New Year's Resolutions

Happy belated New Year!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I got hit with the flu, and I don't think I've been that sick in a very long time. But I'm finally feeling better, and I have a lot of knitting to share with you.

Unfortunately I did not have an amazing New Year- I was sick and Brandon worked late, so we didn't get to do much. But we had a nice glass of wine and watched a show on Netflix and just relaxed, which was fine for me. 

I got a ton of knitting done while I was sick, so I'll share that with you, and then I'll get to the Resolutions.

Works in Progress

I have a few WIPs this week, which is unusual for me, since I usually only work on one or two things at a time

1) My sweater grew a couple more inches this week, now that I finally got my replacement needles. 

I just have about an inch more waist shaping to go, then an inch for the waist, and I will start increasing for the hips. This is my Nutmeg sweater, which I am knitting with Laines du Nord Prancer in color 77. So far it fits me perfectly, but I won't know for sure until I get all the waist shaping done. 

2) I am about halfway done with my spiral cowl

I am knitting this on US size 6, 4 mm, needles with Yarns of Italy Innamorata DK  in bright blue. I really like this yarn a lot- it's very soft and smooth, and it has a tight S twist, so the stitches look great. I am using Amanda Berka's Later Gator  pattern, which is almost the same as the pattern I used for my hat. 

3) I am 3/4 of the way done with my second Groovy sock.

I am knitting these with Knit Picks Felici Sport in the Groovy color, on size 2 (2.75 mm) needles. I am doing a semi-random ribbing pattern on the cuff- adding increasing numbers of purl stitches every few rounds until I have a knit 2, purl 1, knit 2, purl 2 pattern. 

Finished Objects

1) Before Christmas my friend Emma's sister sent me some of her scraps of Noro Kureyon. I tied them all together, and decided to knit a couple hats.

I knit both of these on size 10.5 needles (6.5 mm), with 60 stitches around. For the first hat I just bound off, threaded yarn through the ribbing at the top and cinched it tight. I gave this hat to my mom, since it's a little too small for me.

The second hat I actually decreased at the top before I cinched it closed, and it fits my giant head perfectly. It's really warm and snuggly.

2) I finished my first Groovy sock this week, too!

I love these socks! They fit me perfectly and they are super warm. I used Jeny's surprisingly stretchy bind-off, so they fit my fat calves too. 

3) I dyed some more fiber. I dyed some Corriedale wool with grape Kool-Aid and blue food coloring. 

Stash Enhancement 

I bought myself some Christmas goodies

I got seven more skeins of Knit Outta the Box's Machine Washable Lamb's Wool in Purple.

I also bought some deliciously soft merino, silk, bamboo fiber from Winderwood Farm on Etsy

 

 

New Year's Resolutions

1) I want to do more selfish knitting this year. I have always done a lot of knitting for other people, and this year I want to make more things for myself.

2) I want to try more knitting and crafting techniques. I want to do lace knitting with actual lace weight yarn, and start doing more cable knitting. I want to learn how to needle felt, and practice sewing more. I also want to practice my spinning more, and maybe (if I can save up enough money) buy an inexpensive spinning wheel by the end of the year.

3) I want to use more stash yarn and try to only buy yarn when I have a plan for it.

4) I want to start my video blog soon! I want to make my first video soon, but I am nervous that I will have nothing to say, or that it will be boring and no one will watch it. Eek.

5) I want to start reading more. I used to read a book or two a week, and now I barely read at all. I want to change that. 

6) I want to save up money for school.

That's it! Hopefully I will be able to achieve my goals this year, since they are more of guidelines than strict plans. 

I hope you all had a great New Year. 

-Nicole