First Knittaversary!!

On this day, one year ago, I finished my first knitted object. It was a stripy scarf from a Patons Learning to Knit book and I was quite pleased with myself when it was finished. The Handsome Husband, otherwise known as Rob, liked it and he's been using it quite a bit since for his commute to work on the train. Since that day, my knitting (or should I say my new obsession) has come along in leaps and bounds. I'm still climbing the learning curve though, and am enjoying every minute of it. Who would have thought I would immerse myself in something so thoroughly that within a year, if I don't do at least a tiny bit of knitting every day, I don't feel right!!! I never thought I would that's for sure.

I've been trying lots of different things, as we all know that scarves can get a little boring. I do like to make them though and there has been more than six completed in the last twelve months. Of course there has also been some bandwagon knitting attempted, the first being the infamous Clapotis which I tried in Noro Silk Garden. It's a nice big woolly thing (that I for some reason made over the summer) which has come in quite handy as a bit of a lap blanket on chilly evenings sitting on the couch.

Gift knitting has become huge with me as well, most people have been taking it well, so I think my gifts have been appreciated. No one has told me other wise yet, so they'll keep getting hand made items from me for awhile yet I think.

Sometimes though, my gift knitting gets a little behind, like the cute little baby cardigan pictured here. I started making this for a friend's baby that was born last September, I just finished it this month! Mainly because of my fear of seaming and finishing off items but I'm starting to overcome that. I'm learning that without giving it a try it's never going to get done, and if it's no good, it can always be done again!

For my second year as a knitter, I'm hoping to keep adding to my skills, to try and finish more objects (without them having to sit in a bag for four months waiting to be sewn together) and to build on the wonderful friendships I've been making. I really didn't expect, when I started out last year, that I would meet such a kind and generous group of people. Through taking a class, reading people's blogs and Ravelry, I'm finding like minded people that are inspiring me to find something fulfilling in myself........you can't get much better than that from a hobby/obsession now can you??

A month of finishing

Now that April is finished I can do some show and tell of what has been happening knitting wise this past month. I've managed to finish a few projects and have had a few more cast on and worked on as well.

Firstly my BIG project that took me months to do, mostly because I was too chicken to try and work out how to seem the thing up, is finished, totally finished. Finally I took a deep breath and dove in. Once I got going it wasn't too bad, took me ages though and I still have a lot to learn but I now have a wearable cardigan that I made myself (very proud).
It's Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed and the pattern is from her Knit Issue 2. I have all my details in Ravelry of course.

The other projects finished this past month are all smaller items including another Jo Sharp pattern, a beanie for my brother's birthday made with Silkroad Ultra.



A nice plain garter stitch scarf made with some lovely Noro Silk Garden was also made. I started this one once I'd finished my clapotis with the left over yarn and I had to keep going as the colours were looking so nice.
Another couple of hats were finished this month too. Firstly my beginners attempt at knitting in the round with circular needles, changing to dpn's at the end. Very fiddly but I got there and am quite happy with the final product, it's Purl Beret from The Purl Bee.
I also finished a reversible hat for my nephew who's having his first birthday in a couple of weeks, it's made from the beautifully soft Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. I'm hoping it fits him ok.


This month I've learnt that I can definitely get things finished if I put my mind to it and just slowly sit and work it all out. I have had a little help from friends, but that's what they're for isn't it?
I'm looking forward to finishing a few more things this month now, some more adventures to be had, yippee!

Clapotis

I succumbed, the lure of the Clapotis was too strong. After looking at so many on Ravelry I decided it was about time that I tried one for myself. I bought some beautiful Noro Silk Garden and off I went. This is truly compulsive knitting, there I was sitting on the couch in 30plus degrees celcius with this thick, heavy wrap resting in my lap....and I loved every minute of it. I think I'll be making another of these beauties, maybe in a 4ply, maybe as a scarf, maybe in a solid colour, maybe in a nice variegated yarn......the possibilities are endless. That makes me happy!