2013 in review

My backyard right now - (just because a post with no photos is lame)

Everyone probably knows this, but January is named for the Roman god Janus, who was in charge of beginnings and endings, transitions and time. His two faces look back to the past and forward to the future. (Guess it was tough for him to live in the present!)

Today I'm looking back over 2013 to see how I did with the goals I put out there a year ago.

I said I wanted to publish 18 patterns - I actually published 25! Somewhere along the way I got it in my head that I was supposed to do two a month, so I am really happy to be able to put this in the 'accomplished' column. My only other stated goal was to reduce stash - I have no idea if that happened. I've been using stash as KAL and test knit gifts but have also added quite a bit and really don't want to take the time to do the math. Let's just say I didn't reach this one.

I didn't actually SAY that I wanted to finish outstanding WIPs, but I did list them - all 11. One got frogged so I could use the yarn for something else, one got worked on a bit. The others? Untouched.

As far as what I DID knit:
16 sweaters
7 shawls
16 cowls/scarves
3 hats/headbands
that's 41 things and all of them were my designs! I used to like to pile them all up and take a photo, but that also sounds like too much work :P

Tomorrow I will look forward into 2014!

Happy New Year everyone! Have a safe and wonderful New Year's Eve!

Forgot one!

This is the last my German wine series - Apfelwein

After I had chosen the name, a German knitting friend showed me a picture of traditional German Apfelwein glasses -

It actually went up before Antidote but I forgot to blog about it. If you bought/buy the first two (Glühwein and Eiswein), this one is free!

My box of yarn that needs to be turned into Christmas presents turned up today -

If I can knock out one a day I'll make it! First one is half done :)

Need a fast gift knit?

This is Antidote. It takes one skein of bulky yarn, a button, and a couple of hours. I got my son to model it for me and now he wants one. Less fussy than a full length scarf, easier to get on/off than a cowl.

I may have lost my mind - I ordered yarn last night to make my son's plus 6 for my brother and his family...

40% off through December 22!

One last sweater for 2013!

Modeled with a skirt I got last year about this time at a thrift shop on the Upper West Side of NYC :)
This is Rhinecliff and the yarn is Miss Babs' Heartland Worsted which I just love! I am working on another design in it right now and planning a third. I also want to reknit this one with wide stripes and no cables. Too many things to knit, too little time.

Warning! Bulky cowl overload!

I seem to be over my garter stitch phase and have moved into bulky cowl phase :)

I released Glühwein last week and it is on sale for 40% off through tomorrow.

Today I released Eiswein and it is on sale through December 13.

I don't think you can get the discount on both at once though - you probably have to go through the checkout twice.

I have one more German beverage-inspired bulky cowl on the way. I like to do things in 3's :)

Both of these knit up fast in bulky yarn and make great gifts. Glühwein is knit in Dragonfly Fibers Super Traveller and Eiswein is in madelinetosh's A.S.A.P. Both lovely yarns!