>I have nearly finsihed the main body of Vivienne. It would have been done today but I knitted the back then realised that I had missed off ten stitches so I had to rip it back. I have absolutely no idea how it happenned but then my brains not one hundred percent at the minute. Currently most of my knitting is done in the early hours of the morning when I can’t sleep.
Daughter loved her socks and wants more as these are the only ones that keep her feet warm. This is a double edged sword as I now have a willing recipient but I’m not a huge fan of knitting socks. I am going to try and knit some patterned ones.

I have also finally managed to finish the left front of Dominika from Rowan Magazine 48. I am undecided as to whether I should knit a sleeve next or the other front.

When I’m not up to knitting I’ve been doing some embellishing on the christmas stockings I bought to make for christmas just gone. I msilaid them so am sewing them now ready for this year. A bit early but hey

>Well I’m 11 days post op from a total hysterectomy and am currently going through a surgical menopause. This has seriously hindered my 2011 progress as I get so tired and lethhargic. Sometimes it’s an effort to hold a cup let alone knit!
I have decided to amend the listso that there are two items per letter where I was torn between a garment and an accessory. I figured as long as I knit one item per letter it won’t matter much. I have a few projects on the go but am getting a case of startitus as I need to finish something. I need to learn some patience.
Here are photos of the progress of some of the items
D for Dominika the first front am on the collar part

and the back. This is knitted in the GORGEOUS Rowan Felted Tweed Aran

V is for Vivienne from the lovely Kim Hargreaves book Precious
I have adpated the pattern and am knitting it in the round in the soft Rowan Cashsoft 4Ply. This is for my eldest daughter who doesn’t normally let me knit for her so it had to be made.

Q is for Quack first completed project
this is knitted in Rowan Pure Wool DK and is from Cute Knits for Little Feet

O is for Odette Blanket for a friend. This is a field of dreams blanket. It works on the premise knit a baby blanket for a friend and the baby will come. It has worked previously.Knitted in Rowan Baby Soft

J is for Jazz Socks for daughter munber twoe. I love the colours in this yarn. The pattern is an Erika Knight one from Knitting Magazine Supplement

I am so tempted to start another project. MY friend Aryn sent me the pattern and yarn to knit a cosy cable cowl which only takes an hour . I need to finish something. I haven’t crafted this little since well, I can’t remember.

>My main target for 2011 is to use as much of my stash as I can. I have already destashed 2kgs of yarn to a friend who offered to knit a couple of tops for me. There are two possibilities I have in mind to achieve this.
Option one is to knit my way through the book 60 Quick Knits a mixture of Hats , mittens and scarves http://www.sixthandspringbooks.com/images/cascade220-PB-250.jpg

Or knit my way through the Alphabet from A – Z using whatever pattern takes my fancy.

I have a list of possibilities some are already WIPs others are ones that have been on my list for a while.

The prospective list is
A Alisa Wrap from Rowan magazine 48 (the yarn for this is all kitted up ready to go)
B Bloody Socks from Vampire Knits or Beret & Socks from Baby Cashmerino 3
C Cocoon from The Knitter Magazine Issue 28
D DOMINIKA from Rowan Magazine 48 WIP
E Eyelet Scarf from 60 Quick Knits
F Fetching from Knitty.com
G Goodwill from Cherished
H Hottie from Rowan Mag 32
I Inbetween season hat from 101 Designer Knits
J JAZZ SOCKS form Knitting WIP
K Kat from Precious
L Lucy Locket Dress from Baby Cashmerino 3
M Mystery Blanket 2011
N Normandy Cushion The Knitter Issue 27
O Oriel Lace Scarf. 101 Designer Skeins
P Plaid Mittens. 60 Quick Knits
Q QUACK SOCKS COMPLETED
R Ronnie from Precious
S SUBSCRIBER CUSHION 4 from The Knitter
T Tamara Gloves Rowan Magazine 48 (already kitted up)
U Umoo from The Knitter by Just Call Me Ruby
V VIVIENNE form Precious WIP
W Willow Leaves from Simply Knitting 77
X Xian Knit Kimono Jacket
Y Year round little Cardigan
Z Zigzag scarf 60 Quick Knits

Photos will be updated as knitted

>I’ve been off my game lately and not updated my blog for quite a while.
Longer than I had realised.
2011 is another year of shopping from the stash. I was part of the Shop the Stash group on Ravelry last year this year it’s called Stash Control 2011. One of the members dared us to calculate how much yardage we knitted last year and how much we had left in our stash in yardage to years.
Now I know I have a lot of lace weight yarn and Rowan Kidsilk Haze but I was stunned when I worked it out. I have 19 years worth of yarn if I go by last years yardage.
When I’d looked at in weight I only had abouyt 6 years so this has really shocked me into submission,
I have just had a hysterectomy so I shall finish this post or add another later.
tootle pips

>Well I am feeling very positive at the moment. I am doing a good job this month of destashing. I have sold all my RYC Natural Silk Aran and some of my Rowan Summer Tweed. I gave all my odd skeins of Summer Tweed to a friend who is knitting loads of Kaffe Fassett cushions in it. I had lots of summer tweed because I had fallen in love with a couple of Kaffe Fasset throws but I know I will never get around to knitting them. Debbie Abrahams has spoilt me and I will only knit blankets in strips now. I have sorted out some Scottish Tweed Aran for a friend who knits for me. She is going to knit me the Twist and Shout jacket by Robyn from purlescense.
My current WIPs are …deep breath….
Mystery Blanket 2010
Citron shawl in Handmaiden silk lace
Saroyan in possum handpainted
Fi
The Knitter subscriber mystery cushion number 4

Hubbies chunky cable and rib sweater – only one and a bit arm to go
Nephews monkey scarf
Fiddlestick mittens- this is a project I would not have attempted if my friend in Canada had not sent it to me. I am loving it and my stranding is pretty impressive even if I do say so myself.

A pair of socks in Kaffe Fassett striped yarn
Teatime blanket
Building block blanket
Odette baby blanket
Four seasons blanket
Earth stripe wrap
I have sorted through one small pile of mags and am destashing these as well and have sorted out 12 to sell. As well as destashing for the space I have a wedding to contribute to, eldest daughter

>I have decided to restart my blog and chart My Stash and how I am trying to shop from it this year. I shall try and be very good and use only from stash but I have fallen off the wagon and bough some more sock yarn. Things are a bit manic at the moment but I shall try to update at least fortnightly