I mentioned that 2011 was a difficult knitting year for me. How does one have a difficult knitting year? Here's what happens: you're sitting at your work Christmas party (2010), and people have given you yarn, because they know you love yarn, and then suddenly there's a pattern book for mittens in your hand along with some not-so-subtle hints. Or threats.
It was ten pairs of mittens, and the whole thing started off enjoyably. I love matching people with patterns and yarns and colors. By February I had patterns picked and yarn purchased and here is where I made my first giant mistake. I had this cool wool that I had never used before so I started with that to make a pair of fingerless gloves. I pounded them out in a weekend. Thick wool, size seven needles, and nothing but a bit of cabling for details. I got cocky.
Of course, when I started the second pair, with a beautiful self-striping yarn, rather unfortunately knit on size two needles, I realized I was probably in a lot of trouble.
The ten pairs took me a year. I finished five days before the 2011 Christmas party. In between, I took some time to knit Max and Julia something for their birthdays and I made one blanket, a couple pairs of mittens, a hat, a toddler toy, and some cat toys. And that was it.
That's all of them piled on there.
These got the biggest reaction, obviously.
They were a special request, because I never would have chosen them myself. This technique, stranded colorwork I think is the technical name, is my absolute least favorite.
The big surprise for me was that the pattern I was least sure about, the last one I chose and the one I was ready to replace if I found something I liked more, ended up being my favorite pair when they were done. I plan on making a pair for myself.
So, the Mitten Project is done, and I'm free to knit what I want. I decided to do something brand new in 2012. Something I have never, ever done in all the years I've been knitting: I'm going to make something for myself.
A few years back I was poking around to find a pattern for twin babies. I wanted to make two blankets where the pattern was identical but I could use different colors. When I started I didn't know the sexes of the babies, so colors had to be flexible (and I rarely knit baby blankets in pastels, regardless). I came across a pattern called "Baby Shane." I loved the blanket and there were a lot of color choices, and I was amused that the father's name was Shane. It seemed perfect.
I was happy with the blankets, but even more so, I fell completely in love with the yarn. It's from here, and it lovely, lovely yarn. The colors were great, and I was so excited each time I got to start working with a new one, but also the yarn was so nice to work with. Now. As much as this yarn holds my heart, it's not, let's say, something I'd use to make toys for the kids. However, my first project, just for me?
My photography stinks, so I'm not really doing it justice, but the color (or, colour, the...yarn-person? yarn-maker? Tanis is her name...is Canadian) is called Stormy and there are slight variations from greys to dark bluish/black. It's beautiful. And that's the bottom 2 1/2 inches of the back of a sweater. For me.
The front of the sweater is complicated, so this isn't a project I'm likely to want to carry around with me, so I've got something easier going on a crochet hook. I rarely show people works in progress, but I really love the colors here. After I finish the stripe of green, the four colors will repeat and this is a blanket for a baby born on Thanksgiving.
2012 is not all about me. I've got something in mind for my nephews and I think I'm finally going to bite the bullet and try my hand at designing my own patterns this year. Probably not for mittens, though.
Wonderful mittens, all of them! What pattern did you use for the brown beaded gloves?
Posted by: Ruth | January 02, 2012 at 09:23 AM
This is the pattern: http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Dress-Up_Gloves_Pattern__D15055220.html
I think the reason I hadn't initially liked them was because I didn't like the tan color they're shown in. But I loved them in the darker color I chose for our tech, and I would probably choose a blue for myself. It was the first time I used beads - it was really easy!
Posted by: Christine | January 02, 2012 at 10:16 AM
SO PRETTY! It makes me want to learn to knit!
Posted by: Linda | January 02, 2012 at 11:34 AM
What gorgeous gloves and mittens! Those photos make me want to start knitting again, though I am afraid of gloves.
Posted by: redzils | January 02, 2012 at 06:25 PM
@Redzils - my facebook updates on my first glove patterns were full of veiled threats about amputating fingers. I stuck an index finger on the pinky location and had to tear the whole thing out. I ended up winging that pattern. The beaded pattern is really clear, though, and actually shows you exactly which stitches to pick up and knit for each finger. I did three pairs of gloves in total and I wouldn't fear them anymore.
Posted by: Christine | January 02, 2012 at 07:15 PM
When did you knit the giant, life-sized dog? That would be my favorite. Especially when you put the knit-dog on the real dog's bed.
Posted by: SarcastiCarrie | January 03, 2012 at 08:34 AM
Love the mittens... But I ADORE the colors of the blanket... that set has been my favorite for a while. My entire bedroom is done in them :)
Posted by: Joy | January 03, 2012 at 03:19 PM