15 minutes a day ~

 #letsdothis #15minutesadayspinning #15minutesadaychallenge #hansenminispinner #minispinerworksagain #moreyarnplease #cantwaittospin #newyearsresolutions

Manx Loaghtan plyed!

Second breed in my spinning resolutions for 2015.  This one also has an interesting history and makes a firm and hardy yarn. I'm thinking of knitting some sort of cowl or scarf with sections from each breed so I can recall how that breed specific yarn turned out. Using a different knit pattern for each breed too.  I'll have to figure that out soon!

Spinning Manx Loaghtan ~

This is the next sheep breed to spin from my New Year's Resolution. Spin more sheep breeds and learn more about individual sheep breeds. I am having fun with this!!!

Dorset Horn Spinning ~

Happy New Socks ~

What could be more fun than celebrating the new year with a new knitting project? Possibly, more fun could be starting more than one knitting project!  Let's do that!  I am a bit behind in telling you about my projects in the new year, and I am not sure how it can be January 21st already.... time is already flying this year.....

I have cast on new socks...that must be a surprise to you, since I only have four pair of socks on the needles, so apparently I needed to cast on another pair.... and perhaps having an odd number of socks on the needles is not the best way to start the year, so I should quickly finish a pair, or cast on another pair..... but, looking at the four (now five) pair of socks on the needles, only one pair of them is in the gusset stage, so I am not going to finish a pair of socks anytime soon....... so, perhaps I need to balance out the new year by casting on another pair.... so I would have an even number of socks on the needles... I do have a knitting resolution of knitting at least six pairs of socks this year....and those are just the "required" ones.... I better get busy!!!

Heart stopping drop ~

I have never learned how to weave a dropped stitch back up to the "live" stitches on the needle. I have never learned the difference of weaving a purled stitch from weaving a knitted stitch. I have never learned how to be calm and not freak out when I have dropped stitches. This nasty dropped stitch business happened while on the phone with my folks, I was reaching for a notepad and pen to write an address, and pulled out at least eight stitches of Trillian off my needles. Six stitches were easy to get right back on, but those last two stinkers... I may need an intervention....however, I am still breathing into my paper bag...trying to stay calm.....note to self: perhaps a good New Year's Resolution would be to learn how to get dropped stitches back into place...

Auld Lang Syne

As 2012 begins, and 2011 is in our rear view mirror, I'm happy to remember all the knitterly blessings I have enjoyed in 2011. The best knitting friends, ever, as they are creative, fun and the best friends one can hope for ~ I am very blessed!I picked up the Yarnia socks, for Auld Lang Syne, so I can get them finished. Seems like the sparkles would be a good New Year's project, right? Another blessing was being able to knit and finish 25 projects in 2011. Several of them were shawls, and I'm very happy about that! What new knitting projects await us in the new year!! What knitting resolutions should we be making!?

New Year, new project ~

My sweetie E gave me a great book, Quick Nordic Knits, and some great yarn for Christmas. The yarn is for mittens and a hat, and the book includes great patterns for both.

So I cast on for mittens, on size 1 needles...and I am thinking that I'm nuts....as given this needle size, these are really just socks with a thumb, right? I do hope to finish them while it is still mitten weather....
I really should be assessing my New Years' knitting resolutions, and thinking about how well I did on my knitting journey this year, but I think I'll keep knitting on these mittens while there is snow on the ground...the resolutions can wait!!!

2009 wrap up ~

Wow, another year of knitting has gone by and so many delightful projects have been finished ~ thirty four projects, to be exact! So much wonderful yarn has been befriended and loved, and turned into lovely finished objects. Other yarns are patiently waiting to be knit into some treasure of knitted goodness. It has been a great year for knitting ~ a reason to celebrate!



I've made great progress on the 2009 knitting resolutions, only leaving one 2008 item on the needles...I will revisit the Bonnie Ribbon tank top in 2010, as well as the powder blue summer top that needs some help with the sleeves...but let's not talk about what didn't get done......


The Central Park Hoodie was a big milestone, as I'd worked on that for over a year....as was Mum's blanket which I thought about, cast on and cast off in just over a month... how different projects can be! Lots of great fair isle hats, some for family and friends, some for our church bazaar charity. Thirty four finished projects ~ not bad at all!!! Plus I've posted on this blog almost every day, only missing a few days last January....



The best part of my knitting this year was the Sock Summit experience with my friends. A delightful time in a yarn and knitting paradise with long time friends and those we just met yet felt we'd known forever.... Happy New Year to you all, and the best of knitting in 2010!

Fired Up about Finishing ~

I have said that I am not casting on a new project until I finish the Jitterbug socks ~ I am wondering why I made that commitment, as I really really want to cast on something else. Perhaps a hat from my 2009 Resolutions, or perhaps a hat from a pattern or perhaps... However.... I have been strong in my commitment so far, and did over 3 inches on the Jitterbug socks this weekend while watching football.... and they are beautiful, and the yarn is beautiful, and the slip stitch pattern is beautiful....
I did however download a few hat patterns tonight, plus checked out my stash for worsted weight yarn....thanks to my knitting muse & inspiration (aka Lisa) for helping me to know that this is perfectly OK!!!!

Tally for 2008 ~ on to 2009!

Before I mentioned my 2009 New Year's Resolutions, I should have mentioned my knitting tally for 2008. For a few years now, I have kept a knitting journal with the names of my projects, and the finishing date. Some projects include the Cast On date, but most have only the Cast-off date. With this journal I keep track of how many projects I begin and finish in one year. Many projects are small ~ like hats for the church bazaar, and a few are big. Several are always hold overs from the previous year. One of my 2008 New Year's Knitting Resolutions was to finish all the projects from 2007, and I did complete them all, except the frogging of the mitered corner project.

For comparison, here is my 2007 Knitting Tally:
1. Projects Cast On in 2007: 34
2. Projects Cast off & complete:
a) From before 2007: 4
b) From 2007: 29

Total Completed in 2007: 33
(six projects still on needles on 1/1/08)

Here is my 2008 Knitting Tally:
1. Projects Cast On in 2008: 42
2. Projects Cast off & complete
a) From 2007: 6
b) From 2008: 38
Total Completed in 2008: 44
~ four projects still on needles 1/1/09: #12 Jitterbug socks; #13 Tofutsies socks; #14 Central Park Hoodie; and #15 lavender ribbon tank top (note: it appears my startitis of June/July of projects 12 ~ 15 shows I do not finish projects "for me" as quickly as those I knit for others!)

2009 New Year's Knitting Resolutions

2009 New Year's Knitting Resolutions ~ The list begins here (and may continue to grow!):

Category: Learn Something New
1. Cable Felted Bag ~ Louet pattern





2. Cable Hat ~ Fiber Trends

3. Nuppie & Braid hat (with the new cast on) ~
4. Mitered corner project ~ perhaps from Domino Knitting book




Category: Share your love with others
1. Ten (at least) hats for church bazaar
2. Hats for Michigan Christmas gifts

Category: Knit what you love
1. Summer top ~ Classic Elite Premier Cotton blend (Ella Rae pattern, perhaps?)
2. Finish all 2008 knitting projects (decadence cardigan, purple tank top, tofutsies & jitterbugs)
3. Add to this list!!!!

2008 Knitting Resolutions Completed ~

My 2008 New Year's Knitting Resolutions and some pictures to remember... (the Resolutions list has been in the blog side bar, but will be replaced with the 2009 Knitting Resolutions soon):

1. Begin cardigan out of Decadence Knit Picks ~ began Central Park Hoodie
2. Try project using mitered corners again ~ from Domino Knitting ~ tried this, but frogged it ~ on list again for 2009
3. Make more than 7 hats for church bazaar ~ knitted 13 hats in 2008 - 11 plus 2 special order 'squiggle' hats
4. Learn brioche stitch & do a project ~"Husky Pride" hat
5. Finish Philosopher's Wool Fair Isle sweater ~ complete
6. Finish all unfinished objects from 2007;
(1) bag ~ sari silk
(2) socks ~ Dye Studios deep cherry wool
(3) beaded bag~ Koigu
(4) socks ~ Urban gypze wool