Oh, there's been knitting...

To prove that this blog is still a knitting blog (and that I'm still knitting), here is a recap of my finished objects since The Great Blog Decline that started after the State Fair and left some of you sending me nagging emails and harassing me at family gatherings.

Jackson's State Fair Sweater

Yarn: Mission Falls 1824
Pattern: Stone's Sweater from The Natural Knitter
Needles: US7 + US8

This sweater was knit specifically for entry into the State Fair knitting competition this year and I scrambled to get it done. Yarn, pattern and inspiration fell into place (Jackson needed a new sweater for the winter and I just knew this pattern would be awesome on him) and it even won a 2nd place ribbon in its category. Every time I see Jackson wearing this sweater, I stop and stare a little. It's so, so, so perfect on him.

(Another) Turkish Hat

Yarn: Cascade 220
Pattern: Turkish Hat from Hats On!
Needles: US4

Also knit for the State Fair competition, but I don't love this one as much (and it didn't place, though it was featured in the display case on a creepy looking mannequin). I was intending to knit it for me (and hoping that it would fit) since the one I made before ended up so large that it went to my dad. But this one ended up so small that it's now my daughter's. Third time's a charm? Eh, I've got other things to knit...

Bias Scarf

Yarn: handspun, hand-dyed slubby cotton yarn from an art sale
Pattern: none
Needles: US4

I LOVE this yarn. Just wanted to knit something simple with it so the yarn could speak for itself. This simple little bias scarf has accompanied me to many events where "mindless knitting" was required. It's been languishing in the knitting basket for many moons now since wool took over in priority, but it will be an FO for 2011 in the spring for sure. 

Late to the Party Clapotis

Yarn: Jojoland Rhythm
Pattern: Clapotis
Needles: US8

I finally made a Clapotis and can't believe that I waited so long to do it! What a great pattern and what an awesome scarf. I wear it all the time and totally get why everyone has loved this one. I made mine considerably longer too, so it's also a great shoulder wrap when my classroom is inevitably too chilly on Saturday mornings. 

Tilted Duster

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Tweed
Pattern: Tilted Duster from Interweave Knits Fall 2007
Needles: US8

I wanted to knit this sweater the moment I saw the cover of Interweave back in the fall of '07, but never got around to it until this year. Started it in March, finished in November, but didn't knit on it at all in those middle months. (The skirt portion was super boring.) It's pretty wonky size-wise, but I still love it and wear it often. (I bushwhacked the sleeves and they, therefore, ended up a little "puffed" in the shoulders. Not the best fit on me.) It's long and warm though. LOVE the collar. 

Latvian Mittens 

Yarn: Finulgarn 2ply
Pattern: three different patterns from Latvian Mittens
Needles: US1

I signed up for a Latvian Mittens class at Ingebretsen's this fall and had such a great time meeting the knitters/teacher and learning to knit these amazing mittens (not that mine are amazing, just Latvian mittens in general!). I'm hooked. There will be more. (Thanks to Dan for giving me the book for my birthday!)

Dan's Mitts 

Yarn: Gale Woods Farm yarn
Pattern: used basic mitten pattern from Knitting for Peace with the glove details from Selbuvotter
Needles: US7

Poor Dan. His mittens are not nearly as exciting as mine. (Though I think he thinks that he's getting the better mittens.) He needed a new pair of fingerless mitts since the ones we bought together for him at a small shop in the Lake District in England (where his father's side originates) have finally started to deteriorate. I made him take those mitts home then because I didn't feel up to the challenge of knitting the fingers yet. I felt obliged to tackle it now, but not so much that I'll finish the second one immediately. Spring is a long ways off, after all. 

Jackson's Lizard Mittens

Yarn: KnitPicks Wool of the Andes
Pattern: Lizard Mittens by torirot designs (Ravelry link)
Needles: US5 + US6

Jackson's hands are growing too fast! These are an attempt to stay on top of the growth and keep him wanting to put mittens on at the same time. Second one is on the needles now. He wore this one when we went out this morning with one of his snowflake mittens in a mismatched set because he was so excited to use them, so I think it's a good sign. (The thumb has the cutest little lizard on it too, love!)

Doll Clothing 

Yarn: leftover Finulgarn (skirt), leftover Jojoland Rhythm (sweater)
Pattern: Fairytale Skirt (Ravelry link), forgot where the sweater pattern came from...
Needles: US1 (skirt), US5 (sweater)

I got on this kick before Christmas that Amelia's dolls needed some new outfits but I wasn't willing to pay store prices for them ($20 for a doll dress??). I'm not sure what made me knit this skirt on size 1s, but it did turn out pretty cute. A matching blouse is on the needles now. The goal was to have an outfit for Jackson's doll too, but I didn't get that far and, frankly, neither of the kids really cared about the clothing. I won't throw in the towel yet, but maybe I'll just wait until they ask for more...

Citron 

Yarn: Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball
Pattern: Citron
Needles: US6

And lastly for 2010 knitting, I cast on for this Citron shawl before leaving for Mexico two weeks ago and have been knitting on it like crazy ever since. It turned out to be the perfect project for mindless knitting while simultaneously reading on my new Kindle propped up on my knee and I've read 4 books as I've knit this. It will forever hold exciting parts of these stories trapped in certain sections of the shawl and this makes me love it all the more. (It's unfinished and crammed on the needles now. The rich colors will give it away when I can finally show the blocked piece, but like any shawl, it doesn't even remotely look as beautiful as it will post-blocking yet.)

(I also knit an entire sock out of this yarn first, before realizing that it was way too skinny. When I made the further realization that Zauberball will never give you two remotely similar socks because of the extreme color variations, I decided to scrap it for the shawl. Very happy with my choice!)

Well, then! I had to cram half-a-year's worth of FOs into one post, but it's still another solid year of productivity in the knitting department. Here's to 2011 knitting! I already bought yarn for my first big project of the year and can't wait to get started.