Top 5 for 2005
Ugh. I am behind on work, behind on holiday shopping and Christmas baking? Don’t. Even. Ask. I think I need an extra week to fit in holidays stuff. And now, all I can think about is January!
Last year, I set some knitting resolutions and I managed 3/5ths of it! Finishing up the TKGA Master Knitter thing has fallen by the wayside — their Cast On magazine is a drag and just plain uninspiring. Or that could be my excuse because I just didn’t want to write a report on blocking. And knitting up the stash? Hello?
Here are my 2005 notes:
Top Five for 2005
- New (to Me) Technique: I learned to knit socks this year. Best. Knitting. Ever. They are fun, relatively fast — almost like large pattern swatches. Almost.
- Favourite FO: Of course, it’s Birch. I may just make another one.
- Favourite KAL: My favourite KAL is actually one that I haven’t joined. It’s the Crossed in Translation KAL that Cara is hosting — what a wonderful use for a KAL — actually helping each other with the translation of a gorgeous Japanese pattern. Oh dear. I just noticed that it doesn’t start until January 1st. I may just have to clear my schedule for this…
- Favourite Shop: Unabashedly my own, of course! Last year at this time, a shop of my own hadn’t even crossed my mind. Life is crazy I tell you. But if I were to pick anything else, I’d say Lettuce Knit. I can’t get this little shop out of my mind. It is the most adorable half-lot in Kensington Market in Toronto. It’s painted bright green and the whole shop is only a little bigger than my bathroom. I didn’t actually buy anything when I was there last Fall, but this year my brother visited the shop and brought me back a bag full of Fleece Artist roving. And now, they carry spinning wheels and other accoutrements. Plus, Cosmic Pluto is even dyeing silk hankies for sale in store.
- Favourite Tool: Schacht Dizzy Yarn Gauge. It’s a diz. It’s a wraps-per-inch tool. It matches my wheel. I love it.
Knitting & Spinning Resolutions for 2006
- Starmore. I’m looking forward to finishing my first Alice Starmore design, St. Brigid, next year. Beautiful purple yarn, beautiful cables. Should be enough to keep me interested.
- Big time handspun project. I bought 8 oz. of Ashland Bay Merino in May that I have been spinning finely ever since. I just plied up the last of it last night, so I’m looking forward to knitting this up into one of my first feature-length projects. This may become a shawl…
- Spinning low-twist singles. The more I spin, the finer I get. I want to develop a full range of ability to spin whatever I want, whenever I want… starting with worsted-weight low-twist singles.
- More Steeking! Yeah, I loved that Baby Norgi project. It gave me confidence to cut my knitting however I liked. Empowered, am I. I have a beautiful Meg Swansen Fair Isle Cardigan on the needles right now — and it’s waiting for me to switch to my new Holz & Stein Ebony circs… Can’t wait to have some time to spend with this lovely sweater.
- Design by me, for me. Ok, again with the knitting up the stash. I’ve bought several packs of Filatura di Crosa Zara that stress me out. They literally stress me out. I’ve spent a year looking for a nice, interesting DK-weight pattern that I can knit using these yarns and just haven’t found anything I like. So this will be a meditative, relaxing activity, no?
Tags: top 5
Can’t agree with you more about Cast On. It’s so blah! Look forward to seeing your project unfold in the new year!
Lettuce Knit is my fave shop too. It’s just so damm cute! ALso Purl in NY is really pretty.
What a great post. I’m going to put some thought into my goals and write them down (so I can keep track of them). I’m with you on the extra week before the holidays. How did they get here so quickly? Seems like it was just summer.
I love your yarn! When you say “low twist”, do you mean like Fun with Yarn? Or, Paula Simmons’ Spinning for Softness and Speed?
i agree, great post! i’m a new blogger and semi-new knitter. i just got the birch pattern and started to cast on with size 8 needles, but seeing yours and the others you linked to i might use 7s instead. you have gorgeous yarns and knits! i’m glad to have found your blog
Nice list! My favorite new technique is knitting socks too. Here’s hoping you meet at least 3/5 of your knitting resolutions for next year too!
there’s a beautiful pattern at the back of the latest winter IK that uses zara. i’m actually going to attempt it with some sport weight merino that i bought in japan!
Have you seen the Zara and Zara Plus booklet that came out last fall? I quite like it–lots of tailored, fitted and feminine styles with cablework. I think they’re quite you. Interesting and esteemed designers are represented. I haven’t seen it in a lot of stores, though, and bought it at the one store where I did see it. Here’s a link for it I found online:
http://www.stringyarns.com/product54.html
Oh, how I admire people who are able to carry out all their resolutions. Why can’t I? I’ve decided not to make any lists this year, lest I disappoint myself once more.
that’s quite a list of resolutions! i think knitting/spinning resolutions will be easier to follow than other types! the only thing that can hold you back is time. where does the time go?!
great post and i love your blog! i stopped by your site via the jaywalker kal. Love all your work! I’m trying to cast on for Birch too so I was excited to see that you’ve knit it too! This will be my first lace project… I’ve already casted on twice and fudged up - fingers crossed for the 3rd time around!
On that Master Knitting thing . . . I finished Level 1 last year, and from the comments I received back, got the distinct impression that if you can write a complete sentence in English, they will love your blocking report. Since you can clearly write several sentences strung together, it only takes a few minutes . . . They speak of references, but I relied merely on my own brilliance
Great Lists. But I’m hoping to see how your Animal Cracker Hat is coming along ! (maybe after the holidays….)