I've Been Cheating .....

... on my knitting, that is.  I have started quilting.  I am taking a beginner's quilting class, and I love it!  I knew absolutely nothing about quilting, the how-to's.  All I knew is that I love fabric, and I wanted to create something with it.  It is alot like knitting, with the endless possibilities of patterns and yarn combinations.  The class started in September, and ran about every other week until everyone finished. I am finishing the handstitching on the binding of my quilt today, and I couldn't be more excited about it.  There are tons of mistakes in it, but I do not care.  I cannot say how much I enjoyed making it.  To think of how far I have come in a couple of months is mind-boggling to me.  I went from not knowing how to turn my new sewing machine on to zipping along at a decent rate, but not fast by any means.

Pattern:  Mine Shaft
Size:  ~ 42"x42"
Started:  September, 2012
Finished:  November 18, 2012  (TODAY!! YAY!!)
For:  ME.  I can't give my first quilt away.

So here are a few pics...

Finished!!

the back

handsewing the binding - I'm enjoying this more than I thought I would

all pieced together

I can't believe MOST of my corners met

laying it out

look how pretty it looks altogether

my fabrics match my new room

next up...guess who's getting this for Christmas

Oh, and don't worry, I'm still knitting........

Since I Have Declared 2012 "The Year of the Sweater"

May I present the first 5 sweaters of 2012.....actually, the first one is in the previous post.  These are 2, 3, 4 & 5...

I have finished 2 more, but one is a testknit so it is a secret for the time being, and the other is blocking as I type this. I feel so accomplished actually knitting beautiful, wearable, flattering, form-fitting sweaters.  So far, they have all been for me, but I will probably make my mom and daughter each one for Christmas.

I am having serious issues with my elbow at the moment, so I am laying off knitting with heavier yarns for now.

Drambuie in String Theory Merino DK

Water and Stone in Madelinetosh Pashmina
(probably my favorite so far)

Vodka Lemonade in Madelinetosh Tosh DK

Bulky V-Neck Pullover (highly modified) in
Spincycle BFL/20% silk handspun

Plain and Simple

John played in his second Barrister's Bowl this past weekend.  
It was a beautiful, sunny day, and John played great!

I am so excited to finally be able to make "wearable" garments.  This is the Plain and Simple Pullover that I knit with 2 skeins of Wollmeise 100% superwash merino in Neptun dark colorway.  I used a 3.0 mm needle.  

It took much longer than it should have because I started out making a medium size, but realized after 6" of knitting that it was coming out way too big.  Then, when I finally got to the collar, I did not have enough yarn, so I cut 2 inches off the bottom of the sweater and used that yarn to finish the collar.  I could have made 2 of these with all of the knitting and ripping and reknitting that I did.

I am very happy with it, and it is perfect for the climate here, i.e. no winter this year.

2011 Wrap-Up

I was waiting to get a picture of Amanda in her sweater before I did this post, but forgot to snap one while we were in Colorado last week.  It fits her perfectly, and she looks beautiful in it.  Sis, send me a pic of you in your sweater!  Regarding the yarn, though, she said it is kind of itchy.

Another item finished at the end of the year, just before the New Year, is a little shawl made from a skein of sock yarn, Wollmeise, of course.

Here is a list of FO's from 2011:

2011 FINISHED OBJECTS

• 1 pair of mittens
• 1 bag
• 8 Baby Blankets
• 5 Shawls
• 3 Adult sweaters
• 11 pairs of socks
• 3 Girl's Sweaters
• 6 scarves/cowls
• 2 pairs of baby socks/booties
• 18 hats

I have already finished a couple of things this month, January, 2012, so I'll start a new FO list.  I am very happy with the things that I knit last year, mainly a few well-fitted sweaters and my stranded baby blanket.  There will be more of both of these this year.