Cora's blanket

2012 saw not only 12 shawls fly off the needles, but also my first blanket.  It was a baby blanket, but still quite sizable. The photo below has it folded in half.  I love the multicolored pattern, even if there were a zillion ends to weave in at the end of the project, and the honeycomb gives it a nice, thick texture. 

This project was my first time blocking acrylic.  I did a steam block, being careful not to touch the iron to the fabric and melt it.  It worked pretty well, and in theory it's now blocked for life - even after being machine washed.  I'm sure the lucky mama will have plenty of chances to test this theory!

The sleeves are slowly stretching.

With all the places in the house to sit, I have chosen to bless your WIP.  It is now endowed with magical cat fuzz for extra awesome.*

* I speak cat.

Tube check

Tube fits!  Just keep knitting, just keep knitting...

182

I've cast on 182 stitches to start my first sweater.  Deep breaths, and just keep knitting.

Warmer on the inside

A Christmas gift for a certain Whovian friend of mine.  I can assure you, they're warmer on the inside.

Pattern on Ravelry

Gifty socks

Christmas saw the gifting of my first two pairs of "real" socks - real meaning tiny needles and tiny thread.  Both patterns come from Cookie A's knit. sock. love.  I love the lace on these patterns.  I'm certinaly looking forward to knitting more socks, now that I've gotten the hang of it.

Hobo chic

Hobo chic, or a slipper destroyer? Either way, his next pair will come with leather soles.

11 of 12: Becca's Clapotis

Unlike some knits that take on a owner halfway through the knitting process, this shawl was designated as a gift from the start.  I think I've claimed every successive project as my favorite shawl of the 12 in 12, but this one certainly takes the prize for the my favorite yarn.  Only the best for the Becca!

The Clapotis (ravelry) is a very popular pattern, and for good reason.  It looks amazing in a variegated yarn and is fun to knit.  It is knit along the bias with a series of dropped stitches, creating a grid of sorts - color stripes in one direction with the pattern stripes in the opposite direction.

The yarn is from hellomello handspun, which I picked up at Crafty Bastards last year.  Since I tend to stick to recycling sweaters, knitting with these wonderful colors was a real treat.  I have another two skeins in a brown/yellow/green colorway that I'm saving for a creativity stroke of genius one day.

10 of 12: Ben's Scarf

Ben's scarf might be my favorite "shawl" of 2012.  I know it's odd to call a men's scarf a shawl, but it more than meets the yardage requirements for the challenge and it's wide enough to be more of a stole than a scarf.

I found this yarn, Anne by the Schaefer Yarn Company, while visiting family in Gainesville, Florida last spring.  With its brown a gray tones, it was a perfect choice for his surprise birthday present.

After starting several patterns, I couldn't find one that worked well with the color changes. Not to be deterred, I fiddled around until I came up with a pattern that I enjoyed knitting and highlighted the color variations.

I'd like to publish this one as my first pattern, but I'll need a catchy name to go along with it. Suggestions?

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!  With 2012 completed, it's time to look forward to new knitting goals.  I don't think I'll pick up a 13 for 2013 type of challenge, but I am excited to see what interesting knits 2013 brings.

Speaking of challenges, I'm going to have to smudge the rules to have completed my 12 shawls in 2012.  As of midnight last night, my twelfth shawl was certainly beyond the minimum yardage requirement, but I'd like it to be longer so I'm going to keep knitting. 

I've been a bit slow to post this holiday season, mostly because I've spent all my free time knitting gifts and the final 2012 shawl.  Plenty of FO are in the queue to be written up once I'm caught up on IOUs!