FO catch-up: Gifts and Christmassy things

I didn't post much over the last few months of 2013, but if you saw my 2013 FO mosaic you'll have noticed that I did finish a few more projects. It doesn't feel like the new knitting year has started properly until I post about all my FOs, so I'm going to do a few posts to catch up with what I've made.

Today I'll summarize the holiday-related knitting I did.

First of all, I finished a scarf for my mom from a pattern she picked out when I visited over the summer.


(dirty mirror selfie snapped before I posted it off)

Pattern: Drachenswanz by Klangsonne

Yarn: Lioness Arts King of the Jungle Sock, in "Seeing other people"

Notes: Fabulous soft yarn in the most delicious, deep, semi-solid red. It was lovely to work with. The scarf took me months to complete because I got bored of garter stitch after a while. The pattern is originally written in German - I tried to follow the English translation, but it didn't really make sense to me, so I ended up working entirely off Amilouna's notes.

Next, we decided to buy a real Christmas tree this year, since we were staying home for the holidays. This necessitated buying ornaments. (Last time we stayed home for Christmas, we used hexipuffs for ornaments, but this year they were all sewn up!) I took the opportunity to make a tree-topper from a pattern I'd had on my radar for years.



Pattern: Celestine by Norah Gaughan

Yarn: Patons Diploma Gold DK

Notes:
Our tree was small, so the full-sized start would have looked silly. As such, I followed many helpful ravelry notes and made my celestine smaller. Each point began with 35 stitches, rather than 55. I didn't measure the final product, but it was a good size for the wee tree. So it would stay on top, I left the final point open at the bottom and inserted and stitched on a plastic tube that my husband cunningly fashioned and drilled holes into. It worked very well!

2013 - year in knitting

In 2013 I completed 12 projects - that's more than last year, although quantity isn't what counts! One more and I would have managed 13 in 2013... oops. Here they are in mosaic form.



Left to right, top to bottom: (All links are to my ravelry projects)

1. Almond Comfit by Ysolda Teague
2. Gnarled Oak Cardigan by Alana Dakos
3. Celestine by Norah Gaughan
4. Drachenswanz by Klangsonne
5. Annis by Susanna IC
6. Little Sister's Dress by Tora Froseth
7. Twilight socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes
8. Color Affection by Veera Valimaki
9. Magrathea by Matina Behm
10. Noro Striped Scarf
11. Pomatomus by Cookie A.
12. Beekeeper's Quilt by tiny owl knits

(Disclaimer: I didn't so much "finish" my beekeeper's quilt as decide I was never going to make it quilt sized, sew up what I had, and made a wee beekeeper's mat. Not sure what to do with it, but it's as done as it will ever be. eta - I don't even have a picture of the "finished" mat, but it has more puffs than the pic above!)

Before me I see much neckwear! Yikes. I had no idea I was making shawlettes and scarves to the exclusion of all else.

Last January I made some loose knitting goals. Did I accomplish them?

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.

Kind of. I made one cardigan--the only sweater I made all year--so that's a partial success. I did a bit of lace, though I didn't really stretch myself in that respect. Finally, I made socks for my brother and a scarf for my mother, so I count my gift quota as fulfilled.

In 2014, I have some more concrete goals, though I reserve the right to change them at any point. I would like to knit at least two sweaters for myself, and aim for 14 FOs in 2014. (I know the numbers don't matter, but I came so close to 13 last year without even realizing it, so I think I can manage 14 this time.)

Whahey! Bring on the New Year.