End of the year organizing...and blogging...and a new FO!

This blog is in need of both! Its been a while since I blogged, and a few things on this blog have gotten out of date. Its been driving me a bit crazy, and causing a vicious cycle of not wanting to deal with it so not blogging, things getting even more behind, and so on.

And, as I love the end of the year recaps on the news channels....
...here is my year of knitting (finished projects):

(from L to R, by rows, not all of these were blogged about (I'm not a year yet!), so I put details in where needed)
1. Mitered Mittens (see below), 2. Huckleberry Ascot, 3. Fetching, 4. Koolhaas Hat, 5. Central Park Hoodie, 6. New York Hat (from Magnits, Jan 2007), 7. Eyelet Cardigan, 8. Foilage Hat, 9. Chunky Ribs and Ruffles Scarf (free pattern from Misti Alpaca, here, made with Misti Alpaca Chunky), 10. Grasshopper Socks (Kit #2 from the Sock Club, using Socks that Rock Silkie in Walking on the Wild Tide), 11. Fitted Tank, 12. Cropped Poncho #4 (from Rebecca 32), 13. Fingerless Mitts from Loop, 14. Clementine Shawlette, 15. Calla Tank, 16. Monkey Socks, 17. Inside Out socks, 18. Shedir hat (from Knitty's Fall 2004 Surprise, Rowan Calmer), 19. Calorimetry (from Knitty, Winter 2006, in leftovers from the thrummed mitts) 20. Fleece Artist Thrummed Mittens (from this kit, in Fleece Artist Blue Face Aran and roving).

Observations? My favorite finished knit is the Misti Scarf, its soft and long and keeps me warm but I like the way it looks worn loosely draped inside as well. I probably wear the Shedir hat the most, its cotton so not the warmest, but I love the fit and cables. My most significant project was the Central Park Hoodie, and I am starting to wear it more as it gets cold. I have a pitiful showing for the Rockin Sock Club, just 2/6 socks finished (although, pout, I haven't recieved the Dec shipment yet, they shipped it 2 weeks ago but I guess with the holidays there have been problems and I have to sit tight for now. I have one sock done on another shipment, and a start on another shipment, I am going to make something else with the Summer of Love shipment - at least all of the yarn is accounted for!)

And, since I haven't blogged for over a month, I have a FO to report:

Mitered Mittens from Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitters Almanac, May Pattern
Yarn: Noro Kureyon color 154, 2 skeins, but only because I wanted to match the colors - I made these with long cuffs, you could make shorter ones and definitely use just one skein)
Neeldes: US 8 DPNs

I love the color for the winter:

I like to wear black coats, and its dreary enough in the winter (those Cleveland winters were worse for the lack of sunlight than the cold and snow) so these brighten up the outfit. Its an afterthought thumb (scary!), so I used the part of the skein that would come next after the mitten tip and I got happy orange thumbs! It also shows how different these mitts could have looked if I started at a different part in the skein.

This was an easy pattern, of course well written, quick, and I didn't make any modifications except to make an extra long cuff. And, as you can see, its finally cold here! (I love winter) and I just love wearing these!

Thanks for reading, and I wish you all a happy New Year!