I did a lot of knitting in 2005. I'm sure that I would have done more if I could. I learned something new with each item.
#1 The first item I finished after starting my blog on 1/28/2005:
Fiber Trends Felted Clogs
Lesson Learned: Learned how to knit in the round. This was also my first experience with felting.
I LOVE these clogs. They really helped to keep my feet warm last winter. My bad foot was SOOO cold b/c of the the nerve damage. Sometimes it would get 3-4 degrees colder than my good foot. To warm it up I would put on 2 pairs of socks and my clogs. Then I would wrap a heating pad around it and sit for an hour while it warmed up. These clogs helped SO much. I'm not having such a problem with my foot being cold this winter. It is more of a nuisance now. I still wear my clogs around the house everyday. I'm wearing them right now!
Item #2:
Black Scarf
Lesson Learned: I really hate fun fur and most novelty yarn.
I tried to sell this scarf on ebay but it never sold. It was nearly impossible to make a profit anyway. I ended up giving it to a friend who liked it. I'm glad that someone did!
Item #3:
Sirdar Raglan Sweater
Lesson Learned: This was my second sweater and my first attempt at raglan sleeves. I learned that I don't like to wear scratchy sweaters much. Even though, I still really love this sweater. I probably won't ever use Lopi again.
Item #4:
Laines Plassard Sweater
Lesson Learned: How to pick up stitches and frog an item OVER and OVER and OVER. I can't believe that I actually got this finished.
I love this sweater just b/c I actually finished it. I can't believe that I stuck with it and ripped it out SO many times. It is so warm and cozy.
Item #5:
Emma's Baby Blanket
Lesson Learned: Hmmmm, Sometimes it is okay to leave a flaw in an item if you're the only one who will notice it. Oh well!
Item #6:
Emma's Baby Set
Lesson Learned: I discovered Plymouth Dreambaby. It is SOO soft!
Item #7:
Gift Sachets
Lesson Learned: How to change colors. It's easier than I thought it would be. What was I SO scared of?!
Item #8:
My First Pair of Socks
Lesson Learned: This one is obvious...how to knit a pair of socks. I was really hooked. I was so proud of my very first sock that I walked around all day with just one sock on. I couldn't knit fast enough! Sometime last year I somehow placed these socks in the back of a drawer in my dresser. Thankfully I discovered them this week and put them on right away. I like them even better now!
Item #9:
Rainbow Bear
Lesson Learned: I didn't learn any lessons about knitting, except how to knit a teddy bear. I did learn about a little girl who had just lost her leg in a lawn mower accident. I felt for her so much that I gave this bear to my brother to give to her. I later learned that it is the only teddy bear she owns and that she carries it everywhere with her. Makes me want to cry my eyes out. I pray that she is doing well.
Items #10 and #11:
Emma's Bonnet and Booties
No lessons learned here. I was just really missing my baby cousin and wanted to send her a gift. She is just gorgeous.
Item #12:
The Softest Baby Blanket
This was a gift for my boyfriend's newborn nephew, Will. It was a very simple pattern
Item #13:
Purple Felted Tote
LOVE this!
Item #14:
Sockapal-2-za Socks
Lesson Learned: How to turn a heel properly. I also learned how important a gauge swatch is. I had to frog the first one b/c of that mistake. Hopefully I won't ever forget this one.
Item #15:
Pink BamBoo Scarf
Lesson Learned: I discovered reversible mistake rib stitches. I love the way this scarf looks and I wear it all the time. I just wish that it was longer.
Item #16:
Last Finished item of 2005. I am going to save this item for tomorrow's post.
Thank you for sharing the past year with me. This year is going to be a lot of fun. I have a lot of new project's to share very soon.
ON Hold for Now
Woo hoo, another post! What a pile of FOs, I can't imagine getting that much knitting done. Congrats, and I can't wait to see the next item!
As for the Lopi, I have a professor who loves Icelandic sweaters (in fact, she told me once that the next time [next time?!] I go to Germany, I should stop by Iceland to buy a sweater... ummmm, riiiight). She's knit a couple of them in addition to buying them every time she's in Rekyavik, and says you just have to use Lopi, 'cause it's authentic, and you have to use wool that's authentic for the pattern. Then I felt Lopi, and thought, 'Wow, she's crazier than I thought she was!'
Posted by: Megan | January 06, 2006 at 10:07 PM
The Fiber Trends felted clog pattern is a good one. I just finished a pair, but I have a few days to wait until I can wear them. It will take that long to dry, I think.
Posted by: wool winder | January 07, 2006 at 07:31 AM
Ooo... Ooo... Can I guess? Is it okay to guess what the last FO is? I would be so happy for you if it's your Mom's Clapotis!!
heh Funny Lopi story from Megan. She's right - INSANE number of FO's considering the TONS of knitting you did for TPP!!!
Have a wonderful 2006! (((Hugs)))
Posted by: Laura | January 07, 2006 at 07:58 AM
Uh, laura? Do you sleep at all? I don't understand how you can have done all that stuff for TPP and knit all that stuff. An acceptable alternative explanation is that you have reached knitting Nirvana and learned how to knit with your feet.
Posted by: cyn | January 07, 2006 at 10:13 PM
Wow! Looking at your list of FO's, I think I can safely say that you were more productive this year than I will be in my whole life! Nice job!
I'm with you completely on the disliking fur and most novelty yarn thing...almost all of it looks insanely difficult to use, and I've never really liked the way it looks in finished projects. One of the few exceptions I've found to this is the Dreambaby Kokonut yarn, which I had great fun working with. Maybe it only counts as semi-novelty, though...
Can't wait to see what the mysterious Item 16 is. :)
Posted by: Heather | January 09, 2006 at 12:26 PM
Hey, talk about ME knitting in my sleep, I think that's another lesson YOU learned! HaHa!
Posted by: Lana | January 09, 2006 at 07:36 PM
...and so the name "Knits for Sanity". You have taken a really rotten situation and make a wonderful thing out of it. Laura, you have taken us places I could have never imagined. Who would have thought that my daughter could teach me so much about what is important in live. Thanks for encouraging me get my needles out again. I am so proud of the work you are doing. I am your biggest admirer. Love, Mom
Sometimes, things happen for a reason.....
Posted by: Linda | January 17, 2006 at 12:24 AM
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