and bought it soon after it was released... Then I looked at its charts and got scared off. When I found the perfect yarn pairing last month, I gathered up my courage. Can't tell you how glad I am that I did. I'm completely smitten with the FO.

Pattern: Marin by Ysolda Teague

Yarn: TFA Purple Label in Rock

Did I mention the yarn is 20 percent cashmere? Swoon.

Best of all? It wasn't anywhere near as hard as I'd imagined.

Holiday FOs: Guernsey Triangle and Isla Wrap

Now that they've been unwrapped, I can post these two FOs from the month-long blackout between my last two blog posts. (I may not be blogging, but rest assured, I am always knitting! ;-)

First up, one of the lovely yarn and pattern combos from the 2011 Tanis Fiber Arts Year in Colour Club. This one had my sister's name all over it from day one. (Although I must confess, I wasn't sure until the end that I'd be able to let it go.)

Pattern: Guernsey Triangle by Jared Flood
Yarn: TFA Red Label in Smoke

And second, a present for Izzy. She saw this yarn online right after Thanksgiving and asked for "something, anything" in it for Christmas. I was only too happy to oblige and found this nice little caplet/cowl on Ravelry. The color is actually somewhere between these two shots... Ah, the joys of snapping FO photos in winter!

Pattern: Isla Wrap by Jessica Vinson
Yarn: TFA Red Label in Frippery

Happy Holidays: May your days (and knitting) be merry and bright!

 

FO: Winter's Coming Sweater

While I'd finished the knitting nearly two weeks ago on the dog sweater teased in that June "where we're headed" post, I hadn't tackled all the weaving in of ends. So I packed it in the car for our trip up North for Thanksgiving, thinking it would be a good mindless task for sitting around talking with the family after all the eating and all the cleanup.

Good thing, too, as winter arrived with a vengeance on the holiday, dropping throughout the day and bringing first sleet and then snow. Friday we took my first Fair Isle project for several test walks in my parents' yard. Every walk started like this, with my spirited Violet ready to go...



... only to look like this within 5 minutes. Tops. In defense of my little NM-born pup, it wasn't that much above zero with the wind chill. 



While winter may not be a big hit with Violet, she does seem to enjoy the sweater. The best part about knitting for dogs? Unlike Izzy, she's yet to tell me that it itches. And, oh yeah, Fair Isle is completely addictive. I'll be doing more of it soon!

 

Pattern: Icelandic Beauty Sweater by Judith L. Swartz

Yarn: Sandnes Garn Peer Gynt (Mulberry)
with bits and bob from my stash

FOs: Cassis & Stacked Eyelet Cowl

Got a two-fer today as I try to catch up on blogging. First up, my #10 (this might actually happen) shawl of the year, knit from the lovely birthday yarn from my friend Jane.

Pattern: Cassis shawlette by collete audrey

Yarn: Crystal Palace Yarns Panda Silk Solid in Spruce

Fun technique with this (free!) pattern: Start by knitting the lace border, then pick up 240 stitches and create the crescent. I decided I wanted the shawl a bit deeper than the original sliver, so I changed the K3s to K2s in the short row section.

Second up is a cowl to match Izzy's fingerless mitts, which you also see again in this very hammy photo. Lest you think fall has come really late to MN this year, full disclosure: The photo was taken nearly a month ago... And the cowl has gotten plenty of wear in the chilly days since the photoshoot. (And unlike Izzy's jaunty top hat headband, which she made at school, it's still in one piece.) Phew!

Pattern: Stacked Eyelet Cowl by Ami Madison

Yarn: Lana Grossa Cool Wool Merino Big Print (#811)