My 2011 knitting goals were to have 28 FOs and design 3 new patterns. I did hit my design goal:

*These were exclusive for the Tanis Fiber Arts 2011 Year in Colour Club, but will be for sale in January!

I fell short of my overall FO goal, with only 22 FOs, and I didn't even photograph one of them yet (it was a Stockholm Scarf that I gave to a friend for Christmas, and I wrapped it up the second it was dry) Here are the 21 I did get photographed:

 

Pattern: Oak Grove

Yarn: Becoming Art Cielo Sport

Needles: 3.25 mm dpns (US 3)

Mods: None.

Notes: these are such pretty mitts, the oak leaf design is really exceptional, and the technique gives it a raised look. My only wish is that I had reduced the stitches around the wrist- I have scrawny little bird wrists (5.5" circumference) , and there is a bit more room in them than I typically need. It would have been easy, too- just decreased about 6 stitches shortly after the ribbing from the stockinette portion, and added them back in when approaching the thumb hole round. But how can you argue with the results?

These photos were taken shortly after Christmas at my parent's home, where the local temperatures were -17 C without the wind chill. Going coat-less meant the photos had to be done in 2 mins or less!

Original Pattern: Textured Knots


Knitter Extraordinaire: Claudia (Ravelry ID)


Mods: used the great stitch design of the original blanket pattern to create a totally different pullover inspired by it. Her project page with more photos can be found here.


What Makes This Awesome: I love the details, the way the cables for the knots are used to elongate the shape of the sweater for a flattering fit. it would have been easy to go a bit overkill and have knots all over from cuff to neck to hem, but the design elements are right on key.  It's a stunning knit, and also pretty impressive to turn a blanket into a sweater!

In last year's wrap up, I stated my knitting goals, which was to design 3 new patterns and have 28 Fos.  I did a quick check on my Ravelry project page, and noticed that I'm about 7 FOs short of my yearly  FO goal! While I'm not sure I can power through and get another 7 knits done and photographed in time for the new year, I'm certainly going to try to get as close as I can. Currently on my needles:



Oak Grove Fingerless Mitts, which I got as a kit from  Becoming Art in the Clove colourway. This has been lingering in my stash, and since the move I've had an opportunity to review ALL my yarn again (and just this past weekend, I finally found the pattern booklet again for the Peterborough sweater! I'll be casting on for that in the new year, for sure. Reviewing all the yarn and patterns post-move provided an interesting time for where the heck am I going to put all this yarn, dear god I had no I had so much reflection on my stash, and future projects. I'm mulling over what my new knitting goals will be for 2012... stay tuned!

Original Pattern: Pearl

Knitter Extraordinaire: Joanne (Ravelry Id)

Mods: Transformed the raglan t-shirt into a stunning sleeveless shift dress. Great details on exactly how she did it can be found on her project page, here.

What Makes This Awesome: This dress is an absolute stunner of a modification! I love how chic and even sort of retro the silhouette looks as a sleeveless dress. I'm in awe of Joanne's vision in creating this dress. She even chose the colour based around the fabulous buttons, and I can't imagine the dress without the buttons- it's like the icing on the cupcake, don't you think? I love everything about this knit!

 

Pattern: Cabled Canuck

Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts Green label in 'Sand'

Mods: None.

Notes: I haven't done cables in ages, so I forgot how much fun they are! This hat was a perfect little hit of cabled goodness- the design is interesting, the cables are fantastic, and the design is classic.



Also, these photos were all taken in our underground parking garage. It's so hard to find good lighting this time of year, because it's pitch black by 5 p.m., and G suggested we try the well-lit parking garage. It worked out great!No more waiting for the weekend, trying to get just the right light... the parking garage was perfect, even if it was a bit boring. But G decided to jazz up the photos by trying some lomo and black and white effects. We're both excited by the discovery of this new 'studio', and thinking of ways to make the most of it over the winter!



Why yes, I am wearing my Velvet Morning cardigan!

Nathalie has tagged me with the Versatile Blogger Award! Thanks so much!

The rules are:
1. Thank the award-giver and link back to them in your post.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this award along to recently discovered blogs you enjoy reading.
4. Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award.

If anyone wishes to join in, please consider yourself tagged! Let me know if you post, so I can go and read your post, too! So, seven random things about me:

1.  I was a vegetarian for 16 years, from the ages of 12-28, totally by my own choice. My reasons for starting were as arbitrary as my reasons for going back to meat, and sometimes I regret it... not because meat isn't damn tasty (it totally is), but because it is fraught with so many more environmental and ethical issues. So I don't eat it every day, and I buy local/organic/antibiotic free meat. it's more expensive, but it eases my conscience when I think of those poor chickens/pigs/cows/bison/rabbits. Yeah, when I fell off the veggie truck, I fell hard.

2. Every time I move, I totally cry over losing my old place. Even if there lots of reasons to leave the place, I get really attached to physical spaces. It breaks my heart to think I'll never live there again.

3. I have an unfortunate habit of seeing comedies in movie theatres, finding something mildly funny uproariously funny, and then while everyone else in the theatre has had a polite chuckle, I'm howling with laughter, tears steaming down my face, and then I laugh even harder because I'm aware I'm the only one still laughing and that's even funnier.

4. I love peanut butter more than any other food on the planet. I call it my best friend.

5. No matter that I know about the holidays every year, I find it so hard to get my head around the sheer volume of shopping and gift giving. Every year I tell myself that I'll do a handmade Christmas and make gifts for everyone; every year I totally fail.

6. I hate shoe shopping. I'm one of the few women on the planet who is not interested in shoes beyond a practical, can't-go-walking-in-bare-feet sort of thing.  I actually buy different versions of black flats and wear them almost exclusively all year long. I do have a couple other colours of flats, but it's pretty boring in my shoe closet, let me tell you.

7. Despite this lack of shoe interest, I love fashion magazines, and my favourite is the UK edition of Glamour. Total brain candy, but I love it.  There are so many clothing retailers over there that we don't have here, and I'm fascinated.


That's 7! remember, if you participate, send me a message and let me know!

 G and I recently found out... we're going to have a baby girl:
 It was so obvious on the ultrasound that G blurted it out before the technician could! I couldn't wait to cast on for something in a more decisive colour palette, so I cast on for these baby frog legs, and decided to add stripes. 

Original Pattern: Sheep Heid

Knitter Extraordinaire: Ann (Ravelry Id, Blog)

Mods: Turned the stranded colourwork hat pattern into a baby/ toddler cardigan. Projec tpage with details can be found here.

What Makes This Awesome:  This is a stunning sweater- I love the use of the sheep design at the hem only, and the geometric shapes at the yoke. Everything about this feels like it's in proportion- the balanced use of neutrals, the pop of green (how perfect for the button band?!), even the sheep. It's just beautiful!

I'm so excited that the new issue of Knitty has gone live, and my latest pattern is in it! Everyone, please meet Velvet Morning:

It's knit up in Tanis Fiber Arts Green Label, with Midnight as the base colour, and three contrasting colours: Sand, Mallard, and Atlantic. Tanis graciously test knit it for me in a totally different colourway, and you should check out her photos here.

I LOVE this sweater. it's such an easy thing to wear- pants, long sleeved tee, Velvet Morning. Done. 

It was ridiculously hot when we did this photos, I was getting cranky from the heat (I was also very early days pregnant, I may not have been feeling awesome, either- I was so tired all the time in the first trimester). So  I'm not as smiley as I usually am! But trust me- I wear this sweater all the time, and I'm so glad that it still fits now that I'm pregnant. That's the best part when all the growth is up front- open, drape-y cardigans still fit like a dream.

 The sweater is meant to be oversized, with lots of positive ease, and lots of cozy warmth.   The sweater knits up surprisingly quickly in the aran weight, and for those that aren't crazy about stranded colourwork, I bet this would look amazing in two colours- one base colour and one contrasting colour. I hope someone does it so I can check it out!

Original Pattern: 121-27 Waistcoat in Alaska

Knitter Extraordinaire: Lyyli (Ravelry Id, Blog)

Mods: Transformed the original button front cardigan into a sleek sweater dress. Project page can be found here.

What Makes this Awesome: The dress is such a modern, fresh version of the original design. I love the great neckline, and the cables at the hem look fantastic. I want a dress just like this (gorgeous, amazing green included)- chic, interesting, and drop dead gorgeous. I also think that keeping the short sleeves gives more options for layering through fall/winter. Such a great knit!