Learning to Knit in 2013

I technically learned to knit in 2012, but even though I learned the 'motions' and the stitches, I didn't really comprehend how a pattern was written, or how it all came together, or how it worked. I learned that this year. I had a pretty good year as far as knitting goes, I feel like I've learned a lot. I finished 2 pairs of socks and several shawls, while learning to knit lace and learning how things are shaped. There are lots of things I want to learn next year, like how to do colorwork so I can do mittens and socks with patterns, and a Color Affection shawl. I know a lot of people who have made goals to make a pair of socks each month, and while I would love to do that, I am going to be realistic though, and make a goal of 6 pairs of socks for 2014. One every other month. I have already started my first pair. This works with the Plucky Classics club too, I will be getting a new skein of Plucky Feet every other month, and if am able to make more than 6 pairs, then that is great! 

These are the Lace and Cable socks from Socks From The Toe Up by Wendy Johnson, just minus the cables on the side. Cables are another thing I would like to learn in 2014. 

                              

Here is a collage of some of my knitting projects this year. I think my favorite pattern was the Holden Shawl, I knit it twice and loved it both times! 

I am hoping for lots of awesome knitting and quilting projects to share here next year!

2013 In Review, Looking Forward to 2014

It has been a busy year, both personally and on a quilting level. It hasn't been the best year, but it certainly wasn't the worst either. There were good and bad things. Boring things and exciting things. But I am hopeful for what 2014 will bring.

Here is a list of some of my finishes (I know I am forgetting a lot of the smaller projects!)

1) Butterscotch Cake throw

2) Weekender Bag

3) Starburst Quilt

4) Flower Girl quilt 

5) Dream On quilt

6) Scrappy Trip Along Quilt

7) Sidebraid quilt

8) Super Tote

I made a collage of a few of the different projects I finished or worked on this year.

I have a lot of projects I want to finish (and start!) in 2014. I talked a little about my goals for my unfinished projects a few posts ago, but that is only the tip of iceberg for next year. I have lots more quilting and sewing goals, and knitting goals too! I've challenged myself a lot this year with the projects I've done. My piecing has gotten a lot better and also my confidence in choosing fabrics has gone up too.

I think my favorite project for the year was my Anna Maria Horner Starburst quilt. It may be my favorite quilt ever. I'm also still i love with my Modern Maples quilt, and can't wait to finish it in 2014.

What did you finish this year?

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone has a special day and gets to spend it with the people they love. Cherish the time you have with them now!

The Post Where I Talk About Goals

(I apologize for the lack of pictures in advance!)

I can't believe its almost Christmas already, and that means it's almost NEXT YEAR! And that means it's time to figure out everything I want to get done, and all my goals. I have a LOT it seems (mainly because I slacked on them this year) Here is the post where I wrote out my goals for 2013. I didn't get nearly as much done as I would have liked to. I did make my Weekender bag, and finished my my Butterscotch Cake throw quilt, and nearly finished my Scrappy Log Cabin quilt top. I also finished my Sidebraid quilt too,a long with several other projects. But I will save a recap post for later. This post I am going to dedicate to FINISHES in 2014. I have a lot of them.

1.) My Farmer's Wife quilt- it is currently my longest work in progress, and I haven't touched it in months. I started on the background for the blocks and squaring them up, and that is right where I left of. IF I just sit down and dedicate some time to this, I could have the top finished pretty quickly.

2.) Scrappy Log cabin- This is another quilt that is very close to completion. I have to basically put the border on it and quilt it, and that is seriously it. The top is done except the borders.

3.) Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt- in all honesty, this may not even be finished in 2014. Since I am doing it totally by hand (including the quilting) it is going to be a very long work in progress. Especially since I am caught up in knitting right now, and spend all my time working on that. 

4.) St Louis 16 Patch- The top is already finished. It has been sitting around waiting for quilting for months. I just need to get the backing, I already have the binding. 

5.) Modern Maples quilt- I have several more blocks to do, and then figure out how I want to put the top together, if I want to follow the pattern or do my own thing. I am still undecided. 

My biggest undertaking is my sewing room. We are in the process of cleaning of one of our spare bedrooms and converting it into a sewing and craft room for me. I was hoping that this would be done before the end of the year as well but it doesn't look like it will. Hopefully we will be able to paint it after the holidays and get my things moved in and situated soon after. Once I have more room and have things organized I am hoping it will be a lot easier to finish projects instead of them languishing around. At least that is the goal

Christmas Dresden Plate Tabletopper

I actually sewed some this week. I had picked up some new Christmas fabric and was itching to get in the Christmas spirit. We have been running a bit behind here on our decorating and I felt the need to do something. and I love LOVE Dresden plates, so I decided I needed to put the two together. I had some cute white on white dots in my stash that reminded me of snow and made the perfect background! I went with "vintage" looking fabrics from my Dresden blades.

                      

I like the look of Dresden's when the center is the same color as the background fabric, that is just a personal preference. I am extremely happy with the way this came out. I machine stitched the blades down instead of hand appliqueing. Hand applique is just not something I have ever been able to get the hang of, I know I just need more practice, but this wasn't the time for it!

                     

I also bought some new fabrics during a nice Black Friday sale from the Fat Quarter Shop. I LOVE Pam Kitty fabrics, Unfortunately they seem to be sold out of her Designer Bundle that I purchased, and a lot of her fabrics, after the big sale. I'm not quite sure what I want to make with these yet, so they are going in the stash.

                                 

Did you get any Black Friday deals???