v for victory (well, sort of)

I've been meaning to knit a vest for the past few months, to wear over a button down shirt at work, but I only just got around to actually doing it.



Pattern: High Street Vest by Kate Flagg
Yarn: Farmhouse Yarns Not Just for Socks in Storm (almost two skeins) on US 5 needles

I got the yarn in a swap over on the Doctor Who boards on Ravelry, and it's very nice. The one problem I had was that when I wound the skeins I discovered that one was considerably lighter than the other in terms of color. So I ended up alternating skeins every other row while knitting.



I would have really loved this pattern except for one little thing. It is supposed to be done specific to your measurements, so you're supposed to insert the numbers for where you want it to fall on your body. Except that I'm a really lousy judge of where things are supposed to be on my body and I ended up making the body of the vest far too short. Even a suggested number would have helped to suggest to me that maybe my numbers were not leaning the right way. Otherwise the pattern is great and leads towards a nice finished product. In the end I cast on and knit an additional three inches of ribbing and grafted that to the original cast on. It's not perfect--the seam is noticeable--but it's wearable. Another time I'll make one--with the right numbers.

twisted

I didn't think I'd actually get in a finished object this month, but I've done a lot of knitting the last couple of days and here is the result.



Pattern: Clandestine, by Cookie A.
Yarn: ShibuiKnits Sock in peacock (less than two skeins) on US1.5 needles



Cookie A socks are always a challenge, and I always fail to remember that they're full of twisted stitches. Not that either of those is a bad thing. And she does design a pretty sock.



The color is actually closest to this last photo, but with a little more green like in the first two. I wish I could have photographed it better. It's a beautiful color and I loved how the ShibuiKnits knits up--it's the first time I've used it.

Winter warmth

Finally, my last two finished objects from 2009!



Pattern: Stashy Hat, by Thea
Yarn: Rowan RYC Cashsoft DK in a light blue (less than one ball) on US7 and US8 needles



The last time I made my friend a hat it was when I was first learning to knit and to say I got the gauge wrong is an understatement. I figured it was about time she got one that actually fit!

And then my three and a half year old buddy asked for a scarf. A purple scarf, to be precise.



Pattern: Beaded Rib scarf (pulled the rib pattern from a stitch dictionary)
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore Chunky (slightly less than one ball) on US10.5 needles
Notes: Because she's only three and a half, I decided to add a buttonhole and a big pink button so the scarf can be buttoned and not pulled tighter around her neck.

2009 Knitting Year in Review

So, um, I did a lot of knitting in 2009. So much so that I couldn't fit all of the projects into one mosaic in the photo mosaic makers.

45 completed projects.

Even if you don't count Lizard Ridge--which I started in 2007--that's still 44 projects. How the heck did I do that?

5 hats, 9 baby things, 6 scarves, 7 toys/dolls, 4 shawls, 6 pairs of socks, 2 sweaters, plus one pair of mittens, a finished throw, a kiddie tank top, and a dishcloth.





(There's still two I haven't shown you.)

Wow.

Orange you glad I didn't say orange?

Now that this has been gifted, I can post what I made for my mom for Hanukkah this year.



Pattern: Waffle Rib scarf, improvised from a stitch dictionary
Yarn: Mirasol Nuna in orange (1.5 skeins) on US7 needles



I bought this yarn months ago with my mother in mind. It's totally her color.

And I made a matching hat.



Pattern: Waffle Rib Hat
Yarn: Mirasol Nuna (1.1 skeins) on US8 needles



I've got a couple of other projects I still can't show, as they'll be gifted in the New Year, but thus ends a very full year of knitting!

He respects Owl, because you can't help respecting anybody who can spell TUESDAY, even if he doesn't spell it right.

That's kind of how I feel about this project. I love the idea of it, but the final product--at least my version of it--less so. I've seen it look great on other people; me, not so much.



Pattern: Owls, by Kate Davies
Yarn: Berocco Air in geothermal (7 or 8 balls--I lost track) on US10 and US10.5 needles



I had to upsize the pattern to fit me, and I got the numbers right, but it's a pattern for bulky yarn, and the combination of bulky yarn and my body isn't a good one. The owls are cute, though.



But it's finished, at least, and I can move on to my next project with a clear conscience.

snugglies

It's winter time, and little ones need to keep warm!

One of my former co-workers is expecting his first child next month, so I've been on a baby knitting spree.



Pattern: Sweet Baby Jayne Hat, by Heather Hill
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice in cranberry and terracotta and Vanna's Choice Baby in duckie, on US8 needles
Notes: Based on Jayne's hat from Firefly. It's really cute, but I am 90% sure the pom pom is going to fall apart the first time it goes into the washing machine.



And the baby will need warm feet, of course!



Pattern: Converse Baby Booties
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice in cranberry and white, on US4 and US5 needles
Notes: Despite having to weave in a million ends, I lovelovelove this pattern.



This baby is going to be stylin'!



And while I was at all of this baby knitting, one of my favorite babies needed a winter hat.



Pattern: Modified Baby Jayne Hat (68 stitches around, no pom pom)
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice in dusty blue and light blue on US8 needles

Doesn't it look adorable with those big blue eyes?