Check In On This Years Goals..

I don't have a financial adviser, but if I did, now is the time when they would tell me to check in on my financial goals to see how much progress I've made towards them. It's a good practice. I don't want to be surprised come November to find that I've been sitting on my hands all year not making any progress. Checking in now helps feel accomplished for what I have done, re-energize me for what's coming and ensure that by the end of year I have at least done something.

So, let's recap my goals from this year:

• Make at least 3 things from my knitting books
• Knit something each month (even the summer months!)
• Take spinning lessons (fortunately this was a Christmas present this year!)
• Crochet a granny square blanket

So let's take these one by one....

Make at least 3 things from my knitting books

Well, I'm not doing so great here. If you count the Packers socks I made using a pattern out of my favorite sock pattern book of all time, Knitting Circles Around Socks, that makes 1. 1 out of 3 isn't bad, is it? I've poured over some of my pattern books to inspire what my next project might be with little success. There were a few things that caught my eyes:

1. Wave-Cuff Mittens, from 60 More Quick Knits

They are a little different than your usual mittens. They use buttons... of which I am a huge fan. It's a small project that I know I could finish easily. I'm not in love, probably because it's not all that cold anymore and I wouldn't use these for many months. I could stash them as a "go-to" present that I'll no doubt need as Christmas draws closer. (Side note: am I really already thinking about Christmas?!!?)

2. Slip-Stitch Mittens, also from 60 More Quick Knits

Can you see where my mind is? Quick Knits. Maybe another gift. My mom would like them... Then again I made her fingerless mittens last year for Christmas. 

Knit something each month (even the summer months!)

Check! So far so good on this one!

• January: Center Row Lace Headband
• February: Packer Socks, Twisted Rib Watch Cap
• March: Whiskey Rikke Hat
• April: Pretty Basic Pretty Shawl
• May: Cap Sleeve Lattice Top

Take spinning lessons (fortunately this was a Christmas present this year!)

Still to-do. :( But I have the gift card still and maybe I'll give them a call this week to schedule the class. 

Crochet a Granny Square Blanket

This one is still in progress. Though, I haven't made much progress on it lately. Gotta get back to that. Maybe I'll set a goal to get another color strip done by the end of May. Yeah, I think I can handle that. 

Progress, Not That You Would Know....

I've been a very busy bee lately! It's still not quiet spring here in Madison, which has left plenty of time for knitting. When you last heard from me, I had just finished my Pretty Basic Pretty Shawl. It was my first shawl project, and while I was a bit disappointed in the overall size of the shawl, I'm super happy with it and has been a staple in my wardrobe ever since!

Ever since, my needles haven't slowed down. Before Pretty Basic was even dry, I cast on for my Cap Sleeve Lattice Top! I have been lusting after this top ever since it first showed up on Purl Bee in 2012. Everything about this top screamed my name. It seemed like a fairly simple toe in the water for sweater knitting, it was simple and pretty.

I didn't quite stick to my plan of using up what is in my stash before buying knew yarn, but I almost did! Remember this yarn that I never used?  Well I did.and felt it was the perfect main body color for the top. I ran out and grabbed a basic off-white contrasting color for the top lattice part. I swear I needed it.

I did end up with some slight modifications, which seemed to be a theme across many of the Ravelry knitters:

• I worked this piece in the round from the bottom up.
• Since I was working the medium size, I cast on 216 stitches and worked the main body for 16 inches
• Increased my final row of the main body by 2 and switched yarns for the lattice top
• I worked the lattice top flat and grafted the shoulders together
  

And tada! The picture itself is pretty weak... but I couldn't help by try it on as soon as I finished! 

Right now, the sweater is currently being blocked.... but once its finished, I'll get better pictures of it

April Showers

It's finally Spring! Like many of my fellow knitters/bloggers, the fact that Spring is finally showing up seems to be all that we can talk about right now. While I'm envious at my east coast friends that they are already experiencing temps in the 70s, it's still in the low 50s here in Madison. Spring is almost here... almost. But I'm not complaining about the 50s. I'll take what I can get.

It gives me the opportunity to wear some of my more light weight knits without fear of getting too warm. Like the Pretty Lace Pretty Shawl that I recently finished. Here you can see it being blocked with my brand new blocking wires. It was definitely a learning process to figure out how to block appropriately, but I can definitely see a change in the knit after blocking.

I modified this pattern quite a bit. First, I added 2 more pattern repeats to the body of the shawl. It originally called for 5, but it just seemed SO small, so I went to 7 before starting the lace edging. For the lace, I decided to knit the lace edging until I could knit no more. Which ended up being 12 rows instead of the originally called for 7.

I finished with only a few yards left of my skein. I weaved in my ends and off to the sink it went for blocking. I knew immediately that it still felt too small. Its definitely not shawl size... I wouldn't even call it a shawlette. Maybe kerchief? As that is the only way I can see wearing it.

But, regardless, I'm finished! It was my first shawl-ish pattern that I attempted and I think it came out alright. It's a pretty nice with a lovely light wool yarn that does keep my neck and chest warm when I wear it. I've been recently using a lone cufflink as a shawl pin to help it stay in place and I'm kinda liking that.. 

Almost Finished!

I really didn't think that the Pretty Basic Pretty Shawl would fly off the needles this quickly. Even though each row feels like I'm knitting 1,000 stitches, it still seems to go pretty quickly. I'm only about 3 rows into the edging, which means I have about 5 (10 rows) more repeats until I'm finished.

I'll be done by the weekend. April 12th!! That's so early. There is a solid 2.5 more weeks left in the month. I'm on the fence about trying to finish another project in April... I could just finish working on my blanket, which I haven't picked up in a few weeks. Or I could whip out a few dishcloths as an Easter gift for g-mom? Yes, maybe a few dishcloths... I could get a few of them done in time for Easter....

Goodies!!

Uh oh! Look whose goodies just showed up! I've been coveting Fringe Supply's Leather & Brass Stitch Marker Set since they've launched the product.

So, I finally pulled the trigger. I also grabbed some fabulous little stitch markers while I was at it. What? They were only $5. Don't judge me. I always need more stitch markers, I lose those things like orphaned socks.

I will say, I'm slightly disappointed in the size of the leather pouch. I was hoping to use it to store some of my other stitch markers, but it really isn't all that big. I got the additional markers I ordered in there, but I'm pretty sure that's the extent of it. Any of my really pretty markers are definitely not going to fit in it. Sad. Oh well, I'm still very happy with my purchase. Now, to knit something where I need lots of stitch markers! :)