and knitting: ...and knitting's Year in Review

It's that time of the year again, when all publishers look for a lazy way to get some content out there before the new year. I am no different, so I bring you my year in review. Yeah, this is somewhat redundant with what I posted in response to that meme that went around a couple of months ago. Oh well.

...and knitting's year in review

Favorite Knitting News Headline:
Baptist women knit scarves, bake cookies for exotic dancers
Now I know where to send that Bernat Disco! Sadly the link to the full story appears to be dead, but you get the idea.

Favorite Project:
The tubular camisole (pattern by Glampyre Knits - Stefanie Japel). I loved loved loved knitting this project, and I actually wear it.

Most Annoying Project:
I'm going to have to go with the Pulli mit Rüsche from Rebecca. Who knows what my problem is? I like the yarn, the pattern isn't difficult; I just can't seem to finish it.

Favorite Knit I Didn't Get to Knit:
The Circular Shrug. Luckily I found it on the clearance rack at Urban Outfitters yesterday.

Most Useful New Skill:
Knitting with double pointed needles. I'm very glad I got over my neurotic fear of these, because it's really fun to knit mittens. Will 2006 be the year I decide to go against my earlier vow to never knit socks?

Favorite Yarn:
As I said in that meme, it would be Brown Sheep Co.'s Lamb's Pride (worsted). The colors are great and the price is right.

Worst Yarn:
I know a lot of people love their yarn, but I have to say Knit Picks' Merino Style. I just don't think this yarn feels that nice. If I'm going to spend a lot of time knitting something I want to use a yarn that really appeals to me. This just isn't it.

Favorite Knitting Store (online):
This is a tie between kpixie and Knit Happens. They both ship amazingly fast and have great product selections.

Favorite Knitting Store (LYS):
Can't say I have one. There are a couple of stores near me that I frequent, but they both leave a lot to be desired in terms of their staff and ambience. I honestly have to say that I never look forward to a trip to the LYS.

Favorite Knitting Book:
Loop-d-Loop. I haven't knit anything from it yet, but there are at least a couple projects from it on my to knit list.

Favorite Knitting Reference Site:
KnittingHelp is great to visit when you need to refresh your memory about a knitting technique. I especially like the increases and decreases pages.

Favorite Group Blog:
Crafting Japanese
I quite like Japanese knitting and crafting books and Crafting Japanese lets you see what is inside before you buy. Or, you can just use it for a vicarious shopping thrill like I do.

Favorite Knit Blog-Related Tool(s):
How did I keep up with everyone before RSS feeds? I suppose I was using these before this year, but 2005 was the year that almost all knit bloggers seemed to enable them.

Favorite Knit Blog-Related Site:
Technorati overcame some of the issues they had earlier in the year and has become incredibly useful to my knit blog browsing. Their recent improvements are well designed and they have some interesting things in development (though unfortunately, the tag for knitting no longer seems to appear in the latter. Perhaps that is because knit bloggers linking and tagging habits seem to be quite different from that of the rest of the blog world).

Goal for the rest of 2005:
Finish the mystery knit and the frilled sweater.

Goals for 2006:
1. Stop being angsty about learning new techniques.
2. Knit a sweater of my own design.

I guess that's it for now because I have to go finish my Christmas shopping. Happy Holidays everyone!

Comments

I have to agree with you on your favorite yarn! Brown Sheep never disappoints me and it's what my daughter is using to knit her first project -- a pink and green striped scarf (using Stitch n Bitch as her inspiration). Anyway -- thank you for sharing and Happy Holidays! I hope that 2006 brings you everything your heart desires including a sweater of your own design! (I'll test knit it for you! LOL!!)

Posted by: Janet | December 23, 2005 at 10:36