Celes

Pattern: Celes from Brooklyn Tweed

Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in Briar

Needles: US Size 6

Started on: Nov. 12th

Finished on: Jan. 4th

Modifications: This is my first finished object of 2014. This is also my first project finished from my bin.

I added an extra repeat to each half. This was a challenging knit with an interesting construction. The body is knit in two halves and then grafted together. Then the stitches are picked up all around and the border is knitted on.

WIP Wednesday: Baby Blue Blanket

I'm plugging away on a baby blanket for a family friend's baby boy who's due in February. It's knitting up quite quickly as I'm using my default baby blanket pattern. I've already finished the first ball of yarn. Sorry the photo isn't great, as I took it at nighttime. The true color is a shiny baby blue.

Blocking Pins

I already finished item # 1 from my bin!  I even got around to soaking and prepping my finished Celes- Briar scarf for blocking, only to find that I don't have enough blocking pins. I've never had this issue before. So I guess the blocking and FO shots will have to wait until my new pins arrive in the mail.

Meanwhile, I started winding up the yarn for my next project. This Knitpicks yarn is one of the oldest yarns in my stash. I purchased it in 2007.

My Bin

I have revised and planned out my next eight knitting projects. My goal is to knit my way out of the bin and bag.

                                              Here it is all neatly packed away.

                  Here is a better look at what's inside the bin and bag. In total there are 15.5 skeins of yarn.

The eight projects are:

1) Celes scarf - Briar

2) Pine Forest Baby Blanket

3) Cathedral - The "C" in my Lace A-Z project

4) Celes scarf - Blue Gingham

5) Desdemona - The "D" in my Lace A-Z project

6) Crooked Little Scarf

7) Elizabeth Shawl - The "E" in my Lace A-Z project

8) Morning Glory

Knitting Goals

How is it the 3rd already?!? Nevermind, I have formulated and come up with my 2014 Knitting Goals.
I know that 2014 will be much busier and crazier than 2013 was, so my goals are not lofty.

1) Knit up/use up at least 30 skeins of yarn from stash.

2) Knit up 10,000 yards of yarn from stash.

3) Knit up more than I purchase. Well, really my goal is to cold sheep. I do have some yarn coming in this month. I did make one last hurrah purchase to the tune of two skeins of yarn. There's also the last skein from the yarn club that ends this month. Then there's the three skeins from the test knit. All in all it should be 6 skeins of yarn coming in this month. Today marks what is hopefully my last yarn purchase for the year.

Year End Stats

In December, I finished two shawls. Both were sample knits, so I didn't use any of my own stash.

That means no stash was used in December.

Overall the year was incredibly busy and I didn't get around to knitting as much as I would like. I already know that next year will be even busier and crazier.

In 2013, I knit up 30.72 skeins of yarn/ 11,534.20 yards. I hope to knit up something similar to that next year.

Next year, I don't plan on purchasing or acquiring too much new yarn. I would like to try to knit more yarn than I buy/acquire.

Happy New Year! I'm very much looking forward to 2014! A new year of tackling the stash!

Les Abeilles

Pattern: Les Abeilles from Knitspot

Yarn: Bare Naked Wools Kent DK in White Sand

Needles: US Size 8

Started on: Dec. 19th

Finished on: Dec 23rd

Comments: This is another sample knit for Knitspot. This one knit up so quickly I didn't even have a chance to take progress pictures. Kent DK is my favorite Bare Naked Wools yarn. It comes in beautiful colors and the yarn is so soft and scrumptious. The pattern was very addicting to knit.