2009's knitting was about quantity. 2010 was all about quality.
I started the year with a scarf for myself that I love. Shades of Green (Painted Zig Zag Scarf) is made with Debbie Mumm's Traditions yarn. It's a mostly acrylic yarn, but I love the colors.
The rest of the winter was full of big projects. I started a sleeping cap (1840 Nightcap by Franklin Habit) for my friend Ezra in November. It was a nightmare. I put it away until after the new year & got it finished by the end of January to send as a late Christmas present. The opening of the cap came out too big. It only fits him if he folds it over which then ruins the beautiful detailed edging. I hated the yarn for this project (Aunt Lydia's Fashion Cr
ochet), it hurt my fingers.
My birthday sweater this year was Norah Gaughan's Tilted Duster (Tilt da Syrup, done in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, color Maple Syrup). I got the yarn from Santa! The sweater turned out too big as well. However, I did get to spend my birthday in Concord, MA antique shopping with Alicia where I bought the buttons for this sweater.
2010 was a big learning year. I learned stranded colorwork & made the Fiddlehead Mittens! They are two of my proudest moments. I did them as opposites, using the green & brown differently on each one.
As spring started or as winter faded, however you like to think of it, I made a pair of socks & a couple of hats. My Jaywalkers were a challenge. I had made one sock, but didn't really account for the lack of give in the pattern. After frogging & starting over I ended up with a g
reat pair of socks! I made a Hawkeye for Steve & loved it so much I made one for myself.
I did a project this year that I am very proud of. I made a Hemlock Ring Blanket for my sister as a wedding shower gift. I started it in February & motored along to 
finish in April, almost 2 months before the shower. I was lucky enough to find a local dry cleaner to block it out for me. 
I think my sister liked it, but I have yet to see it at her house anywhere.
In April I chose a new yarn & free pattern from Berroco (Ari knit with Weekend). Cute little cropped sweater for spring. I made especially for my trip to New Orleans in May. Of course when we got there I certainly did not need a sweater. It was so hot & humid just looking at that sweater made me feel sick.
Early summer I made a couple of little things for people I like. Our accountant & his wife were expectin
g a baby in August, so I made some bibs for her (Simple Baby Bib). My friend Dorian asked me if I could make him a hackey sack (Catch by Cirilia Rose). I found a pattern, used some scrap yarn & lentils. It's cute.
The next 3 projects were for me, myself & I. I did a Whisper Cardigan in Ultra Alpaca Light and a Brattleboro Hat in Ultra Alpaca. Both are in the same color. I boug
ht this yarn years ago for something else that never came to fruition. They have gone on to be better things, I think.
I also made Cookie A's Hedera socks using Knit Picks Stroll Tonal sock yarn. Loved this yarn! Love these socks! Best socks I have made yet. Second Cookie A sock pattern I have done. I like her stuff & understand her patterns.
Christmas knitting started late this year. I almost didn't do any at all. For my mom a Lava Flow cowl. This is a loose, hanging cowl/mobieus. I had the Jo Sharp yarn for a long time & didn't know what to do with it. This was the perfect project. My aunt Lyn & my sister received Fetching for Christmas. Lyn's were done in Mirasol's K'acha. Nice yarn, but not perfect for these mitts. She liked them. Betsy's mitts were made with Jaeger Matchmaker Merino DK.
Much better. This is also yarn I had lying around for years (I still have plenty left). Matchmaker really brought out the cable detail in this pattern. I think they look very sharp. My cousin Jeff got a combo gift this year. I knit the Six Pack Carrier by Libby Bruce from Pints and P
urls. I chose Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted in Bruins colors black & gold. My husband filled the carrier with homebrew. Now that's a gift!
My last project of the year was my most challenging (even over the Fiddleheads). Steve wanted convertible mittens so that it would be easier to use the snowblower & keep his hands warm. I found a pattern that I really loved. It ended up a nightmare pattern. It was from WWII England. It was hard to understand so half of it was scrapped & rewritten. After many froggings and very bad language they were finished & wonderful. 2011's knitting summary will start with what happens to these very functional men's mittens. Stay tuned.
Everybody wins!
rprise. Sounds like a great idea.
