2012 goals recap and 2013 goals

2012's goals were not extremely successful so I'm having a hard time knowing what to set for this year.

Goals from 2012:
1) not buy any yarn. I definitely ended up buying yarn, but I thought about what to get before purchasing, which was better than just getting random skeins at whim. I thought, what can I make with this yarn? And if I could think of a good project, I bought it.

2) knit up as much as I can/want from my stash. I knit 21 projects in 2012, and 11 of them were from stashed yarn purchased before 2012. The rest were from yarn I bought for the project or received through the Tanis Fiber Arts Year In Colour Club.

3) knit up a number of last year's Tanis Fiber Arts' club patterns. I wasn't very successful with this one. I didn't knit any projects from last year's club, and only 1 from this year's. The yarn and patterns were great, but I was always knitting something else.

I've thought about my 2013 goals and I'm going to keep them specific but simple:
1) finish animal cross stitch I have been neglecting for 5 years!
2) continue to knit up yarn from stash
3) knit at least 1 sweater

I think these are feasible goals.

For 2012, I managed to knit 8 scarves/shawls/cowls, 2 pairs of legwarmers, 1 ipod cozy, 3 pairs of mittens, 2 sweaters, 1 baby sweater, 1 pair of socks, and 3 hats. Here's a collage of some of those finished projects.

Fiddleheads Mittens Finished

I finished my Fiddleheads Mittens just in time for the end of the Tanis Fiber Arts Knit-A-Long.

These were knit with a kit from Tanis Fiber Arts,  made with Yellow Label DK weight yarn in Pinks and Purples.

They are lined, and fantastic! I've worn them for 2 days now in the cold, cold weather we've been having and they are extremely warm. I may never go back to un-lined mittens again!

Buttons!

I bought these fantastic buttons for a sweater I knit, photos to be posted soon!

They were purchase off Etsy from the shop Bumbershoot Supplies. They are vintage Czech buttons made from black glass with a dotted swirling pattern in a gold colour. They measure 18mm or just under 3/4 inch in diameter.

Fiddleheads mittens, Pt. 2

I finished the first of my Fiddleheads mittens for the Tanis Fibre Arts KAL.

It's been fun learning how to knit colour work and very rewarding.

I also received my giveaway yarn in the mail last week! TFA held the last giveaway for the chance to win the entire Stella Collection patterns and 2 skeins of my choice to knit up Adhara. I decided to go with Chestnut and Brick.

Tanis Fiber Arts knit-a-long

The month of November is knit-a-long month over on the Ravelry group for Tanis Fiber Arts.

I decided to join in and knit my Fiddleheads mitten kit, which I got last year as a birthday present.

I decided on my colour ordering, and it's the first time I'll be working with colour work.

I've been working on it for 3 days now and I've already completed 2 colours.

Magrathea

I started the shawl Magrathea while in Manitoba for B's sister's wedding. I'm using a local dyer yarn, Yvieknits in colourway Emerald Isle.

Farm Basket and Summer Projects

B and I have been getting a farm basket for the summer. So far it's been great. The veggies are healthy looking and abundant. We even got fruit a few times!

We decided to go with La Ferme Rosée in Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix, Quebec. The farm is all organic and the pick up is just down the street from us.

Last week's haul was the best yet.

We got: corn, chinese cabbage, eggplant, lettuce, cucumber, green pepper, kohlrabi, tomatoes, green onions, yellow summer squash, carrots, cherry tomatoes, garlic and peas!

On the knitting front, I finished a few projects over the summer including this cute baby sweater. The pattern is Sunnyside by Tanis Lavallée. I like naming my projects based on the colour name and the project name. This yarn didn't have a colour name (just a number) so I've called it camouflage sunnyside. Now all it needs is a baby to wear it. My nephew is too old now. I must befriend a pregnant woman.

Earlier this spring I managed to get my marrakesch socks a pair of socks done. I love the yarn - it's self-striping! My feet are so small, I only used half a ball of the yarn, so I can make a second pair with what's left.

On other craft fronts, I've decided to take up jewellery-making! I'm not sure how successful it will be, but I plan on taking a course at our local bead store to start off. I took some time on the weekend to draft up some designs, and I really enjoyed the creativity which came from it.