TA--DA!

Finished!!

I forgot how much stamina a blanket of this size requires.  I haven't made a real afghan since my cousin got married in 2000.  I think I'll stick with baby-sized stuff.  Much quicker turnaround.  :)  Though, this only took 4 months, and I've spent longer on socks.  Maybe it's just the sheer size of the project.  I couldn't tuck it in a little bag and take it on car trips after a while.  It just seemed to be everywhere.

Also, after finishing a large project, does anyone else feel a sense of "black hole"?  I tend to start and tear out several new projects before finally fixing on what's next.  Today I started a baby sweater (before I finished this, I needed a ride-to-church project), but now don't feel like finishing it.  Later today I started a preemie hat for this, but can't bring myself to like it enough to continue.*  It always happens after a long project ends.






*(Don't worry, that's where most of the other hats I've made so far will go.)

February

All hats this month.  I think I also did a few colors on the afghan, but it isn't done yet, so I won't post it.

Adult man's hat, knitted.

Was supposed to be a woman's chemo cap, but came out very, very small.  Lace-edged, knitted.

Woman's chemo cap, cable-edged, knitted.

Child's hat, cable edged, knitted.  This and the one above are knit in short rows, side to side.  Very fun to make.

Was supposed to be a baby hat, but looks like a kid's.  Knitted with a top knot.

Another Sara's Slouch, crocheted.  (I LOVE this picture!)

January

I'm starting new this year, keeping track of what I make.  This is the batch from January.

The base is the blanket I'm making for our bed, from Hilda Yates' yarn.  (Really Bartlett Yarn, but we get it at Hilda's and it is inseparably connected to her in my mind.)  The black stripe marks halfway.  My goal is to be done by Valentine's Day (b/c I needed a random goal date) and I'm not sure.  Nathan is commuting now and needs sleep so I'm not up late with him working on my sewing.  Most of this blanket has been done in the car, though, all Teddy related travel.  That's over.

The 2 hats on the far left of the photo are Mary's (black and white) and Joseph's (green).  Mary crocheted hers and Joseph used a knitting loom.

The purplish one is a knit, diamond lace, with sock yarn.  It looks so 20's when worn.

The turquoise and pink ribbon is a baby hat, knit.

A marbled slouch, nice and thick, crocheted.

A light weight white slouch, crocheted.

A turquoise spiral knit.

Another white slouch, ripple, crocheted.

 Why so many hats?  I have a goal to donate 50 hats by the end of the year.  That makes one per week. I can make a slouch in under an hour, so if Sunday arrives and I don't have a hat for that week yet.... yes, another slouch.  I got the pattern from (or for?) my friend Sara when she wanted a chemo cap.  So in my mind I call it "Sara's slouch" and I think I even have it on the pattern that way!

And of course, there is an octopus.  Not nearly so many babies in this ward as in our last ward, but we still have a few.  And of course, our friends in the last ward who were expecting when we left... well, maybe they want one, too.  :)

That's January!

Lookee what I just finished?  Toddler socks, done two at a time, on one long circular needle. 

I've already started another pair, this time from the toe up.  Rainbow wool.  Also kiddie sized, though I'm in hopes they won't be so skinny and then I can put them on Charlie.  :)