2008 "firsts" in knitting and crocheting

So, the end of another year. What have I achieved, apart from my list of FOs which can be seen in the side bar?

These are my firsts for this year [in no particular order]:

• learnt to do entrelac - both straight and bias
• learnt to knit and purl 'backwards' - i.e. left to right
• learnt how to do invisible cast-on
• knitted several teddies with shaped heads
• made my first garment from Elizabeth Zimmerman - a pair of mittens
• knitted and completed a Tomten
• inserted my first zipper
• knitted a Baby Surprise Jacket
• completed a beret
• knitted a spiral scarf
• knitted toe-up socks
• knitted with Knitpicks Options circular needles
• knitted with Knitpicks double pointed needles - "slippery little suckers"
• knitted with Knitpicks Harmony circular needles
• knitted with lace weight
• used a lifeline
• designed and knitted several ponchos on circular needles
• designed an adult's cardigan which was then knitted sideways
• bought my first wool winder - it's in constant use
• dyed acrylic yarn - about three kilograms all up
• went to the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show
• went to Australian Country Spinners Mill Shop
• went to Bendigo Woollen Mill shop
• went to Nundle Woollen Mill - twice
• bought something at Tapestry Craft [now Morris and Sons]
• coordinated a Charity of the Month [CotM] for Knit4Charities
• taught my first workshop at the Knitters' Guild - intarsia
• taught DD to purl
• taught DD to read a knitting pattern
• taught my WM to knit
• crocheted a rug in one piece
• crocheted a blanket made entirely of granny squares
• crocheted a picot edge
• crocheted a shell edge
• followed a crochet pattern
• crocheted a lace square
• crocheted a hexagon
• crocheted motifs together 'as I went'
• 'wrote' a theme song

Not to mention several ways I found that things didn't work!

What are your achievements this year?

..and a partridge in a pear tree

Well, not exactly. But those two words might appear here:


This was a surprise present from WM - I mentioned in passing through Kinokuniya on 18th December that it looked interesting and I unwrapped it on Christmas morning. Don't you love it when hints are taken so well?

The other thing he gave me was a brand new wool winder!

DD and SIL2B gave us a book on property investment and a gift voucher from the local Christian bookstore. Who needs partridges or pear trees when five and a half books books, a gift voucher and a wool winder will keep me out of trouble, if not out of yarn or book stores? LOL

On the fourth day of Christmas...

It's amazing how the rapidly approaching New Year [and the less frenetic pace of life after the Christmas festivities] gives rise to a desire - nay, a need - to finish things!

So, here are two I prepared earlier - a crocheted knee rug with scalloped edge approx. 80cm [32in] square...


...and a crocheted blanket [approx. 175cm x 100cm - 70in x 40in] made with alternative squares of my variegated hand-dyed yarns and a commercial pink yarn. Both of these items are charity knitting.

I also sewed in the ends of the baby blanket and blocked it [photos when it dries] and completely frogged the Online cotton socks because I didn't like the shape of the toes!

Am I avoiding that wedding stole? I think I might be! LOL

On the first day of Christmas...

...my family gave to me:













Ain't I the lucky one? LOL

25th December

poor sad neglected blog

It's not just this blog that's been neglected - I have 318 unread postings on Bloglines! Life has been hectic with end of year assessments [created and marked] and administration plus last minute preparations for Christmas and the wedding not to mention just plain dogged tiredness or, should I say, near-exhaustion?

The wedding stole [thanks for asking Bells] has not progressed in six weeks - I'm too tired to concentrate. I am however close to completing another crocheted blanket [2.1m x 1m; 70"x40"]. The squares have all been crocheted together, the border has been done and there's only the ends to be sewn in. I have also commenced a lapghan which is now about 90cm [36"] across. This one is based on a modified version of the Crocheted Pi Shawl in the latest Yarn magazine - except mine is square not round.

We had Christmas dinner last night with SIL2B - he has to work on Christmas Day. The pudding was as good as it looks, if I do say so myself!

A special thanks to Sally for emailing me to make sure I was okay - I am fine, just tired and busy, thanks. We're off to Tamworth today to spend Christmas with my family and we'll be back on Friday so WM can work on Saturday. Hopefully I'll then be able to keep up with all my blog friends more regularly.

Remember...