Wednesday, December 31, 2014

WIPs, FO's & Year in Review

Time slipped away from us again.  The holidays have been crazy busy but with the New Year starting, we are going to try to keep on track with this blog.

We may not have been blogging, but we have definitely been knitting over here.  All of my Christmas knitting has been gifted so I can finally show you what I have been working on.

First is my dad's scarf.  The pattern is Malabrigo Waffles Scarf knit out of Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool.  He has a tan winter coat so I thought this would go well with it.


Dad's Waffle Scarf
I wasn't planning on knitting for my co-workers this year, but after seeing how fast this tree knit up, I decided to knit a bunch to give the girls in my department.  The little white duck was a special ornament for a friend who is retiring next week.

The trees are from the Christmas Knit Ornament Set by Amy Gaines

Jen and I have been doing a Winter Madness swap (original idea came from the Odd Ducks of Ravelry group).  We build each other a kit to make something out of our favorites or queue, get some goodies and include an ornament.  I have been in love with this Snowman Diorama ornament for a few years now and decided to make one for her. Now I need to make some for my tree and for some family members for next Christmas.

Jen here, just wanted to add that I was so excited to get this ornament. It is so amazing! I plan to leave it out all year long!

My final FO is my Breakup Vanilla socks using Desert Vista Dyeworks, Pretty Hate Machine self-striping yarn.  I am so in love with this colorway and can't wait to make a blanket square out of the leftovers.  This yarn is extra special to me because Susan of DVD held a contest in 2014 where you suggest musicians, songs or albums based on certain themes each month.  For November, I suggested Nine Inch Nails Pretty Hate Machine and my entry was one of the top 5 votes of that month so I won a skein in my suggested colorway!


Fish Lips Kiss Heel-Desert Vista Dyeworks Pretty Hate Machine
I just have a couple of WIPs on the needles right now (that I am actively working on...)

The first is a Tubularity using my Miss Babs coffee break kit that I got at Rhinebeck.


Endless Coffee Break-Tubularity

The second is a pair of Hermione's Every Day socks using Candy Skein Yummy Fingering in Confetti Cupcake.  The colorway was the exclusive January 2014 colorway and since my birthday is in January, these are my birthday socks.





I do not know how time keeps slipping from me! I also have given all my Christmas gifts so I have just a few FOs to share.

The first is my Snakes in a Grass hat knit in Malabrigo Arroyo that I had leftover from my Ginny Cardigan.  My grandma requested a hat for Christmas, so I thought that this one would be perfect. The yarn is soft and squishy, and it should be super warm for her. The hat was supposed to be slouchier, and if I made it again I would add a repeat to the cable pattern.



I made this little Bluebird of Happiness ornament as part of a local ornament swap. I even used some of my handspun to knit it up. I really like it, and can see using my leftover handspun to make lots more of these.

Lastly, I made this DNA scarf for John. I tried this pattern when I first learned to knit, and found it incredibly difficult.  I also didn't like the yarn that I chose to knit it up with. I was knitting a cotton blend, with wooden needles, and needles to do cables, so for me it was just a recipe for disaster.  This time I chose to use Cascade 220 superwash, and gave it another try. It was a success! John liked it so much too! He said it was even a good DNA pattern too heh


I have two WIPs on the needles, a pair of Fawkes socks for me knit up with Supernatural Yarns Pixie Sock - Yer A Wizard Harry Colorway.  This color was released for Harry Potter's birthday, and I just had to have it. The colors are based on the cake that Hagrid gives to Harry.  
I have made this pattern once before, and I really wanted another pair that was slightly longer. So I added a cable repeat in the leg.  The other WIP is a secret present for someone so I will share that later.

Jen and I thought it would be fun to go through this past year and pick our favorite highlights and projects from 2014.  It's nice to look back at the year and see how much fun we had.

My favorite FOs of 2014 would have to be...

 Follow Your Arrow MKAL.   I had so much fun knitting each clue at a time, with a group of people.  I still want to knit this again and switch some of the clue's around.  

Wild Thing by Susan Claudino.  This toy is so adorable!  I still have to knit another one for Jen so we can have matching Wild Things.  

198 Yards of Heaven.  This shawl was pretty therapeutic for me to knit and my mom loves it.

Pedestrian Crossing Cowl.  I knit this for a very sweet friend of mine.  Such a lovely knit, I need to make more of these.



My favorite FOs of 2014 would have to be...


  • Follow your Arrow MKAL - I also loved this project. It was fun to pick patterns as they came out. I can definitely see making another one of these.
  • Meadow Brook Shawlette - I test knit this shawl for a friend who is a designer. I decided to use some of my handspun and I just love how it turned out.
  • Winter Twilight Mitts - My first true stranded colorwork project. I loved these mitts so much, it was hard to give them up in a swap.
  • DNA scarf - I really loved that I struggled with this before, and now was able to finish it successfully. 




My favorite moments of the year?  
Maryland Sheep & Wool.  Getting to meet Renee, going to the spin-in, lots of shopping and lots of bestie time (even though my snoring made her want to throat punch me ;p)

Hearing the Yarn Harlot speak.  Hilarious.  I hope to hear her again in the future.

Rhinebeck.  I got to meet so many people!  Knitabulls, The Vintage Rose, Steph and Stacie from Must Stash!


Jess summed up my favorite moments of the year too! The only thing else I would add was going to New Orleans earlier in the year and visiting Diagon Alley!

Thank you all for being patient and for following us this year.  We look forward to more road trips, adventures and lots to blog about in 2015!


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