2010 – A Year in Knits

It is the last day of 2010 and I’m feeling, honestly, a little relieved. Sure, 2010 had some great moments but overall it was a pretty sucky year for hubby and I (not between us, just life getting in the way) and we’re feeling ready to welcome 2011. I for one am hoping that 2011 will be our year so I’m welcoming the new year with open arms. That being said, I did enjoy my 2010 Knit Year. Yes, I took a break for 2 months where I didn’t knit a single thing and that probably set me off target for number of knits I would have liked to do, but that’s okay. I didn’t make as many knits as I did in 2009, but I did make bigger knits than I did then, so perhaps it all evens out in the end.

Before I recap the knitted projects, I should mention that I also had some resolutions to come to term with from the beginning of the year. Of 4 resolutions I accomplished 2. Meh. Not sure if that’s exactly what I was going for, but at least I did do two of the things I was hoping for. As for the other two (more colorwork and learn entrelac), I’m not too sure that I miss not having done them. Sure, I want to start doing more colorwork and entrelac might be fun to learn – though to be honest I’m not as much of a fan of the look at all anymore – but really having knit more sweaters and done 10 shawls in 2010 sounds pretty good to me! 🙂

So what have I finished? The total count came to twenty-four finished projects. Not too shabby, though certainly not as grand as the thirty I did in 2009. But still, I love the knits I made this year, so I’m not going to dwell on this drop in numbers!

Socks – Didn’t make nearly enough of these this year! As a matter of fact, I’m thinking 2011 will be a year of socks for me! I love wearing my knitted socks and when I realized that I have enough only to last me about a week, I knew this is something to be remedied! Particularly because I love knitting them up too. 🙂
Total: 3 pairs (WIPs: 3… all started in 2009 and still hibernating! Ack!)

Sam – made for my stepdad

Circle Socks – Possibly my favorite pair of socks ever

Dangerous Socks for Boys – also made for my stepdad who LOVES knit socks and really appreciates them

Gloves – I love me some fingerless gloves and will definitely be making myself another pair in the near future!
Total – 2 pairs

Snow on Cedars Mitts

Dyade Mitts – Present for C

Shawls – Finished my goal of 10 shawls in 2010! Yes, I was aiming for 20 at one point but quickly realized that wasn’t going to happen and am more than happy with the 10 I did make!
Total – 10

Theory Shawlette

Hamamelis

Cedar Leaf Shawlette – Present for my sister

Wast Side Shawl

Arabella Shawl

Bitterroot – Present for D

Herbivore

Children of Lir Shawl – Present for my sister

Folha Luz I – My first design!

Folha Luz II – Second prototype

Cowls – Just one for a friend. I’m not a fan of cowls, to be honest, as I don’t think they really work at keeping you warm! But as this friend lives in California where you don’t have to kept warm, I thought it was a fitting gift.
Total – 1

Dyade Cowl

Hats – I made a ton of hats at the end of the year as Christmas gifts… always a quick gift to make!
Total – 4 (WIPs: 1, cast on in 2009)

Windschief – for A

Crooked Paths – for D

Turn a Square – for S (who is wearing it in the second picture)

Sofie’s Slouch – for my sister

Sweaters – Actually what I concentrated on for 2010, and I was pretty successful in the end, IMO! I did many different kinds of sweaters – top down, bottom up, seamed, seamless – and learned many different techniques while doing them. And although I had one failure (a sweater that I made way way too big!), I did have many successes, so I’m pretty pleased in the end with this line up. 🙂
Total – 4 (WIPs: 1 – and almost finished too!)

Swing – First sweater where I had to do lots of math-fu to change things to my gauge. Love love love the outcome!

Celtic Cathedral Cardigan – Turned out ENORMOUS on me and definitely not one I wear. Sad, because I do like the sweater, it just isn’t wearable. I’m thinking about giving this one to someone else so it will be worn!

Sunniva – Wear this one ALL THE TIME! My favorite sweater by far!

Sugar Bear Hooded Cardigan – Made for T – definitely a success!

And I must share a picture of my WIP Effortless Cardigan because I am SO close to being done – just the bands left! – and I cast on for it on Dec. 26!! It’s been such a quick and satisfying knit. 🙂

I’m really looking forward to the next year in knits and am excited about sharing that journey with you, my dear blog readers! One thing I did really love about 2010 is finding a lot of new knitting blogs to read and keeping up with knitting blogs that I had already been reading. Here’s to another year of knitting blogs!

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year’s Eve and I’ll see you next year! 😉