Skill + 1UP 2KCBWDAY2

Look back over your last year of projects and compare where you are in terms of skill and knowledge of your craft to this time last year. Have you learned any new skills or even forms of knitting/crochet that you didn't even know existed last year? Have you recently put a foot in the tiled world of entrelac? Had you even picked up a pair of knitting needles or crochet hook this time last year?

Each year, I try to set myself some knitting resolutions. This year has been no exception. For Christmas in 2009, I was lucky enough to get a spinning wheel. Thus began a new stash - fibre! But did I start spinning the fibre? No! Why not? I was scared! I knew exactly how I wanted my spun yarn to look, and I was scared that I was going to fail! Luckily for me, my Ravelry and Blog friend Julia was so encouraging, that I finally took the plunge, almost one whole year after getting the spinning wheel. Yes, my first yarn was definitely an art-yarn, but it was knittable! And since then, there's been no stopping me! I went away on a spinning weekend, where I learned the art of corespinning, batt making, Navajo plying, adding beads and sequins to spun yarn, and my confidence has grown and grown! In a short space of time, I've moved from this ....

to this .......

I know that I've still got a long way to go as a spinner, but I've made giant steps too!

Besides spinning, I've learned another new skill - knitting backwards! I was knitting a spiral scarf that had lots of short rows. It was driving me nuts having to constantly turn the knitting back and forth every few stitches. There had to be a better way! So I Googled 'knitting backwards', found this link, and the rest of the scarf was knitted in no time at all! Here's how the scarf ended up.

For the past couple of years, I've had knitting with beads on my 'to do' list. Perhaps this will be the year when I get it sorted?! I've been accumulating beads (as you do!) for sometime, so I'll have plenty of choice. Who knows, maybe this time next year, I'll be showing you some beautifully beaded, handspun lace shawl?!