End of 2007, Beginning of 2008

Well, so much to blog about. Some photos to share (both of completed projects and the family Christmas celebration). And a few knitting resolutions for 2008.

First, a photo of one of the mittens I made to go with Baby Helen's pink coat and hat:

Mad props to whoever understands why the mitten is perched on a beer bottle (sorry, Thursday night S&B folks are ineligible).

And here's a photo of Helen modeling the full hat and mittens ensemble. As you can see, it was hard to get her to be still!


We had a nice Christmas. Matthew is smiling a lot, and Helen is in perpetual motion. I will post some photos later -- I'm waiting for my sisters to send me their online albums.

So last night, we were talking about knitting resolutions for the new year. But first, a few things I accomplished in 2007 (not necessarily in order):
1. I learned how to use DPNS -- I have since knitted several hats, a pair of mittens, and a pair of baby booties.
2. I made my first knitting festival trip this year -- several of us attended the NY Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck. So much fun!
3. I tried several new patterns this year. Overall, I was open to more challenges -- probably because I know if I get stuck, I can get help from my S&B friends!
4. I finally got on Ravelry. Now I see what all the commotion was about.
There may be more accomplishments, but these are the ones that stick out in my mind right now.

On to 2008, and some KNITTING RESOLUTIONS for the new year:
1. I am finally going to knit some socks. I have a couple of skeins of sock yarn, including my LSU purple and gold sock yarn. Geaux Tigers!
2. I'm going to learn cabling this year.
3. I'm going to learn Kitchener Stitch this year (actually, it'll probably be this weekend!)
4. Even though projects for my niece and nephew keep getting added to my Ravelry queue, I'm still going to do one or two projects for myself.
5. I'd like to learn Magic Loop this year.
Again, there are probably items I'm forgetting, but maybe I'll add to this later.

Knitters out there -- any knitting resolutions for 2008? I tag CostumeChick, Anphoe, KnelleyBelley, WifeMomKnitter, MadKnitter, and passimenterie. :-)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I wanted to share this video but the best I could do is a link -- please click to view.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Hats!

It was a great weekend. I'm hanging in there with the personal stuff, and my cold is finally on the wane. That's good, because my IQ seems to be inversely proportional to the amount of goo in my head.

My sister had asked me to knit Baby Helen a hat to go with her pink winter coat. So I did, and my sister was appreciative, as always. What I didn't expect was this: reportedly, Helen wore the hat around the house most of the weekend. Apparently she is really into it!

The toy she's pushing, a "Fisher Price Musical Activity Walker," was also a gift from her doting aunt. ;-)

In other hat news, I finished one of the Santa hats. I'm making one for Helen and one for Matthew. Since Helen's daycare is having a "Santa Hat" day next week, I pushed forward and finished hers Friday night. And since I don't yet have a photo of her wearing it, I'll have to be content with a stand-in model:


Also, I'm finally on Ravelry! If anyone's looking, my ID is YankeeLagniappe. It's going to take me a while to get photos uploaded and lists made, but as of today, I'm off to a good start!

Forgiveness and Waffles

A curious title, you say? Very few will know what it means, but I promised them that would be the title of my next blog post. To those of you, THANK YOU -- I am so lucky to have you as friends.

It has been a while since I've posted, and it took getting TAGGED for a meme by Wife, "Mom," Knitter to drag my lazy patootie back into the blogosphere. So without further ado:

1. What are your favorite things to knit?
Things for my niece and nephew. Baby stuff goes very quickly, and I enjoy thinking about the babies as I knit. Also, their mommies (my sisters) are very appreciative!

2. What yarn/fiber do you like most?
I am trying to broaden my yarn horizons, but there have been a couple of yarns that have gotten my attention recently. I knitted a hat for myself our of Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk -- it's so warm and soft. And I've knitted a couple of items for my nephew with Bernat Cotton-Tots (100% cotton). It doesn't have much elasticity (terribly for tying up a pompom), but it feels really good and I like their colorways.

3. What needles do you tend to use (i.e. type/material)?
Metal circulars. Although all my DPNs are bamboo. I've only recently learned to use DPNs, and somehow the bamboo makes me feel less worried that the stitches will go flying off the other end of the needle.

4. Do you tend to knit more in one specific part of the year than others?
No.

5. What style of knitting do you use?
English, although at the time I learned, I didn't know there was more than one style.

6. Do you consider yourself a “fast” knitter?
No, although I'm not as slow and clumsy as I used to be.

7. Who is your favorite knitting author(s)?
I don't really have any yet -- I haven't developed a book addiction. I did meet the Yarn Harlot at Rhinebeck (my friends were stalking her) and she was very nice. So I guess she's my favorite. :-)

8. What is your favorite by said author(s)?
So now I guess I'll have to go get some of her books...

9. How long ago did you learn to knit?
Summer of 2003. I had just finished grad school and was visiting my Aunt Helen. She taught me the basic knit stitch.

10. How do you knit small in-the-round objects? (i.e. double points, 2 circulars, or the magic loop)
DPNs, which I've only recently learned to use. I would love to learn the other 2 methods at some point.

11. What is the most useful technique you’ve learned so far?
The same thing WifeMomKnitter said -- knit both sleeves (or cardigan front panels) at once. I too learned this at S&B. Not only are my sleeves uniform, but I've never had "second sleeve" syndrome.

12. Do you prefer to knit fine gauge items, mid-range gauge items, or large gauge items, or do you like it all?
I think I'm most comfortable with mid-range gauge item.

13. How do you like to knit your sweaters?
Back, front, sleeves, I guess. I'm not sure it ever occurred to me to deviate from the pattern so boldly as to knit the front, then the back!

14.) Who do wish to tag?
Anyone who hasn't been tagged yet, I guess! :-)