Looking back at 2008

I started 2008 with some knitting goals. I wanted to learn new things (see fearless knitter badge) and I wanted to knit more for myself. On both counts I am pleased with what I have accomplished.


Here is the tally for my knitting in 2008:

6 hats
5 pairs of adult socks
2 scarves
2 bags
1 pair baby socks
1 adult sweater
1 child sweater
1 shawl
1 poncho


That is 20 knitted items in all.


Among these items were:
9 gifts
2 swaps
2 for charity
7 for me!!


This is a much improved percentage of knit items for me to keep compared to last year.
2008 35% for me
2007 12.5% for me


The items I made for myself are a lace stole, a fair isle cardigan and 5 pairs of socks. Not bad.


And I feel like I really did learn a lot of new things this year. I have learned how to do stranded knitting, and I even enjoy picking the colors. I cut my first steek this year. I worked with lace weight yarn for the first time. Additionally, I have tried hard to know when to give up a project. I frogged 7 projects this year--not including the 4 "swatches" for the swap scarf I made.


All in all, I'm pleased with my progress this year. Now to think about challenges for 2009.
Wishing you happy knitting and all sorts of other good things for 2009.

Everlasting Bagstoppers

After months of looking at these unfinished little bags, I finally got the sharp needle out. They just needed handles. I had bought the ribbon--just had to get down to the sewing.

Well, on Saturday I did not let myself knit until the handles were sewn on. Yes, I still have a sore spot on the knuckle of my thumb where I kept jabbing myself with the needle, but the bags are fully functional now, and actually in the mail heading towards my sisters, who I hope will find good uses for them.

Even with the delay to sew, I managed to complete the second sleeve of the circles yoke sweater this weekend. I cast on for the body and I'm getting ready to turn the hem. Hopefully, I will have a new sweater soon.

My Christmas cactus bloomed on time this year :)

Since the last post

Of course I had to rerun the analysis after adding the last post--and now I have been reanalyzed.

ESTP - The Doers

The active and play-ful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities. The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time.

Hmm--this one, not so much, unless by "physical out-door activity" they mean walking out the front door, opening the garage (I don't have a garage door opener, ya know) and driving to work. I guess the typealyzer post threw off my posting vibe. And maybe by "keen on starting something new" they mean casting on new projects. And by "problem with sitting still" they mean constantly wiggles yarn between needles. Ah well, at least I'm less creeped out. As I said, back to knitting content.

Typealyzer

Saw this link to Typalyzer on a friend's blog, and I thought I'd give it a go. You put your blog address in, and poof you are analyzed. Here is what my blog says about me:

The analysis indicates that the author of http://neknitter.blogspot.com/ is of the type:
ESFP - The Performers

The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves. The enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.


Hmm--you think maybe all the knitting content is a hint about the soft fabrics??? Exhaustion--sure feels like it these days? Do you think I can direct the upper management to this analysis the next time I get asked if I would like to move into the managerial track?? Do you think maybe there is a reason that I am the unofficial mentor to my entire dept???? Really, this thing was a bit creepy.

BTW--submitted the first official draft of my thesis to my committee yesterday--about 10 minutes before we lost power. Seems it all got through though--and I have a few days to let my brain relax, and maybe actually knit!!! After I get my holiday cards in the mail, of course--sigh. We'll see how badly it gets torn apart, so that I can turn around and make it better :)

So, I promise some more knitting soon--especially since I have started a new sweater!! Yes, even during this week, when I had absolutely no time to knit at all, I managed to complete the entire arm of a sweater--amazing. Sometimes, I forget that knitting worsted weight can seem like magic--especially since my last sweater was sport weight!!

Mom's hat and scarf

Finished the hat/scarf set for my Mom.

Here she is modeling the hat.

And here is the scarf.

My great revelation in doing the decreases, for this essentially 1x1 ribbed hat is that k3tog and p3tog are my friends.

No time for more as I have eggplant to cook for a family gathering tonight, assuming the roads are clear enough for us to get there.

My scarf has arrived!

And isn't gorgeous!

As part of the Monthly Adventure Holiday swap, I sent Jinann some yummy Malabrigo, and she knit this beautiful scarf for me.

I love it. Soft and cuddly, pretty and elegant. Now I need to make myself a hat with the yarn I have left.

Also included in the package were some adorable Christmas ornaments and a key chain from the Norwegian bazaar she attended over the weekend. They are heading up to land on my Christmas tree.

Next post--will be about the hat and scarf I'm working on for my mom. I made a lovely discovery about decreasing 1x1 ribbing.

And the winner is . . .

Katrina!!

Woohoo! I know where to find you--so I will leave a little something on your desk on Monday. If you are lucky, you might not get it for a while--since as I understand it, Monday is your due date!!!!! But if you do go past your due date, at least you know a pretty skein of Sunshine Yarns handpainted 75% merino/25% silk in Sunflower, will be waiting for you on Tuesday.

Thanks to everyone for reading all my silly knitting/life stories.

What might a collector of fiber fear?

What does strike fear in the hearts of fiber lovers everywhere? How about this:

Yes, some crazy thing has been happening recently. It has been warmish, but really not that warm. Thousands of seemingly identical moths have been hovering around the outdoor lights and the windows. They seem to love the fluorescent kitchen light, as seen above.

I stupidly left the light outside the door on the other day, and when the boys came home a bunch of fluttery friends came in with them. Well, I've been vacuuming them up since. Let's hope I've gotten them all. I shudder to think of what they might like to cuddle up with in my stash!

Blogiversary

It just struck me that it is December (crap, how did that happen), and that I started this blog in December, so I took a peek back--and today is exactly one year since my first post!!

So, as a celebration of actually sticking with this for a year, I'm offering a prize to any readers that might be out there. So if you are reading right now, post a comment. On Friday I'll pick a random comment and send that reader a fibery prize. Mention in the comment if you are a sock knitter or not--that will help me sort through the available "prizes".

I don't have very many readers--so your chances of getting some fibery goodness are pretty high :)