More FOs of 2008

Here's two of the last couple things I pulled off in 2008.

Pattern: Thuja from Knitty

Yarn: Japanese yarn, Wister Gokubito

Timeframe: Just over a week.

Mods: None, 9.25" foot

Problems: None. Love this pattern! Sixth pair I've made, though none for me. I'll have to get on that...

Pattern: Sunny Baby Blanket from How Stuff Works

Yarn: Thrifted DK-ish cotton from a sweater bought at Goodwill.

Timeframe: Just over a week.

Mods: Few. I made the blanket square instead of rectangular, so did 10 total squares instead of 13. I didn't have quite enough yarn to finish, so the top border is a couple of rows short, and I slipped the first stitch on every row for a chain border instead of a garter stitch one.

Problems: Only the yarn shortage. I think it would also look better with a crochet chain cast on, so I think I'll make a second like that. Or maybe not.

You can't really tell from the picture what the pattern is, but it does look great. It is machine washable and has no holes in it, so should be perfect for getting dirty. That's my one beef with many baby blankets, the kids can get fingers and things caught in the blanket and then whine about it. Not fun. This one is textured and has a nice, simple pattern, but will be very difficult to turn into a hazardous device.

First FO of 2009

What will it be? The contenders:

Rogue is the first contender. I've still got to seam the sleeves, and that's it. They're set in sleeves, not raglan sleeves, so I've never actually done such a thing in a knit garment. Actually, I did when I knit Reid, but that didn't count because it was baby sized, since it was for a baby. I didn't have a camera at that point, and while I do have a picture of the cutie wearing the cardigan, I shouldn't put it online.

Hourglass Socks:


This is as far as I've gotten. First sock. A bit more than halfway down the leg. Probably not going to happen.

Mystery Big Bird's Nest Project:


This is why you shouldn't try to make monster skeins when recycling sweaters. I tied the front, back, and one of the arms together for this skein. Frickin' huge. It really could be Big Bird's nest. This is a test knit, so no pictures yet, but I'm liking the way it's turning out and can't wait to show it off!

Another baby bib:


I haven't done an FO wrap up of the other three bibs I've done yet. I'm waiting until all six I will be making are done before showing off all of them at once. They're a very fast, easy knit, even though they are seed stitch and cabling in kitchen cotton. Heck, I've already knit four and started a fifth, and we all know how fickle I am when it comes to projects. This one needs a button before it is complete, and may not be the first FO because I will probably wait until the other two are done and then sew all three buttons on in one session.

Evil Santa doorhanger:


This is the cross stitch I had so very many problems with. It is now washed and blocked. It still needs some tassels on the hat, then I need to sew the backing onto it and add another tassel. This one will probably be done around the time I finish the three bibs, in one big sewing session. I did buy felt for the backing, so now all I'll need to do is mark where I'm supposed to sew, then figure out how to thread my machine. I've done it before, but haven't used it in over a year, so it might take a bit.

Final FOs of last year still to come! This time I already have the pictures on the computer (and Flickr and Ravelry) I just have to write up the post.

Holiday Baking, Part II

On the 9th day of Christmas, could still be 8th for you, I give to you...Cookies! I never showed off the anise cookies or showed how the gingersnaps were supposed to look. Without further ado, for your viewing pleasure (unless you've already closed the window), my cookies:

These are the anise cookies. I had no cookie cutters, so instead of rolling out the dough and making cute little star shaped cookies, I rolled it into a log and sliced them from there. After they came out of the oven, nice and slightly brown, they were tossed in a cinnamon sugar mixture for a sweet coating, then left to cool on the rack. Not stellar, but good cookies.

The gingersnaps were much better when made correctly. The dough was rolled into 3/4 - 1" balls and then rolled in sugar. After baking, they were put onto the cooling rack and then into the bowl for transport. Everyone loved these cookies, including Lee. They are now official Christmas Cookies and will be made every year, if not more often. The only problem is that you can't find molasses here, and it's a key ingredient. We shall have to keep that in mind for next year.

I hope your holiday season was enjoyable, I know ours was!

2008 Recap

In 2008, I finished (according to Ravelry) 35 projects. This does not count my cross stitch ornaments or the three pairs of socks I didn't photograph. Therefore, I actually finished over 40 projects. That makes me feel a heck of a lot better about my enormous pile of WIPs/UFOs. I have fewer WIP/UFO projects than I completed in the past year. Awesome.

After looking back through blog entries, it seems as though there's 44 finished objects. 3 pairs of unphotographed Mix and Match Rib socks, one red, one blue, one pink, all with short cuffs like the red ones on my Ravelry page, the angel bear cross stitch ornament I had to put the backing on, and the five other cross stitch ornaments I finished in October, four of which only needed the gold hanging thread. Not bad, not bad at all.

This year, I think my New Year's Resolution will be to start another 101 in 1001 list, this time knowing where I'll be for the next 1001 days. There are so many things we want to do before we leave Japan that it would probably be a good idea to write them all down anyway, and add to those any other goals I have for the next couple years. I'll get started on that list, but it'll probably be a bit before it is finished.

I spent my New Year's Eve finishing up a few straggling projects. I had six that were within finishing range, Rogue, the Santa cross stitch, the baby blanket, and three baby bibs. I did not feel like setting in the sleeves on Rogue, so that will linger on into 2009. I washed and ironed the cross stitch, but the rest of the finishing was a bit more in-depth than I was willing to get into, requiring me to pull out and thread my sewing machine, so that one also didn't get finished. I did, however, weave in the ends on the three bibs and baby blanket, and I sewed buttons onto the bibs. Four projects that were completed in 2008, all right. Now for the other two small blankets I thought I might be able to finish this break (I'll be lucky if I get halfway through another one!) and the other three bibs that I may as well just finish off, since they take so little time to make. I do have a party on the 3rd to go to, so I might finish up Rogue to wear it there, or I might not. We'll see if I get motivated enough prior to the party with enough time to actually finish it, instead of something like 1 hour beforehand.

Happy New Year!