2013 Knit Review

I started out 2013 wanting to be a slightly less selfish knitter. I decided to knit 2 items for other to every 1 item I knit for myself. So how did that resolution work out? Well, here is a break down of all of my completed projects for 2013.

socks: 3
shawls/scarves: 13
sweaters: 9
hats: 5
baby blankets: 2
mittens: 1
tea cosy: 1

That is a total of 34 completed items (I also have 3 current wips one of which may be completed before the end of the year). And did I hit my target? Of my completed projects a total of 9 were for myself and, therefore, the remaining 25 were gifts. So I actually exceeded my goal by 7 knit items!! Well done to be for being less selfish...I think that I have started a trend that I will continue into 2014!

Knittin' round Ireland

My parents from Canada have been visiting this month. Its been fantastic to spend time with them and travel round Ireland together! And, of course, my knitting was with me everywhere we went. More specifically an Urban Hiker that I am knitting for my middle son. So in addition to car knitting I have also been knitting in some other lovely locations...

 Here is the body of my Urban Hiker at the Rock of Cashel...

And on the more mundane side - the sleeve at a hotel in Donegal....

I managed to find a few interesting knitting related places along the way. In the small village of Kilcar, Donegal I forced our car to detour for a visit to Studio Donegal where we were able to see the handweavers weaving and I bought some lovely Soft Donegal in a lovely lilac tweed which will likely become a hat for the coming winter.

Quite close to Studio Donegal we went for a visit to the Sliabh Liag cliffs (the highest sea cliffs in Europe). They are fairly dramatic indeed! An information sign posted near the cliffs indicate that local farmers use them for grazing sheep - hardy sheep they said and by the looks of the cliffs they would truly have to be some hardy sheep!

Such is my attention to all things knitting and fiber related that I managed to find something of knitterly interest in an unlikely place - The Titanic Exhibit in Belfast. Seems that Belfast was once quite a boom town when it came to linen production....

What a great woolie tour of Ireland we had!!

Drop Spindle

I have been interested in spinning my own yarn for a while and have been dreaming about a lovely Schacht Sidekick (swoon). Its a big investment for me and until my spinning wheel dreams become a reality I have opted to try using a drop spindle. I bought a nice little kit on Etsy recently, from a seller called Hilltop Cloud...see isn't it great?

It contains some roving, a batt, some North Ronaldsay roving and a drop spindle and instructions. I must admit that I was most fascinated by the North Ronaldsay roving - its from a rare sea weed eating sheep breed from the Orkney Islands! It took me a few days to work up the courage to start using the drop spindle. Its recommended to use the North Ronaldsay roving first as it is easier to spin. Given that this sheep is a rare breed I felt an obligation to do a decent job and not waste any of the roving, so I watched You Tube how to videos intently and diligently studied the instructions. I eventually gave it a go and voila - yarn - sort of, kind of...not bad for a first attempt I think. I don't think I let any North Ronaldsay down anyways!

Beginnings and Endings

I've wanted to start blogging about knitting for a while now, not sure what has held me back from just doing that...in any case this beginning is actually all about some endings. And the best possible kind of endings, some recently finished knitting projects.

The first is this Urban Hiker cardigan for my partner. The pattern is by Tin Can Knits whom I adore! It comes in a wide range of sizes from toddler to very very large mens. My partner asked me to knit him and our two sons matching Urban Hikers - very cheesy and so so cute! I was so smitten by the idea of all my boys in matching hand knits that I totally lost sight of the little fact that I, generally, do not like to knit the same pattern more than once. A minor over sight. I finished one for my youngest son and then started my partner's...in February and did not finish until August. 6 months. To give some perspective on that number I have only been knitting for 2 years so I have been actively (and not so actively) knitting that cardigan for 25% of my knitting life...shameful! But in any case its done and I want to shout it from the roof tops!

My other finished item was a shawl of my own design. My first ever knitted item that did not involve a pattern - a very big deal for me. I called it my Jelly Bean Row Shawl. The city that I grew up in, St John's Newfoundland, is known for its attached brightly coloured houses affectionately referred to as jelly bean row houses. The yarn is 50% merino 50% silk and is by Coolree. I liked the idea of designing a shawl inspired by where I came from using a yarn from the country where I now live.