Wednesday, January 8, 2014

The Last of the 2013 Knitting

I have been such a slacker on keeping up with my blogs. My excuse is that I've been suffering from insomnia, or a version of it, since shortly after the kids started school. Everyday is like living through a fog. I'm tired, forgetful, and very sad. A lovey mix.
 
So, the knitting has been very slow going. I have almost no concentration and I easily forget what I'm doing. I've decided to put up the pictures of everything that did get done. My list of things that still need to be started is gigantic. I owe three different birthday gifts and two Christmas gifts. Yippee!
 First up is Gaskell. I love this pattern. Great for when your attention has to be divided by tv or children. I knit this back in April (?) and I believe it is knit from side to side with the ruffle knitted with short rows as you go. I want to make another one, but this time I would use a bulkier weight yarn. Plus, it can be made to any size. The yarn used was Fantasy by Dark Horse Yarns. 
 For Kaye's, my sister-in-law, birthday I made her Hermione's Everyday Socks. Very cute socks, although I think I messed up the heel and ended up using a different heel from another pattern. I won't swear to this since I made these back in May. Yarn used was CoBaSi by Hikoo by Skacel Collection.
 Ah, Betsey. I love this pattern and would make dozens more. However, I would NOT use this yarn again. I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. Not a bad yarn exactly, but a terrible choice fort his pattern. And I HATE the colors together. Betsey is another pattern that I cannot wait to make again. Different yarn and color choices, obviously.
 Another pair of socks for me! Used the How I Make My Socks pattern again. Yarn is Happy Feet from Plymouth Yarn.
 Birthday socks for my brother, Peter. Pattern is Basic Ribbed Socks. He wears a size 15 shoe. These socks took a bit longer to make and I wanted the stripes to match up as much as possible. Yarn is Felici from Knit Picks in the colorway Building Blocks. I love the Felici yarn. I would buy every colorway. What can I say? I am charmed by self-striping yarn.
 These slippers have a sad story associated with them. They are the Options Slippers for Men. They were made for a family friend that passed away shortly after receiving them. I recommend the pattern. I used the suggested idea of putting the rubber goop on the bottoms.
 Hat time for the kids again! We have been big into The Avengers and Shield here. Henry wanted a hat with the Shield insignia on it. I used a basic hat pattern and added in the Shield Insignia.  
Irene got the Heart version of the Spider Boy-Lover Girl hat pattern.
 
Not pictured is the 6 placemats I made my Dad for Christmas. He asked for them to match the coasters I made him last year. I forgot to take a picture of those last year, too. Also missing a picture is Gavin's hat. Once again he wanted a Dinosaur hat. No problem, but the size I made is just a bit too small so I am going to make him another. And he wants a Captain America hat because Captain America is his favorite. I've also got an almost finished cardigan for me that is just waiting for sleeves. I really need to get on it. Oh, and I have a pair of not quite finished birthday socks for my dad. Yeah, I really need to get with it.
 
As for knitting goals for 2014, I would like to finish all the stuff I didn't get done in 2013. I also want to make an afghan from a beautiful circular shawl pattern. I'd also like to make Gaskell and Betsey again and do the projects that I already have yarn for. I am dreaming big!! 

2 comments:

Nicole said...

My secret for knitting socks is an 8 inch size 2 circular needle. I think it is an Addi needle. I can knit half a sock in no time! I even turn the heel with the circular needle. I only use the dpn when I get to the toes. Plus, I like the plan sock pattern and fun yarn so I don't have to worry about remembering a pattern. Plus, I love sock yarn :-)

Nicole said...

Oops! That should be PLAIN sock pattern not plan sock pattern.