First finished projects of 2014

Both of my finishes for 2014 were started last year, but I actually think that's a good thing - I, like many knitters I believe, have a bad habit of leaving stuff unfinished when something more juicy comes along!

The first one was huge fun, socks knit completely with leftovers! The pattern I used is Stephanie van der Linden's Colors of the Andes, from her book "Around the World in Knitted Socks: 26 inspired designs". This pattern has so few projects in Ravelry and I think it's maybe the loveliest of all! However, these socks were way too big for me; I thought given the colorwork they might even be too small but apparently 72 stitches on 2.25 needles just is too big for me. But no worries: it just meant my mum got new socks! Here are my Colors of the Andes, although I should probably rename them "colors of the stash". I love how I can see all the other socks I've knit from the colors in these!

Colors of the stash: can You tell which color comes from which socks? Just see the other posts tagged "socks" ;)

I also finished a shawl knit from my naturally dyed handdyes. The darker yarn was dyed with red onion skins, the lighter with red beet juice. The pattern is Georgiana by Susanna IC, found in Jane Austen Knits 2011. I am quite happy with the shawl! It's not originally two colors, it is a mod first done my someone else on Ravelry whom I copied. But I just fell so in love with her version I had to have my own. Copying is the highest form of praise you know ;) Oh, and it has finally snowed here along with getting cold. And cold often equals clear skies and sun, which is something we simply cannot get enough of here in the North...

I'm off to knit!

Happy New Year!

As the year has changed, I thought I'd best quickly post some photos of the things finished in 2013 I have not yet shown you.

Here is Gothic Spire, by Cookie A. They were gifted over Christmas to my boyfriend's older sister.

Then there's Annis, a free pattern by Susanna IC, found here on Knitty. I knit it in sport weight, a Christmas gift for my mother.

Then I also finished two more pairs of socks on the final days of the old year, making my total 28 pairs for the year 2013.

Both are patterns by Rachel Coopey from her book Coopknits socks.

Budleigh

Brighton

For year 2014 I have been thinking of maybe knitting a little less socks and a little more of something else. Not that there's anything wrong with socks but maybe 28 pairs a year is a little much. Although looking at Ravelry there are people who manage to knit almost a hundred pairs in a year!

At the moment I am knitting Lestrange cloak from Interweave Knit's Unofficial Harry Potter Knits. It's a black lace cardigan and I am pretty in love with it already! I'll post pictures as soon as I have something to show. I'm also going to knit Yabane sweater for my boyfriend and Alexandrite tank from Knitscene Spring 2014 as soon as it comes out. I have some other projects in mind as well but it's best not to make my knitting goals too tight as they never seem to work out quite the way I plan anyways...