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2009 Knitting, Socks, Spinning

2009 Knitting Resolutions – Wrap up

By Sheetar 9 January 2010 9 January 2010

2009 is over and gone, and I’m going to check through my list and see how I’ve done.

1. Clear the WIP queue from last year by the end of the month.
There’s still one outstanding WIP from 2008 in my queue, but otherwise, I did pretty well on the clean-up! We’ll consider this one not complete, but close, right?

2. Knit two sweaters this year.
I got one! I blogged about that one here, and got a good start on the second one, but haven’t yet finished it. Hopefully soon.

3. Knit one pair of socks per month.
Oh boy did I EVER do this one. And I think I deserve a HUGE GOLD STAR. Because I’m awesome.

I knitted a few socks this year. Here are my official 12 per the year, but the total count is 19 pairs *finished* this year (some were started in 2008). The links below are to flickr and the original post on my blog.

1. January flickr – blog	2. February flickr– blog	3. March flickr– blog
4. April flickr– blog	5. May flickr– blog	6. June flickr– blog
7. July flickr– blog	8. August flickr– blog	9. September flickr– blog
10. October flickr– blog	11. November flickr– blog	12. December flickr– blog

4. Spin four ounces of roving per month.
I might not have gotten them all in on the right month, but here we have it! Some of those are 8 ounces, so I don’t have 12 photos, but there are more than enough ounces to count at least four for every month of the year. Yes, I realize October is missing, but there are two entries for March, so the math works out in the end, yes? Yes.

1. Jan/Feb blog	2. Jan/Feb blog	3. March Flickr
4. June/July blog	5. June/July blog	6. August blog
7. September blog	8. May blog	9. March blog
10. November blog	11. December blog

5. Dye more yarn and roving.
Oh yeah. Did that. Hosted a dye-day at my house with the local Stitch n’ Bitch and it was super fun.

6. Knit at least one pair of stranded socks.
Nope. Not even a little. I really over-extended myself this past year.

7. Finish holiday gift knitting throughout the year instead of all at once in December!
I guess I got this one? Sorta cheated since I only did one item for one person. It’s so hard knitting gifts when there are five sisters-in-law to knit for. I’ve opened up next year for requests, so we’ll see what happens.

8. Participate in another test knit.
Yep. A few of them. I think three total?

9. Work on an original pattern.
*buzzer* Not even a little bit. It was a nice idea though?

The tally comes to five out of nine. I think the list for 2010 is going to be more conservative. More on that later, while I think up some goals to set.

2009 Knitting, Socks, Spinning

December Knitting Wrap-up

By Sheetar 6 January 2010 7 February 2012

December (and all of 2009) is gone and it’s time to update on the knitting resolutions.

3. Knit one pair of socks per month

Hanging Vines of Envy
Pattern: Hanging Vines
Designer: Kelly Porpiglia
Needles: US 1 (2.25mm)
Yarn: Sheepy Time Yarns Sheepy Feet in, “Green Eyed Monster,” from the Sheepy Time Knits December 2009 Club
–Ravelry Project Link–
There was just no excuse for this one to be anything than what it is. It’s the December colorway since I’m a speshul snowflake, and thus, these socks had to be knitted. They’d been in my queue for a while and when this yarn popped out of the mailbox, I KNEW, just knew what the yarn was destined to be. Not a super-easy knit, challenging enough that I wasn’t bored, but I definitely needed the chart the whole way through. The results are very much worth it and I’m totally jazzed about how they came out.

4. Spin four ounces of roving per month.
I made up for last month and covered this month too.

This is 8 ounces of Handspun alpaca. The roving comes from Black Diamond Alpacas, a local gal who sends the fiber from her animals to be processed together. The names of the alpacas used in this blend were even on the label which is just too cute. Unfortunately, the fiber was REALLY dirty and I think it’s probably from an oil or grease used during the process that draws out the roving to keep the fuzz from flying. It washed out (after four rinses), and I’m rather happy with the results. I ended up with about a worsted weight, approximately 350 yards. This wasn’t so much a spin for a specific project, but I’m thinking a pair of thrummed mittens may be in order.

And that’s all I’ve got. I have to get a few posts together this month for a resolutions wrap up as well as a 2010 resolutions (*gasp* 2010?! DID I JUST SAY THAT?!).

2009 Knitting, Socks

November Knitting Wrap-up

By Sheetar 7 December 2009 7 February 2012

November is gone and it’s time to update on the knitting resolutions.

3. Knit one pair of socks per month

Plain Old Socks
Pattern: None – plain Stockinette socks
Designer: Me?
Needles: US 1 (2.25mm)
Yarn: My Handspun from dkKnits Superfluff roving in, “Shooting Star”
–Ravelry Project Link–
I had so much fun spinning up the yarn and then knitting the socks. The yarn is a basic fingering weight yarn that was spun on my SpinOlution Mach I and then navajo plied. I broke the yarn at the heel and started from the other end of the ball so that the color progressions on the leg and instep would be continuous. Yeah, it’s a few more ends to weave in, but. Look at that! Becky always does such a fabulous job with colors.

4. Spin four ounces of roving per month.
See above – the yarn was finished spinning about mid month. Then it jumped in front of everything and decided to become socks.

2. Knit two sweaters this year.
Still working on this. I really hope to be done with the second by the end of the month, but I’m just not sure that will happen.

I’m really looking forward to January so that I can post a big follow-up to this year’s resolutions and set another batch for next year. There are going to be some good ones, I can just feel it. Also looking forward to lining up all 12 photos of socks from this year and patting myself on the back a whole bunch of times. Speaking of which, I should probably start the pair for this month, huh?

Socks

Socktoberfest wrap-up

By Sheetar 5 November 2009 7 February 2012

As promised, here’s the run down of the socks I knit during the month of October.

	Thrilling Jaywalkers Pattern: Jaywalker Designer: Grumperina Needles: US 1 (2.25mm) Yarn: Wollmeise Sockenwolle 100% superwash in colorway, “Thriller” –Ravelry Project Link– Still my favorite out of them all. The yarn has already proven to wear like iron and the socks are comfortable too. And, the colors are just so Halloween, you’ve gotta love it.
	Mystery Sock Pattern: Mystery Sock ’09 Designer: Kristen Kapur Needles: US 2 (2.75mm) Yarn: BMFA Socks That Rock Lightweight in, “Scum Bubble” –Ravelry Project Link– This is the first mystery sock knit-along I’ve participated in and it was a ton of fun. I’d feverishly knit each new clue the day it was released, giving me time to knit other things during the week (you know, like, more socks). The colorway is SO awesome and I’m happy with how it worked in the pattern as well. Yum. Scummy socks. Love it.
	Diamond Rib Lace Sock Pattern: Diamond Rib Lace Sock Designer: Kathleen Taylor Needles: US 1 (2.25mm) Yarn: Twisted Fiber Art Kabam! in, “Minstrel” –Ravelry Project Link– Isn’t that dye job incredible? Gotta hand it to Meg, she’s just a genius. The sock pattern was originally meant to be a child’s sock, but with a small amount of tweaking, it sized up very easily to an adult’s sock! And, I LOVE LOVE LOVE that zig-zag eyelet running down the leg as well as the cuff.
	Make-Up Sox Pattern: Make-up Sox Designer: Kristen Kapur Needles: US 1 (2.25mm) Yarn: dkKnits Technicolor Bounce in, “Teacher Teak” –Ravelry Project Link– These are toe-up which isn’t really a favorite of mine to knit, but the pattern is really so gorgeous (and the name so cute) that I really couldn’t leave them out. The yarn is just the perfect color and SO cozy – it’s a great match!

2009 Knitting, Socks

October Knitting Wrap-up

By Sheetar 2 November 2009 7 February 2012

It’s that time once again. This month absolutely FLEW by, so it’s time once again to update progress on my knitting resolutions.

3. Knit one pair of socks per month

Thrilling Jaywalkers
Pattern: Jaywalker
Designer: Grumperina
Needles: US 1 (2.25mm)
Yarn: Wollmeise Sockenwolle 100% superwash in colorway, “Thriller”
–Ravelry Project Link–
This project is part of Socktoberfest, a celebration of knitting socks in October. I managed to knit up four whole pairs of socks for Socktoberfest, but these are definitely my favorites. Squishy and BRIGHT, plus the colors are just perfect for Halloween. These are modeled by Abbie at the Fonthill Castle.

4. Spin four ounces of roving per month.
This just didn’t happen. I maybe got in about an ounce, but I spent the whole month knitting socks and really doing nothing much else.

That’s really it for the knitting resolutions this month. I’ll put together a post later this week going over all the Socktoberfest knitting!

2009 Knitting, Socks, Spinning, Sweaters

September Knitting Wrap-up

By Sheetar 1 October 2009 7 February 2012

YES! September is already over – can you even believe it? The weather got cool so quickly, I feel like fall just came around and slapped me in the face with a wet trout. Or assaulted me with acorns. No wait, that was the squirrels. Anyway, on to the knitting!

Just going back, again, to the Knitting Resolutions.

3. Knit one pair of socks per month

Twisted Flower Socks
Pattern: Twisted Flower Sock
Designer: Cookie A.
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Sock
–Ravelry Project Link–

Still going strong on the one pair per month goal. These were rather challenging in that there were a lot of twisted stitches, cables, and I had to pay attention on every row, but the result is a gorgeous pair of socks that I’m proud to have conquered. These came together in a trip to Loop in Philadelphia, on a whim, and just ended up being the pair-of-the-month. Dear friend Abbie graciously modelled them for me.

4. Spin four ounces of roving per month.

I got this one too! That is some lovely alpaca from dkKnits in the colorway, “Wheat Fields” and I’m just dying over how soft it is. This is the first time I’ve spun alpaca and it was like butter through the fingers – a very enjoyable spin! We came out to 400 yards from the 4oz of fiber which makes it fingering weight. Not sure what this will become just yet, but I’m sure it’ll let me know someday.

2. Knit two sweaters this year.

Wicked Sweater
Pattern: Wicked!
Designer: Sarah & Rachel
Needles: US 6 (4mm)
Yarn: dkKnits extrafine superwash merino squish
–Ravelry Project Link–

IT’S DONE! One sweater down and one to go. This blocked out perfectly and the color is just spectacular – it looks much more incredible in person. The yarn is soft and squishy and really easy to work with, not to mention, again, the incredible custom dye job that Becky put together for me. I’ll probably be wearing this to Rhinebeck, so if you see me, come say hello!

To wrap this all up, Socktoberfest begins today and I’m all prepared to cast on for a mystery sock. There are four total socks that I’ll be doing this socktoberfest, so wish me luck!

knitting

Socktoberfest 2009

By Sheetar 6 September 2009 6 September 2009

I’m sure this post will be of no interest to non-knitters, but here it is.

Oh yes, the annual tradition of Socktoberfest is coming up on us quickly. October is only about three weeks away, and this means four glorious weeks of sock knitting during October. This also means I have to make a battle plan and be ready to complete four pairs of socks during the month. Yes, I’m pushing myself a little, but I’m pretty sure I can do it this year, especially after coming so close last year.

So, I’m going to open this to suggestions from the public. Pick a yarn and a pattern from my stash and sock queue on Ravelry and tell me what to knit. I never seem to be able to decide for myself, so give me some ideas!

2009 Knitting, Finished Objects, Socks, Spinning

August Knitting Wrap-up

By Sheetar 2 September 2009 7 February 2012

I’m actually on time! Back again to the Knitting Resolutions..

3. Knit one pair of socks per month

>Handspun Wanida
Pattern: Wanida
Designer: Cookie A.
Needles: US 1 (2.25mm)
Yarn: My own Handspun
–Ravelry Project Link–

I’m fiercely proud of these. The handspun is a superwash BFL by Twisted Fiber Art that I spun as part of Tour de Fleece. It knitted up and wears absolutely beautifully. Even though there’s a jog in the color change for the heel, I still like how they came out and worked with the pattern. Knitted up quick and those colors are just spectacular!

4. Spin four ounces of roving per month.
We gots your spunroving right here. This is 632 yards of fingering weight yarn that was started during Tour de Fleece and finished up in August. When I realized I had 632 yards, I figured it was way more than 4 ounces to begin with, so I’m saying it’ll count for August. It’s navajo plied and is a merino roving that was found at Maryland Sheep & Wool festival this year. We had a dye day not too long ago and I dyed this at the event. Love the way it came out and now I have to find something that will use the whole batch of yarn.

Still making progress on that sweater, but as the year is already half-over, I’m not sure if I’ll actually complete all my resolutions and goals. Well, there’s always next year, right?