New Year, Old Projects

03 January 2016

Usually when I start on Christmas making I finish off all the current projects first, so that when all the festivities are over I can start the New Year with something new.  Last year I started the latest I ever have, partly beacuse I didn't want the making to take over the the whole of the Autumn as it has done in the past, and because I was a little in denial thinking I could get it done in just a few weeks.  So the New Year is here and I find myself picking up old projects that have sitting waiting for a few weeks.


Do you remember those balls of co-ordinating yarn I shared back in November?  Well after a bit of searching I found the cream yarn I needed to go with them, consulted the Fair Isle stitch booked on long term loan from the library, knitted a few swatches and then set off.  The yoke is slowing growing, the next row needs some decreasing amongst the stitches so there is likely to be a pause while I work that one out.


I have plenty to be getting on with in the meantime, the pile of squares shared here progressed a little bit, not enough so that they were finished.  A few days in hospital and recovery/illness time afterwards put paid to that, so Cameron received a half finished quilt for Christmas, luckily for me he didn't mind at all.  The quilt is currently a tacked together sandwich which needs quilting and a border making up and sewing on.


The socks I started back in October are slowly growing.  A six hour journey to and from friends for our New Year celebrations helped it to grow to the heel which is now in progress.  I suspect these will not been finished until the Autumn tho'!

I have a few plans for new projects.  A present for a friend with a birthday this month, some fabric buckets for the children to store their ever growing collection of soft toys, a card wallet that needs designing and a case for my sharpies.  I would also like to make some clothes for myself this year but that might just have to wait for the Spring.........

......in the meantime I am joining Jennifer for her Winter Project Linky Party.

46 comments:

  1. wishing you a happy new year of lots of completed projects xxx

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    1. Thank you, I hope I can complete lots this year.

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  2. I think it's nice sometimes to pick up some familiar projects which aren't yet finished. There's lots of new things I want to start on but I'm determined to get other things finished first before I succumb.

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    1. I know what you mean, I can see me doing some of new projects first tho'. Birthday presents can't wait!

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  3. I love the colours and pattern in the top photo! I would love to knit something like that, not sure my knitting skills are up to it but I will give it a go one day.......in fact it will be added to my 60 things to do before I'm 60 list. Thanks for the inspiration :)

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    1. You are welcome, give it a go I thought it was going to be really complicated but it isn't really. I find it much slower than knitting with one colour, but I plod along!

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  4. These are lovely / the shade of the socks is just so rich and pretty.

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  5. such beautiful work, you have a lot of talent.

    Wishing you a very happy and healthy new year :o) x

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  6. Stranded knitting is on my wishlist to learn for 2016 - possibly less complicated that yours. It looks great. Jo x

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  7. The cream really lifts the fair isle design and I live the Celtic knot socks, you'll have them finished in no time ;-)

    Your creative lists are lovely to read and see x

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    1. Thank you San. The cream does work doesn't it, it looked awful when I was swatching the yarns without it!

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  8. I quite like picking up old projects after the mad dash of finishing Christmas gifts. With existing projects, all the decisions are made and its just a question of buckling down. Intrigued by the safety pin holding stitches in your top photo. What will that turn into? Happy New Year.

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    1. I do too, although with everything else feeling new and exciting for the new year it is good to have new projects too. The pin is holding the stitches under the arm which will eventually be grafted to the sleeve stitches also on a pin, I am knitting it in the round.

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  9. loving the socks - gorgeous colour and pattern.

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  10. Lovely projects you've got there. Not too dissimilar to mine.
    I am not a knitter though. Way too slow, I am and it would take me a lifetime for one jumper. Lol xxx...x

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    1. I am not a particularly fast knitter and you are right it is not the fastest of crafts but I do love it ;)

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  11. What lovely projects. The top photograph especially. I am in awe. I can barely manage one project at a time. X

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    1. Thank you. I always like to have different size and types of project on the go. Some for taking out and about, others to do just at home ;)

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  12. What GORGEOUS socks! i've tried knitting socks before but they got the better of me and i threw them at the wall in a sulk... not my finest hour ;)

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    1. Thank you. Knitting in the round does take some getting used to but it is ok when you get used to it. It also helps to have a good easy well written pattern, I do think some patterns make too many assumptions and mean that unless you are really experienced they are difficult to follow.

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  13. Goodness those socks are stunning! You'll have those projects done before you know it, they are all very nice.

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    1. Thank you. I do hope so I have others waiting in the wings!

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  14. That Fair Isle design looks so pretty and I love those socks!

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    1. Thank you it has taken some time to get to that stage but it has been slow, now I need to work out those decreases!

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  15. Oh, such great projects! That purple sock yarn and those gorgeous cables!! Love. That's a project worth taking some time over. Enjoy the process!

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    1. I am really enjoying these socks I think it might be because the pattern has many rows so it seems to grow really quickly!

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  16. Well they are beautiful projects with which to start the new year, especially that jumper - oh what gorgeous colours!

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    1. Thank you Carie I am enjoying them after a short break :)

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  17. What gorgeous projects, but those socks, love them!

    I want to thank you so very much for your lovely surprise in the mail. It was a big surprise, and made my day. A letter will be coming your way shortly, but just wanted to let you know I received it. Thank you for thinking of me, it means a lot. xo

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    1. Thank you Kim. You are so welcome, I am glad it arrived safely :)

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  18. Oh, these cables! Your stitches are so knit!

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  19. I meant neat :) Haha, my knitter's subconsciousness got in the way :)

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  20. Your projects, although still unfinished, are beautiful. I like them already. And you may not be able to crochet yet but I can see that you're great at knitting. I think that's fantastic. I'm planning to make a small quilted blanket this year but will probably have to wait til the summer to get started as I still have a few projects that need finishing. X

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    1. Thank so much! Have fun with your quilting I have really enjoyed making the quilt thus far!

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  21. I bet you finish your projects now that a new healthy year has started! lovely pair of socks and such a pretty cable pattern.

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    1. Yeah I know what you mean, you get a different kind of mojo don't you, it's like I am looking at them with a new pairs of eyes ;)

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  22. You have a lot of interesting projects in progress. I really love the look of your fair isle knitting, the colors are just beautiful. I am sure you will finish everything soon. Thanks for joining in with my link party.

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    1. Thank you, it took me a while to put together the right colours but I had fun doing it. Thank you for hosting the link up!

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  23. Your projects are all so beautiful!!

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  24. Love the color choices in both of your knitting projects.

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  25. Oh my, those socks are amazing... Can't wait to see all these projects done.
    You work wonderfully.

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  26. You have made wonderful progress on your projects, especially considering the time of year, and Alice's illness. I am so glad she is better. When you described her breathing before going to hospital I was taken back in memory to when my oldest daughter was four and had pneumonia although she did not have to be hospitalized...but it was an anxious time. Here in the USA Pacific Northwest, we have had flooding after a season of drought. Several posts back I showed some photos of our driveway with a little flooding, but our property is part of a watershed project that helps to minimize flooding. Even so the elementary school three blocks from here had some flooding, which has never happened in the seven years we have lived here until now. My little granddaughters are home schoolers so they did not miss any school :) Even though I am a grandma, I feel I have much in common with you, and look forward to reading more entries in your blog so that I can better know you :) Cheering you on to healthy, happy days! xx

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Hello......would love to hear from you :)