knits

For Christmas 2011 I gave exactly one knitted item as a present, and this is it!

In fact, it's not even a real present... you see, my mother-in-law had a few balls of Lana Grossa Giava Print, a viscose and linen blend yarn left over from a vest a friend of hers had made her - so she sent the balls to me with a note "I'd like a slightly triangular scarf, with a pretty edging, but have no idea on how to make one - will you please knit me one?"

On 11th of April, 2009 I posted a list of 101 goals I wanted to reach during the next 1001 days. And behold, on the 2nd of January 2012 these 1001 days were through. Such a long but still such a short time - about 2,5 years.

Throughout the years I kept coming back to these goals, and actually finished the majority of them. I updated the list (see it here) the last time a few days ago, and here are the results:

Umm... socks for homeless animals? Well, it's not what you think. In fact, the animals won't be wearing the socks, instead they will be sold and the profits will go to the homeless animals.

These yarns were donated to me by the animal shelter to work them into socks. So that's what I did. The purple pair is about size 36-37, and was knit with 60 stitches across with using the Rinsessa stitch.

On the 8th of January 2011 I made a list of Knitting Resolutions for 2011 (see the original post here). I haven't forgotten about them, nor abandoned them, but actually made some progress on them!

See for yourself:

I took part in another swap before Christmas, the Finnish Christmas swap, Jouluvaihto.

My partner received her present and liked it, and I like mine too! I waited for a long time before unpacking them, as I wanted to wait until Christmas (well, almost, as I was away over actual Christmas so I opened them on the 21st).

Remember my 17 mice from last year? Well, I made 8 more this year! They are selling so well that I may have to make a few more soon.

I used one ball of handdyed-with-KoolAid Marks&Kattens Eco Ull for these mice. They were all knit on 6mm needles. I made them all smaller than the original instructions call for, as my gauge is much bigger.

This month I'm presenting a designer with really founded experience and history in knitwear design, Tina Whitmore.

Yesterday was the day - we finally had the big yearly "knit day"! Last year was the first time I organized it... but as I was ill, I was not able to participate! This year I actually made it to the event :)

You know what? I finished these mitts in 2010. The only reason I haven't posted about them was because I thought I'd write the pattern down and post the pics then.

Well, I might still do that, but I think it's such a shame these lovely mitts and the great photos my husband took of them might never be blogged, just because I'm not into pattern writing right now! I mean, just looking at these pictures makes me happy, so why the heck just not post now.

In August, I took on the challenge to make 25 squares for Knit a Square by the end of 2011.

Today I proudly present my (most likely the) last squares for 2011 which bring my tally up to 42 squares! I have to say I'm pretty proud of myself. I've sent the first patch of squares to South Africa already and my second package is ready for sending, too.