Blogiversary!

Yesterday was my offical 3 year blogiversary but I didn't remember until I had already posted. I always like to use this post to look back at last year's knitting and make goals for the new year. 

Last year my first goal was to come to terms with some completed projects that didn't really work: Rosamund Cardigan, Montana Tunic, Adam's Baseball Jersey. Generally speaking, I accomplished that. The Montana Tunic was frogged, washed, and reknit into a new Montana Tunic. 

Now that I'm no longer pregnant, I really need to try it on and see how it looks. I still haven't dyed the yarn either, but at least it's complete.

Adam's Baseball Jersey was never altered because I was SO over fixing and re-fixing that darn sweater. It has, however, recently found a new home with my brother (who really appreciates my hand knits, I might add).

Last is the Rosamund Cardigan which has not been frogged or fixed. I'm going to have to bite the bullet now and just frog it. Sigh.

My second goal was to knit four pairs of socks for myself. Done, done, done, done, and done (and that makes five!)

My third goal was to knit five sweaters for myself. I managed to knit four, so while not achieved, that's pretty darn close.

Big Montana Tunic

Featherweight

Bailey Cardigan

Audrey in Unst Cardigan

(I just realized I never photographed or posted about the last two sweaters! Whoops!)

My final goal was to work on publishing two designs that I had in mind. That has not happened yet...

HOWEVER,

1. My first goal for this year is to focus more on my designs. I have several in progress but they tend to fall to the side while I work on other things (last year being proof). So hopefully this year I will be able to dedicate more time to designing. 

2. My second goal this year is to be more present each day and to take time to enjoy the moment. Now that I have little D, I've started to really feel just how fast days fly by. How did he get to be 4 months already?! There is a blogger I follow that seems to share each day of her life in snippets (which I love), and while there's no way I'll be able to blog everyday, I would like to try to share more. This is Life on Laffer after all. 

Ok, so you've made it through this long post. You deserve a little treat. Thank you to all my followers who have been around the past three years. 

Up for grabs is a fun skein of Dream in Color Smooshy in the color Butterpeeps!

 

Leave a comment before January 13th and I will draw a winner sometime next week.

Happy Blogiversary and a Giveaway!

You heard me right! It's that time of year again.  Since I started this blog close after the new year in 2010 (can you believe it?) I like to save my year end wrap up/goals for the new year post until then. This also buys me a little bit of time to think about last year's goals and reassess for the new year. I set three goals for myself last year: knit myself two sweaters, four pairs of socks, and fix the knitted garments that are not wearable so that they become so (or frog them). How did I fare? Well, there were definitely two sweaters knit (Essential Cardigan and Rocky Coast Cardigan. The Dorflinger Tee too but I'm a bit more busty than I was this time last year so it doesn't fit as well any more). I managed to knit myself not only four, but five pairs of socks this year. My feet appreciate the fibery goodness.  Finally, the fix-its. Hmmm, that did not come to fruition as I had planned. I still have the same two projects that need to be fixed (the Montana Tunic and Rosamund's Cardigan, and probably Adam's Baseball Jersey too) but I did decide instead of just frogging the original Aran Necklacce Camisole, to reknit it in a more weight appropriate yarn.  I'm pleased with meeting the sweater and socks goals but really want to get those finished items that are just not quite right taken care of. So with that said, here are this year's knitting goals:

1. Stop buying yarn and knit solely from stash. Just kidding!
2. Either finish or frog the Montana Tunic, Rosamund's Cardigan and Adam' Baseball Jersey. If this is not done by this time 2013, then all projects will be frogged, washed, and reskeined (except Adam's sweater. I'll just give that bad boy to the Salvation Army).
3. Knit four pairs of socks for myself.  I have enough sock yarn to do a pair a month but I want to be reasonable. And now my feet know the joys of wearing handknit socks so it's going to be hard to change this goal every year.
4. Knit five sweaters for myself. I have the yarn bought and selected for these specific projects already so it's just a matter of getting it done. I know I only knit three for myself last year but after reviewing my year's progress. I actually did 10 adult sweaters in 2011 (6 were samples!).
5. Finally, work on publishing two designs. I say two because I've had these two kicking around in my head for a while so what's keeping me from getting them on paper and knitted up? 

I'm all about attainable goals but I also like the idea of a challenge. I think the five sweaters and the designs will be challenge enough for 2012. 

And as always, to reward you, my wonderful and loyal readers, for sticking it out to the end of this long post and for checking in with me week after week, a small token of my thanks. And what better way to say thank you than with Malabrigo?

Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Sealing Wax

To be entered to win, leave a comment under this post by January 14th. I'll draw a winner sometime next week.  This giveaway is open to all of my readers, worldwide (how many of there are you?). Thank you again for your readership and for the support in my new endeavor! If you haven't checked out the new podcast,  go listen!

Blogiversary and a Seaming Monster

For those of you keeping track, today is my one year blogiversary and I've spent it thus far seaming the knitted demon that is Adam's Baseball Jersey. Now, I really don't mind seaming. Ever since I learned mattress stitch when I knit the Playful Stripes Cardigan I've been intrigued by the magic that seaming creates. It can look kind of scraggly and not quite right, and then you pull the ends and it all comes together perfectly. This however, it proving to be a test of my patience and skills. 

The sides of the body and the seam up the arm were easy, no sweat. But now I'm on to setting in the sleeve which I've never done and am kind of just flying by the seat of my pants. The pattern isn't very much help. The directions say something to the extent of: Set in sleeves, seam shoulders, good luck. This isn't just regular set-in sleeves either, you'll need to do the shoulder and saddle seaming as well. And with the amount of seaming that needs to be done, I've kind of called it quits for today. I've been sitting at my dining table for close to three hours and am starting to worry about blood clots, fatigue, and the crick in my neck setting in and becoming permanent.

 

I've only managed to set in half of one sleeve (in addition to the seaming of the sleeves and body). I was really hoping I'd put this all together today but I think I need a break (and a cup of tea).  I did tell Adam that he could just wear it like this. That we'd put in some safety pins to keep it together but that he'd be fine otherwise. He'd look great. It would be really breathable. He could just tell people his wife is from California and has a unique sense of style. Unfortunately, he's no stranger to my antics and just kind of ignored me.

So on to the required blogiversary reflection.

 

I've been kind of holding off on sharing any of my 2011 resolutions because I wanted to do so today. I tend to make only a few simple resolutions so that I actually keep them. In 2009, I resolved to try to live greener. I began recycling most of my trash (I haven't made it to composting just yet but then I don't have a garden and don't know what I'd do with the compost) and using green cleaning products. I also changed light bulbs and unplugged things we didn't use on a regular basis (toaster, stand mixer, etc). There were several other changes I made but I need to move on (the neck crick is acting up).

Last year I made three resolutions. I did not knit the Christmas stockings but I did do a pair of colorwork Totoro mittens. Since mittens are a smaller project, I think it was a good start. So we'll say this was accomplished. I still want to knit the stockings and I think I found a pattern that I like better than the ones I had originally planned on doing. We'll see. 

I did start cooking more often. I would say that I probably average 5 nights a week (pretty good considering sometimes I would start cooking when I got home at 7pm). The other two nights tends to be leftovers or eating out. Mostly leftovers though. We have definitely cut back on our eating out splurges (which got way out of hand one year) so I'm very happy about accomplishing this one. The good thing about it is that now that I'm in the habit of meal planning and freezing, I'm sure it will stick through this year too. 

My final goal was to update the blog more frequently. Done.

My goals for this year are pretty simple as well:

1. Fix the knitted garments that I don't wear so they are wearable or frog them. I got started in this on the last post but my goal is to be realistic about my knitting. I don't spend hours knitting a sweater not to wear it and there are a couple that I don't wear only because there's a small thing that needs to be fixed (like it needs to be lengthened or shortened, etc.). Specifically, there are three  garments that  need some adjustments (this, this, and this). 

2. Knit at least four pairs of socks for myself. Now that I have a pair of knitted socks all I can think of is the luxury of having an entire drawerful. They are so much warmer and more comfortable than regular socks. 

3. Knit at least two sweaters for myself. I love sample knitting and I love gift knitting but it's been quite some time since I knit anything for myself. When I think "well I last knit the socks for myself in September and that wasn't that long ago" I also have to remember that I have finished almost 15 projects since then. I want a sweater and I have the yarn for it so it is going to happen.

I think these are all pretty doable, don't you? And since you have stuck through this awfully long post, dear reader, I think you deserve a little something too. One of the things that I love about blogging is all the wonderful feedback I receive from my readers. If I need an opinion, I just ask and then there's two dozen people to act as a sounding board. Everyone is so helpful and kind. Thank you. 

Anyway, my point is, if you leave a comment under this post you will be entered to win a skein of Malabrigo Rios in the color Azules.

 

If you blog about this post, leave a second comment linking to your blog and you'll get a second entry. This giveaway is just for you readers to show my appreciation. I'll draw the winner using the Random Number Generator in the post where I share about the finished baseball jersey. When will that be? Well when it's done and photographed, that's when. And considering I start back to school tomorrow, it might be some time. 

So, here's to you, wonderful readers, and another year of blogging fun! Cheers!