Last year I listed a number of knitting and sewing projects I wanted to achieve for 2011.

Knitting list –
Did not knit dress – sold the wool I had stashed
Did not knit the lace weight shawl – sold the wool I had stashed
Did knit more berets but no more fetchings

Sewing resolutions
Did finish my full circle skirt which I love to wear
Did not make another frock
Did make a shift dress from Liberty material which I wore all last summer
Used three of my patchwork hexagons to decorate a bag

Knitting resolutions 2012
Finish my Vitamin D
Knit a dress

Sewing
Make a Jubilee celebration skirt out of reclaimed 70’s fabric
Make another 50’s inspired frock again out of vintage 70’s fabric
Knit/sew or crochet together my wonderful pile of knitted squares from a blanket swap for two blankets for my garden

Definitely on this gloomy Spring D, I am in need of some Vitamin D.  This cardigan was started last year!  I am determined to finish it this year!  I have added the sleeves since this photo was taken and have started the short row shaping at the bottom.

Another little shawlette in a half circle shape.  I used some Smoothie Sock yarn for this in shades of khaki and watermelon and red.  The Demiluna (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/demiluna-shawl) shawl is a lovely shape to wear over a summer jacket.

I chose Holden to knit this beautiful bright summery yarn a  generous yarn gift from a fellow knitter.  The wool is Knitting Goddess 4ply sock yarn which has cashmere in it.  An absolutely lovely yarn to knit with and a very quick pattern to knit.  I tried to leave the pattern at the bottom unblocked to keep the ruffled shape. I really love this and can’t wait to wear it. 

I love this time of the year as suddenly one week into February the days are getting longer and the sun is up earlier.  On the way to school, I spotted lots of signs of spring with new buds on trees and snowdrops in gardens.

Last week I finished a present for my sister – a Blue/Grey Baktus.  It seeemed to take a very long time to knit.  I used J C Rennie 100% lambswool bought from my current favourite wool shop in Crouch End called Nest.   I finished the ends with some beads, the centre bead is a large laborodite and there are smaller faceted laborodites and grey pearls at the ends.  This wool washes and blocks so beautifully.

I still worry about the quality of my knitting and whether or not I have got it right when I knit for others.  These items made people happy! 

They are all repeat favourite patterns, from the top –  Slouchy beret by Sandra Alice,  Cranford Mitts by Jane Lithgow,  Owlings by Kerrie James, a second slouchy beret,  Vintage beret by Sarah Hatton and I heart pompoms by Karen Borrel.  All these patterns can be found on Ravelry.

New Year – New resolutions once again.  It doesn’t seem like that long ago when I made last years.

Knitting resolutions –

To knit the Guernsey inspired dress from Knitting on Top of the World and wear it before it gets too warm

To knit a full shawl in the lace weight I have in my stash

To knit more fetchings and berets throughout the year not just in the week before Christmas! 

Stitching resolutions

To complete the full circle skirt I started in September!

To make another fifties inspired summer frock 

To make a shift tunic from my sale buy from Liberty

To use up the box of patchwork hexagons I discovered last March!

If I manage to do these I will fulfil my last resolution

To undertake activities which make me happy!

After months of leaving this knitting languishing in the bottom of my knitting bag, I got on with it and finished the sleeves and body.  On Friday, I started on the colourwork which is going really well.  I really hope to get this done by the end of October and get some wear out of it this winter.