One of my new year resolutions is to get my stash down and I have decided that if I do not have the yarn or fabric for a project I cannot make it. However as I cannot lift more than two kilos I cannot raid my stash properly. This has led to my interesting prospects as I pick up the yarn I can reach and then see what pattern I can make from it. Another good thing is that I don’t agonise for hours over which colour to choose. A good example is the Otto Cardigan from the last post. If I’d had access to my Aran box I would have probably chosen cream or pink.
However it is my nephews birthday in the beginning of February and I have a Tardis Hat to make him and I can only reach the blue I need so I will need to buy a ball of grey Aran even though I have a full pack buried deep in my stash. I don’t have any other suitable colours handy to use instead either so this will be the only one I will be buying for. All other birthdays are after I am able to lift again and this was the only one with a specific project so no more yarn purchases, I promise.

I am very pleased to say I have finished my first project for 2014 a cardigan for the lovely Zhara .I finished it on Friday and only need to add a button and popper. The pattern used was Otto Day Cardigan, a nice quick and easy pattern. The only change I made was to knit the sleeves flat. The pattern can be found here: http://www.threadandladle.com/2013/01/knitting-pattern-double-breasted-baby.html.
I used 4.5mm needles as my tension is normally loose when I knit with Cashsoft. I used Rowan Cashsoft Aran in a lime green and just under 100 g.

Yarn in 0
Yarn out knitted 100g
Yarn out sold/donated 3100g
Total -3200g

I had a thought yesterday. I want to make a knitted memory blanket for Harry so that when he is an adult he will have a lovely throw just for him. I was going to knit a square to match the pattern in each of the garments I had made then I discovered the sock yarn blanket on Ravelry,

http://www.shellykang.com/all-about-the-blankie

It use your oddments of sock yarn but says it can be made in any yarn. I like the idea of this, as it is smaller squares and more of a proper patchwork patchwork. I can also use the smallest amounts of yarn. I may change my mind about the blanket I will make, but one thing is certain a memory blanket will be made

2013 has been an interesting year with lots of highs and lows.A constant high in my life is my wonderful grandson Harry and we had the news this year that he is to be joined by a baby brother or sister in June 2014. A low was having my surgery cancelled four times and then finally having it in November. I already feel better for it and once I am back to full strength in March will get back to my old self so in this respect it is both a high and a low.
Another high for 2013 was teaching my first knitting workshops. I’ve taught sewing ones for a while which I love but didn’t feel confident enough to teach a group of people knitting. I am fine teaching one or two people one on one but a group terrified me. I was soon put in my place by one of my managers who said and I quote “with the greatest of respect Jenny that’s hogwash”. I taught my first few and they went really well thank you for those who have supported me.
To round up I have to say that regardless of the bumps that come long the road I feel incredibly lucky. I have food in the cupboard, a roof over my head and a lovely family. I have enough yarn and fabric to last my lifetime and a well trained cat who knows not to touch any of it. I am relatively sane and fit and am looking forwarding to walking, knitting and sewing more in 2014,