Fall knitting

This week I got the newest Rowan magazine in the mail. And I love it! I'm so glad I ordered it, because it has so many patterns I want to make.

It also got me thinking about my fall knitting. I went through all the mags and books I have and chose the ones I most want to make, keeping in mind also the current fashions. And I compiled a list. From the new Rowan mag this dress got on it:



And also this thing, called Helsinki Hat Scarf. How can I resist a pattern like that? :) In addition to the great name, it looks very interesting, pretty and warm. The name already tells you it's a mix between a hat and a scarf, but I'd also add a vest in there too! Hope I have the time to make it!



Among the patterns that I wish to get to one day is this absolutely gorgeous long coat:



One of the collections was called "Highlander" (the dress and coat are from it), and the photographs were so beautiful! I really have to get to Scotland some day.

Rotation thoughts

I love flowers and I love taking pictures of them :) DH's parents came for a visit yesterday, so I bought these to decorate the table.



Today I have been thinking about my stitching. It really bothers me that I have lots of supplies and patterns and even WIPs, and I do stitch, but yet we have bare walls in our apartment. And those seasonal series with only one part finished aren't making me happy either.

So, today I decided to do something about it. I took out all of my charts and WIPs and went through them putting them into piles according to which room they are meant to be in. Then I put them in the order of how badly I want to do them. Those that I did not wish to stitch that badly or didn't know where I would put them once done went into a pile of their own and I will have to go through it later to see which ones I'm ready to sell/give away. I'll also have to go through my wish list with the same scrutinizing eye :) Having that done and knowing what I had and what I would do, already made me feel much better.



When I started stitching, I had large rotation (up to 10 WIPs), but now, especially with my knitting, it just feels too much. So, I decided to have a two-week rotation with three pieces. On Mondays I'll continue to do the SAL with Nicki and then for the rest of the week I will stitch on something else. On Monday it's the SAL again and then the rest of that week will be a third project. I'll start with Titania and an autumn needleroll. If I feel like I've made good progress or deem it otherwise necessary, I can occasionally do smaller items outside my list (like Christmas ornies!).

Let's see how I'll manage :)

Have a wonderful July

We're getting ready to leave. Just wanted to come over here quickly and wish you all a wonderful July! I'll be back by the end of it.

February goals

My January goals were:

Finish the dress I've started -Done!
Stitch Mystery X part 1 -Well, as much as I was able to.. I still haven't got most of the threads...
Finish stitching Sampler II part 5 -Oh yes :) Done!
Stitch the January square on an French freebie thing I found years ago -I started, but didn't finish as I wanted to keep on stitching Sampler II
Participate in the Ornament SAL -Done :)
Stitch on Strawberry Garden on Mondays -Done and finished!
Finish the cardi I'm knitting now -Done!
Finish knitting Sunrise Circle Jacket -Done!
Participate in tie one on if I like the theme -I like the theme but it was for two months, so I'll do it in Feb
Participate in Sew Retro if I like the theme -there was no theme

I did pretty well, I think :) On to the February goals:

Stitch part 1 and 2 on Mystery X
Stitch January and February squares
Finish Sampler II
Knit leg warmers
Knit a lace scarf
Do Valentine's Day cards
And stuffed hearts for decorations
Stitch on Winter's Eve on Monday (a new SAL for Nicki and me)

January goals

My December goals were:

Stitch on Strawberry Garden on Mondays -done!
Stitch on Sampler Mystery II -done!
Finish knitting the socks I started for DH (only half a sock to go) -done!
Get all of the Christmas presents I've planned done. -done!

Yay me, I got all my goals done! Well, they were simple and few in numbers, but still :)

For January I want to:
Finish the dress I've started
Stitch Mystery X part 1
Finish stitching Sampler II part 5
Stitch the January square on an French freebie thing I found years ago
Participate in the Ornament SAL
Stitch on Strawberry Garden on Mondays
Finish the cardi I'm knitting now
Finish knitting Sunrise Circle Jacket
Participate in tie one on if I like the theme
Participate in Sew Retro if I like the theme

There. Quite a lot I know, probably won't manage to do all, but I'll try :)

A look back

2006 was not a good stitching year for me. I didn't finish anything big. In fact, I hardly finished anything at all. I'm not going to count as I don't want to know how little I accomplised. I did work on some of my WIPs and made good progress on Sampler II. For 2007 I'm going to continue working on Strawberry Garden on Mondays and try my very best to keep up with Mystery X (starts Jan 1). The rest of the time I'll stitch on Sampler II until it's done and then move on to something else. I will also try to stitch an ornament a month. I hope I'll be able to finish something big. Sampler II and Titania at least (so I can finally have her and Adia framed and hanging on the wall).

This year I fared much better in knitting. All in all, I knitted 19 items. Four of those were gifts: mittens for my brother and DH, hat for my father and socks for DH.

What I really love and have worn a lot are these embossed leave socks,


this wrap cardigan,


these wrist warmers,


this bolero,


these fingerless mitts,


these socks


and, of course, this vest


I did also do a number of other craft projects, but those are too varied and numerous to get into. This bag is probably my very favourite and has been used a lot.