Wednesday 31 December 2014

Goodbye 2014 - and Hello 2015!


It's New Year's Eve, time for my look back at what I've made over the past year, and to see if I came close to keeping any of my knitting resolutions. It hasn't felt like a particularly productive year, but when I looked on Ravelry, I was astonished to see that I have completed around 50 separate projects in the last 12 months. Admittedly, many of them are teensy tiny ones, but even so, that's almost one a week! It's pretty impossible to pick a favourite, but if pushed, I think I would choose the block I knit as my contribution to a wedding blanket for my dear friend Kim. A group of around 30 knitters schemed and plotted in secret and the result was a beautiful wedding gift. Of course, Florence wanted in on the photo shoot! You can read the blog post Anne wrote about the blanket here and watch the YouTube film made when Anne gave the blanket to Kim here.









I'm really excited that Anne is releasing the pattern to knit this beautiful blanket in 2015. So if you fancy knitting your own version, why not join me? Sign ups are still open, and you can choose to knit it in one of the beautiful BareNaked yarns available from knitspot, or you could go pattern only. Take a look here, it would be great to have your company.

OK then, time to look at my knitting goals for 2014. How many of them did I achieve, I wonder?!

1. To knit from stash as much as possible. 
Although lots of yarn has appeared in my stash this year, the vast majority of it has come as gifts or through swaps. I did have a major splurge at Fibre East, but apart from that, not a lot else!! I'm feeling very virtuous, perhaps I need to treat myself to a skein or two before the year is out?!!

2. To spin more regularly and enter something into Fibre East or one of my local guild competitions. 
I haven't spun anywhere near as much as I had hoped to, but I did enter some skeins of handspun yarn in to the spinning competitions at Fibre East this year and was amazed to be awarded some prizes. The judges' comments were extremely helpful and I shall definitely be entering again next summer.


Fibre East 2014 day 2 (2)


3. To knit at least one jumper for myself.
I did finish two sweaters for myself - my mink and cashmere sweater that Flo wanted as a blankie for herself...........


sweater seaming step 1 003


...... and Vodka Lemonade, which I have worn endlessly this year.


Bank Holiday Monday 020


4. To carry on designing.
I have dabbled a little more with some designing, but nothing has been published yet. I have a cowl pattern in the pipeline.......


jk cowl (2)


................as well as a pair of socks.


jk socks (4)


I also have a crochet pattern for a tape measure cosy!!


Tape measure cosy for Josee (1)


5. To try some colourwork.
Oh dear, yet another year has passed without me even getting close to achieving this goal. I think that I will have to look out for a class at Fibre East in the summer to give me a kick start. 

6. To finish the 64 Crayons blanket.
Yay, job done!! I cannot begin to tell you just how much I love this blanket. It's on the sofa in the lounge and everyone (including Flo!) wants a share.


64 Crayons done! (10)

mine, all mine! (2)


So what of 2015? I have the feeling that my goals will be pretty similar to previous years.

1. To knit from stash as much as possible.
2. To spin regularly and try to attend some guild meetings, as well as enter some handspun yarn into the spinning competitions at Fibre East.
3. To write up and publish my knitting and crochet patterns.
4. To try some colourwork!
5. To finish projects that are currently hibernating on Ravelry.
6. To improve my sewing skills.

So, that's almost it. Just enough time to say a huge thank you to you, for reading my blog. I do love reading your comments, so thank you for taking the time to leave me a message. I hope that 2015 is a happy and healthy year for you and your nearest and dearest. See you next year! xxx

13 comments:

peahen said...

A very happy New Year to you, JK, best wishes with your 2015 goals! xx

Gracey is not my name.... said...

Have a great New Year...and those are wonderful pictures of Flo....looking forward to your published patterns..

Jennyff said...

Happy New Year to all of you and good luck with the plans, it would be wonderful to publish your own patterns. I don't have any 2015 goals except to keep downsizing in every department, stash included.

faith76 said...

Happy 2015! It sounds like you had a very productive 2014

busybusybeejay said...

what a productive year 2014 was for you and so many plans for 2015.We moved house 2 months ago and I gave away a lot of my stash so now I have a great excuse to buy more(and more...)Happy new Year to you ,Mr JK and Florence ,of course.Barbarax

I have new blog.BusybusyBJ.blogspot.com because I was having trouble with an infiltrator.

Helsie said...

Happy New Year from Downunder !

VeggieMummy said...

Hello! I found your blog via your comment on Attic24. Wow! That blanket is amazing - and your cat is super sweet too! Best wishes to you and yours for 2015. I look forward to seeing your other makes. x

Lynne said...

Happy new year, and good luck with your knitting resolutions!

DebbyMc said...

Very productive and fun project year, Helen! Wishing you the best in 2015!

LoriOnLTB said...

Happy New Year to you and yours!

I am knitting a 64 Crayons as well, and like you, I knitted an extra smaller strip. I only have the finishing left. Once the Stitch Ladies confirm my placement of the strips, I'll be back at it.

Good luck with your 2015 goals. I'm still pondering mine...

I enjoy your blog and look forward to your posts in 2015. (I discovered you through #1 knitspot Fan.)

knittingsandwich said...

happy new year to you!
how fun to look back at your favorite projects! love the blanket you all made, flo is such a helper, as always!
-melissa

Brenda B said...

I think you did very well with your knitting and your goals in 2014. The 64 Crayon blanket is a stand0out for me as I love how it turned out, but I also like your self designed projects and you cute little tape measure!! Happy knitting in 2015.

Brenda

knittingsandwich said...

what a year! such gorgeous projects! your crayon blanket it just too beautiful for words- what an accomplishment!
i love how flo likes to put her own special seal of approval on your projects- such good taste! :)
-claire