Finished in 2009.

Well, I know the list is not long but I only started to knit seriously in thesecond half of 2009...

Happy knitting in 2010 Everyone!

My very first shawl; free pattern.

Finally, this shawl is done as well. It was a big fun to knit and I'm very happy with the way it came out. Someone on Ravelry asked me about the pattern. Well, I didn't have a proper pattern for this shawl but I felt highly inspired by few photos I saw on Ravelry. It is my very first shawl and it was a good exercise for me. Here is what I did (it's more "my projects notes" than a proper pattern but I hope I can help someone)

I casted on 5 sts.
First row (RS): k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1. 9 sts
Second and every row on WR: purl

Then I just kept increasing number of sts on RS by YO: k2, yo, knit to the centre, yo, k1, yo, knit to the last 2 sts, yo, k2

Because knitting in stocking stitch sometimes gets boring, every six or seven rows I knit on WR instead of purling. This way the shawl looks more interesting.

Knit the last 3 rows. Bind off. Block and enjoy.

My very first shawl.
Pattern: my head
Yarn: unknown
Needles:US7/ 4.5mm

Recent finished objects.

I haven't been a good knitter recently. Getting ready for Christmas didn't left too much time for my knitting passion. I have completely failed to finish Christmas cable sweater for C. It is sitting in my basket, untouched for the past two weeks or so. The front piece with cables came out very tight, much tighter than it was supposed to so I have to do it all over again...

But I did finish few things.
This hat, for exaple. Wasn't on my list at all but one day it was so cold here in Genoa that I knew I needed a warmer hat for little G. I also had some leftover yarn and since I don't really like to waste anything I decided to knit a nice warm hat out of it. It only took one evening to finish it. And in the end there was still some yarn left so I turned it into a pom-pom. And here it is:

Pom-pom hat for Baby G.
Pattern from: my head
Yarn: Jamieson's Shetland Heather
Needles: US6/ 4.0 mm

I also managed to finish Teddy bear for G. Just in time for Christmas. I did enjoy knitting all the pieces but it was a real pain to sew them all together. I admit, I cried. I wanted to throw this thing away. I lost hopes I could ever be a good knitter. Once again I understood that I just hate seaming. After few hours of fighting with needle and stitches and after few glasses of wine, this little guy was finally done. And he looked at me with his buttony eyes like he was sorry for all that troubles he'd caused. So I felt sorry too. And what's most important: G. seems to like him so it was all worth my work.

Teddy
Pattern: Mr. Bean Bear by Sarah Bradberry
Yarn: Laines du Nord Giunco
Needles: US 2½ / 3.0 mm
Modifications: I made the arms much shorter as I was running out of yarn.

Knitting cables is fun.

This is Elliot- a pattern I've been knitting now. It was published in a supplement to the November 09 issue of Knitting Magazine that M. sent me from London. When I saw this pattern for the first time, I knew strightaway I wanted to knit it. The pattern calls for quite expensive Rowan Colourscape Chunky yarn; I'm knitting it with cheaper but still nice Sirdar Tweedie Chunky.

It's my first cable project and I find knitting cables not as difficult as I thought. Actually, it's kind of fun.

I have modifed this project a bit- I omitted ribbed edges because C. doesn't like them. I do like the result so far but I'm so slow with my knitting that I almost feel embarassed...

Some new yarn and works in progress.

Some more new yarn in my stash... I got 7 skeins of this wonderful Filtes King Baby from C. It's fingering weight but I will be knitting it double- I already made a swatch and it does look great. I don't know what I am going to knit with it yet and anyway, with all the projects started already, I will have to wait until I'm ready to use this yarn.

Filtes King Color Baby
Gauge: 27 st/35 rows
Needles: US 2½ - 4 / 3 - 3.5mm

Also, my Sirdar Tweedie arrived. I'm going to knit a Christmas sweater for C. and I hope that 12 skeins are enough for this project. I already started it few days ago and it knits nicely although I'm not a big fan of Sirdar yarn. The project I chose is "Elliot" but I will write more about it in my next post (I need to scan some photos first). I do like the color of this yarn:

Sirdar Tweedie Chunky
Gauge: 14st/ 19 rows
Needles: US 10.5/ 6.5mm

A piece of back of new sweater:

And some more works in progress:
My very first shawl (or rather shawlette) is almost completed. I've got only one skein of yarn left. I'm happy with the result. It's been a good shawl-knitting exercise, maybe now I wil try to do something more complicated like lace shawl. I love Travelling Woman pattern but I still feel a bit lost while reading the charts.

Little Sister's Dress by Tora Frøseth. Half of it it's done and I hope to finish it before Christmas.... I love this pattern. If I have more time I might knit yet another one.

Mr. Bean Bear by Sarah Bradberry, my first knitted toy for G. I can't wait to finish it and see it done, hope it is going to be one cute little bear! There are lots of pieces to knit which is fun but thinking about sewing them all up together is already giving me a headache... (I so hate sewing up the seams...). This time my seams look neat and tidy- thanks to some explanation of my dear friend. I hope it makes the process of joining the seams easier... So far I've got body, legs and one arm parts done.

And Boheme by Allegra Wermuth that has been on my needles since September, I think. I'd love to finally finish it before Christmas. It's in a deep red color and I think that G. would look very nice and "Christmasy" in it.