End of year one.

Wow, this is the last time I will be using this banner for my weekly post.  It is so hard for me to realize that a year has passed since in my crafting life.  I know I started about a month late but still...........there has been a lot of crafting and blogging going on since then.

When I started YoP I only had about 600 hits on my blog.  I now have over 2000!  I am so impressed and happy that there are really people out there reading my blog AND making comments.  I want to thank all of you for the comments, suggestions and help you have given to me over the past year.  It has inspired me to improve my skills and try new and sometime difficult things.

So let's get started with this weeks posting of what I did last week.  And there are pictures this time!

I have started on my color affection shawl.  As you can see it is not all that far along but I am loving it!  Super easy to do (so far) and a great way to use up all that sock yarn that I will never have time to make into socks.  I will be doing something I have never done before and that is wrap and turn.  I know..............I make socks all the time but I use a heel pattern that does not use the wrap and turn so this will be exciting for me to once again increase my skills.  I am using Berroco Sock yarn.  Yes, it is all acrylic but I believe it has one of the nicest hands for an acrylic yarn. Gray is the main color with the variegated being contrast color #1 and the red contrast color #2.

Now here is my question all my YoP friends....................I have TONS of variegated sock yarn and very little solid sock yarn.  I would love to make this pattern again BUT...............my goal for next YoP is NOT to buy any more stash until I use up over 50% of what I have now.  Is there a way that variegated yarns could be used together for this or do you think it would look like a regurgitated piece of food?

This is the newest 'skill' I learned this week.  It is called criss cross stitch.  Actually all it truly is, is a LONG cable stitch made without a cable needle. 

This is a better photo of the stitch it self.  This works up pretty quickly so I have no fear that this scarf will be done in time for gift giving.  I already have the had done for this set.  I do not like scarf making as it gets so loooooooong and tedious.  I will let you all know if this makes it as a scarf or not.

 Been working on my dishcloths.  Have 10 total done and lots more cotton yarn to use up.  I am hoping by the time I am done using up all this cotton, that Michael's will put it on sale again for $1/skein.  I really enjoy doing the dishcloths.  They are a quick, satisfying project and I like to stick them in when doing things like, shawls, socks, sweaters etc.

Ok, I got brave and just had to post the picture of the blooming pillow.  I don't think the recipient will be reading my blog for a while.  Anyway...............this is the front of the first pillow.  I have started on the front of the second and am about 1/2 done with that.  I wanted to do the fronts first because I am kind of low on the light colored yarn.  If I don't have enough for the backing then I will just make it all in the maroon color.  Won't bother me a bit.  I now am trying to find round pillow forms for the thing.  I will need a 16" form as the pillow measures 14" and I want it to be real fluffy.  I tried WalMart and they informed me they have never carried round forms.  So now I have to try, JoAnn's, Michael's and Hobby Lobby.  After that I will have to order them from the internet and for some reason I really don't want to do that.  (I order everything else from the internet but this just bothers me this time)

I went back to my list (the latest updated one) and finished it off to show what I accomplished this past year.

 

 Here is the list of things that are finished:

****Finished******
Hat and Scarf (November gift)  Knitted (finished July 2011)

 Scarf for Jadin (by October 10th) Knitted  (finished October 2011)

Wedding Ring Afghan (finished in October 2011)

 Bedsock (Christmas) Crochet or knitted, haven't decided (Finished October 2011)                

 Hat for Josie (Finished October 2011)

wedding ring afghan (Christmas) Crochet (Finished in December 2011)

Bedsock(Christmas)  (Finished November 201

Scarf for Jenn (Finished December 23^rd!!  2011)

Scarf for Josie (Finished December 26^th 2011)

One man’s hat (Finished January 2012)

2 dishcloths (Finished February 2012)

1 log cabin block done (Finished February 2012)

8 dishcloths (Finished June 2012)

Cuff Down Socks (Finished May 2012)

Crocheted shawl (Finished May 2012)

 Crocheted Shawl for Christmas 2012 (Finished February 2012)


It doesn't seem like I accomplished much....................but...................(there's always a but)..............
I still have projects that I have been working on but are still not completed.  There are 3 shawls from last year.....................a pair of socks......................a sweater............................log cabin squares.................................... and stuff like that.

So what is going on the list next year?

Ravelry shows me all sorts of patterns that I have to do RIGHT NOW!  Then there are the other blogs that I read that have wonderful ideas and I have to try that RIGHT NOW!  Not to mention a family that really appreciates home made goodness and they want it RIGHT NOW!

So the list next year is going to be realistic, achievable, and hopefully full of fun stuff that will clear out my stash so I can get MORE!

I don't know if I will be able to get my list up next weekend or not............we are leaving this week for a trip to visit our kids in Texas for a couple of weeks.  I am going to work on the list this week and will take it with me to post if I can get access to their computer. (they love their computers and are on them ALOT)

Happy Crafting!