14 projects for 2014- Part 1- knitting

This next year I'm going to try and focus on actually completing projects in my queue. I've got way too much yarn for my own good, all bought for specific projects, that have obviously not been knit.

So here's my countdown:

Image taken from the Brooklyn Tweed Website

1. Y really wants a new sweater, and he's more into knit items this past year than before.
I let him look through Brooklyn Tweeds mens collection, and he really liked Hugo by Veronik Avery.
It's a favorite of mine as well. I can't wait for Y to wear it.

 

Image taken from the Brooklyn Tweed Website

2. My hands are usually cold, like, freezing cold. This is new this year, I don't ever remember my hands being this cold. It's the worst in the morning when I'm driving to work, last year Y drove us both to work, so I had my hands wrapped around my coffee. I have gloves, but isn't a handmade pair much better?
I've had my eye on Shipyard Mittens by Carrie Bostick Hoge since it came out. I just need to find the 2 perfect colors to go together. Maybe a nice gold with cream.
Carrie has such beautiful patterns, I've made both her immie blanket and Imogen Cowl (which I'm wearing right now!) and I've got so many more in my favorites.

 

Sheepish, by Alana Dakos, Imageby Alana Dakos

3. This just might be the first project I favorited when joining Ravelry.
I don't think I need to say anything else about it but CUTENESS!!!

 

Image taken from the Ravelry Project page

4. Wee Austin Hoodie by Connie Chang Chinchio. And of course anything else by Connie. I loved the adult version of this hoodie, but the little one is way too cute. It's got a little pointed hood, and it's made with fingering- awesome for our warmer weather.

Image by DavidWhitfield, Taken from the Ravelry project page

5. My sister "gently" hinted that she's like a new knitted garment for her little girl.
Her kids are picky about their clothes, and I would like them to have something they can use over and over again, and not just this winter. We use our blankets all the time, and Y has asked me to make more, they are so warm and cozy, and so homey.
I think a blanket would be best. Plus, I love knitting blankets. And you cannot ever go wrong with Anne Hanson!
Hazard, by Anne Hanson, can also be knitted as a wrap, in either fingering or DK weight. I think I'm going to go with the small throw,  but the baby blanket just might work as well.

So these are the projects I will most definitely have knit in 2014 (hopefully!) I hope I can squeeze in some more knitting projects, I'd love to get a pair of socks done for Y, another throw for our living room, a stole for my mom, and the list goes on...
(I really want to knit this, but don't want to commit just yet!)

What are you planning on knitting in 2014?!

Baby it's cold outside

Winter is finally here. The other day we dusted off our heater and plugged it in. I dug out my slippers and hot water bottle. My fingers are always freezing cold, and our showers are super short because we never have enough hot water.
But for some strange reason, I keep looking at people all bundled up in sweaters and think to myself, "but it's till too early for bulky sweaters!"  I think I only admit it's winter in about February. Then, it's already too late. It's almost spring!
Time flies.
I know I need to start my winter knitting/sewing early, but I'm always late. Right now I want to knit another blanket. or, in other words, a fat warmer. But it'll only get used next year. Until I get around to it.

My dream living room has a big round wicker basket, filler with hand knit blankets. Colorful and chunky. And they will always be folded neatly inside. Each family member will have their favorite fat warmer to cuddle up in and fall asleep with.
Sounds lovely.

Anne Hanson, one of my favorite designers has lovely blanket patterns. I've knit Honey Baby (gifted) and the Hourglass Throw. Both were a pleasure to knit, as are all of her patterns.

Our Fat Warmer

Another blanket I knit was from Madelinetosh, Heirloom. I loved knitting it, and think I will gift it to a co-worker who is expecting her first child any day now.

Heirloom, but I call it "The Big Green"

But the first blanket I ever tried knitting crocheting was the Babette Blanket. What a pattern! I started back in 2009, and laughed when I read that it took some 9 months to complete it. Boy, was I a beginner.

I completed most of it right away, but then things got slow. I got bored. I really should have used more than 4 colors. 

To this day it's still missing the last panel, but it's big enough to wrap up in. The yarn is pretty heavy so it's super warm. Since I hate weaving the ends in, (and I can also use the excuse that it's still not finished!) there are loose ends all over the place. Oops.

 But Y loves that old blanket. He uses it every day, and claimed it his. I have a plan to finish it and surprise him with it, maybe next year...

If I had enough patience I'd knit him a brand new one, but I think some patterns are only made to be knit once. That's how they become special ♥

A blanket for the Bub

Hope everyone has a warm weekend! 

Stay home snuggled under the covers with someone you love (Let them bring you the hot chocolate!)

Weekend FO

This Friday I finally finished my Imogen Cowl.

I cast on in May, and somehow threw it into a project bag and forgot about it.

I lost my knitting mojo back in June, and the cowl went with it.

Imogen cowl, pattern by Carrie Bostick Hoge 

Yarn used- Madelinetosh TML, 

colorway- Betty Drapers Blues

Ravelry project page

 The pattern is quite easy to remember, but took me a while to "get into it". Until I memorized it, I stopped working on it.
Knit with 3.5mm needles, I'm still not sure if I should have gone up or down a size.
I also used the three needle bind off. Could not be bothered with the Kitchener stitch.
The pattern shows through, but not as much as I'd have like it to. But it could just be the kind of pattern. When bunched up around my neck, it doesn't really matter.

 I used 1.5 skeins, 18 repeats in the end. It turned out a bit long, I was afraid it wouldn't be long enough. If I lived in a slightly cooler climate, this would be awesome to wear with a T-shirt. I'll have to wait at least another month to wear this though. Maybe in the evenings?

I think this is going to get a lot of wear this winter, even though I'm slightly "meh" about it now. I'm not sure why though. I love the color, the yarn, drape, what's not to love? It might just be our never ending summer has me dreading anything too hot.

 On another note, I LOVE madder patterns. Isn't the Immie baby blanket adorable? It looks like it's based on the imogen pattern, but knit with much heavier yarn. I think I'm going to have to make that blanket my next!