FO: Boot Cuffs

From the near-instant gratification department, these boot cuffs! They took a few hours, used less than 100g of yarn (from the stash...I think this is the yarn I used for these leg warmers 8 years ago and also for this hat and mitts set perhaps). These are a gift for a friend--hope she likes them!

These are #2 in the "other" category of my #15in15. :)

FO: Smocked Tunic

My first finished object of 2015 is a little sweater for Erin. The pattern is Smocked and the yarn is cascade 220 superwash (leftover from a baby blanket I made about 5 years ago).

I love the puffed sleeves and the smocking panel. Nice girly details. I changed the bottom edge from the ribbing called for in the pattern to a folded picot hem. 

I also modified the construction of the beginning--omitting the button panel in the back and instead working it in the round. This worked great for me. I'm so happy with the finished result. It's hip length now; hopefully this garment will last through the spring. 

First item in my #15in15 challenge--"other" category. Also used stash yarn!

All details are on my Ravelry project page. 

#15in15

As promised, I'm back to talk about my crafty goals for 2015. My plan: 15 in 15! 

- 15 pairs of socks*

- 15 hats

- 15 other knit/crochet projects

- 15 projects that use the sewing machine

* this may be modified to 15 individual socks (7.5 pairs) in case I find that knitting 15 pairs would be loony. 

Another big part of my goals for the year is stashbusting! My yarn bins are overflowing--it's ridiculous. I have visions of an organized craft corner, but I need to make a serious dent in my stash to help make that happen. 

I've already finished my first knitted item--a little knitted tunic for Erin. I'll be back to tell you more about that tomorrow. 

2014 Recap

Apparently, I took a year off from blogging--ha! Didn't realize it had been quite that long. Well, it's a new year and I've got new intentions. So we'll see how this goes! I think I had a pretty productive 2014. I remember setting crafty goals for myself at the beginning of the year, but can't remember where I wrote them down, so I really don't know if I met any or all of them.

According to Ravelry, I finished 29 projects this past year!

Including 6 pairs of socks, 11 things for Erin, and 9 gifts for other people. The things I made for Erin are definitely my favorite, and the project I most enjoyed was her Christmas stocking.

Of these projects, the Colorblock Wee Cria sweater spent the most time on the needles.... because I put off the finishing (just sewing on buttons, and sewing the pockets) for more than 5 months!! This was my last finished object of 2014--finished on New Years Eve. Thankfully, it still fits her. :)

I'll be back tomorrow with my crafty goals for 2015. Cheers!

FO: Christmas sweater

Pattern: Owlet (http://www.ravelry.com/projects/robink/owlet)

Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted in "frost gray"

Love this little sweater! So happy with it. I think I'll make one in each size so E can always have one to wear. :) This one is size 6 months, and used just shy of the full skein of yarn.

Love the yarn, too. So soft. It's not machine washable, but I don't mind.

I planned on adding one pair of buttons to an owl off-center, but decided I liked it without any buttons. Plus, I didn't want to give anything for E to grab/pull. 

Maybe I should cardiganize the next one...

Also, happy 4 months to Baby E! Aside from some lingering congestion, she's back to her usual state of health, thank goodness!

FO: Unoriginal Hat for a big head

Pattern: unoriginal hat (http://www.ravelry.com/projects/robink/an-unoriginal-hat)

Yarn: Punta Tarns Meritwist Hand Paint

For the first time in a long time, I didn't make Christmas gifts, except for E's Christmas sweater, and this hat which I made for a friend in Iowa. The yarn had been in my stash since NYC, I think; glad it finally got used.

This pattern was easy enough; I basically knit this hat twice. :-/ I didn't do a gauge swatch, and was working crown decreases on the first attempt when I went to try this on--WAY too tight. So I frogged, added another chart repeat. I also changed the crown decreases so that the hat would be long enough to cover my ears. It's still tight on me, but my head is big, so hopefully it'll fit my friend. All details of my modifications are on my ravelry page. I would definitely knit this again, though either with bigger needles and bigger yarn, or repeating the mods I used for this one. 

Mission accomplished!

Baby E's Christmas sweater was under the tree this morning. Unfortunately, Baby E has her first cold, and is not in modeling spirit, so glamor shots will have to wait.