Last of the loot

We stopped in Liverpool on our way down south for the holidays, and I had to check out Purlesque. It's an exceedingly cute shop on top of a vintage clothing boutique - not much in the way of yarn, but oh my the buttons! Buttons are quickly become my most-stashed item.


No idea what I'm going to do with 3 kettle buttons, but I'll figure something out. Possibly as decoration on some sort of hat.


I bought these little things with the intent to make more button earrings. As I was leaving the shop, my DH pointed out that Purlesque actually sells these exact buttons made into earrings already. Great minds thing alike?

Anyway, that's the last of the "Look what I got!" posts for now. I'll have some more WIPs and maybe even an FO to show soon.

holiday yarn

I was given some yarn over the holidays this year.


Fyberspates Sheila's Sock in mixed purples - photo is colour accurate for once! This is meant for some kind of lush shawl to be determined. Possibly Magrathea, since I've wanted to get started ever since receiving the pattern in a summer swap. Or maybe Pear Drop from Saturday Treat, since I received the book for Christmas as well. Or any one of the many awesome shawl patterns out there that I have admired. I need some more scarf/shawls, definitely.


Fyberspates Scrumptious Aran in Midnight - darker blue than appears in the photo. No immediate project in mind for this one, though I might go with Almond Comfit from Saturday Treat, since this is the recommended yarn. It's a bit dark, though - I can't get that bright red out of my head. We shall see.


Noro Kureyon in colours I would never have picked for myself - I'm really enjoying it knit up, though, so stay tuned for the WIP.

Two hats

Now is the time I talk about the other 2012 FOs that I forgot to mention before. I made two hats - one for each of my grandmothers. Both from patterns I'd used before, and both in Cascade 220 - I'm not usually so consistent. Once I finish a project, I often think that I would like to make the same thing again at some point, but I rarely get around to doing it.

The first is a Coronet. I previously made my grandmother one in blue, and she requested another in red.



I used Cascade 220 in an awesome brilliant red and I kind of wanted to keep it. I never used to like bright red, but it is definitely growing on me.

For my other grandmother I made Gretel by Ysolda Teague. A few years ago, I made a Gretel for myself, but it turned out way too slouchy for me, so I hardly wore it. This time, I made the "fitted" size, and it turned out a little small-seeming, but I think it will be okay.



It went really quickly, in contrast to my memories of previous Gretel. That one was a larger hat and I was inexperienced at cabling. This time cables are my favourite, and I can cable without a needle. What a difference that makes.



I don't think the distinct tam is the right shape/style for my head, but I hope Grandma likes it. Having made it twice, I almost want to make another, perhaps in the "regular" size, for myself.

2012 in knitting

Hello! I hope you have all had a fun and relaxing whatevermass holiday time. I basically ignored the internet for two weeks and it was delightful. (And now I'm having a hard time catching up.) I even finished some more knitting projects. As is traditional, I've done a mosaic of everything I finished in 2012... and I thought it would be bigger, to be honest. Oh well.



From left to right and top to bottom (links are to my rav projects):

Devon, by Cookie A.
High Seas, by Kieran Foley
Sweet Bunting, by Laura Chau
Mr Pitt's Socks, by Kaitlyn Wong (I did actually finish them, just didn't get a proper picture)
Gavotte, by Cecily Glowik MacDonald
Coronet, by Alexandra Virgiel
Ladies' Classic Raglan Pullover, by Jane Richmond
Gretel, by Ysolda Teague

A few of these haven't had a proper blog post yet, but those will come soon.

As for knitting resolutions, I think I half succeeded this year. Here is what I wrote last year:

In 2012, I would like to focus my knitting on filling in my knitwear gaps. For example, most of my handknit sweaters are 3/4 sleeved because I skimp on yarn and am afraid of running out. 3/4 sleeves are fine sometimes, but my wardrobe needs some long-sleeved things. So: goal for 2012 is to make sweaters with long sleeves, even if I need to buy more yarn to accomplish it! Likewise, I only have one handknitted pullover, so I'd like to add one or two more pullovers to the mix this year.

Indeed, I did make two pullovers - hurray! However, only one of them is long-sleeved. Ah well. I spent several months working on my wedding shawl exclusively, which probably accounts for having fewer FOs than last year. That's cool - it's not about the counting, is it? In any case, the last few months have been rather productive. Half of my total FOs were finished in November and December, including my two sweaters.

My knitting goals for next year aren't very focused, and are subject to change. I'd like to do some more lace, and make a few cardigans. I'd also like to make some gifts for my immediate family, since I haven't made them anything for the last two years. Other than that, who knows what 2013 will bring.

How was your year in knitting / fibre?