What I learned in 2010

Okay, I know I just did my end of year post - but that was for normal stuff, not my "creative" side!  LOL

When I learned to knit in Oct. 2009, I had no idea that I would enjoy it as much as I do.  I learned to crochet right before moving to Iowa in 2003, but that's my extent of yarn history.  So, when I got bit by the yarn bug I was a bit surprised, then decided I needed to challenge myself and learn some new stuff.

I learned to knit socks.  I love hand knit socks.  Who knew (other than knitters) how absolutely wonderful they are to wear?  In order to satisfy my need for uniformity, I knit them both at the same time on the same needles.  It would drive me batty if one was even 1 row longer than the other.  I know, I'm wierd...especially when you see how unruly my house is  LOL

My first two paris of socks

 Pair #3 - it's an alpaca blend that turned out too big :(

I will have to re-knit with smaller needles

 Pair #4 has no toes - they are pedicure socks. 

Put them on before they paint your toes and your feet will stay warm.  Perfect for cold weather pedi's!  These were a gift for my SIL

Pair #5 - first true lace socks. 

I had to learn how to read a charted pattern for these. 

Oh, and they were knit from my own hand-dyed yarn...Bonus!!!

I learned so much more this year, besides socks: 

I learned how to knit in the round by making hats

I made several hats, but Bubba would kill me if I posted the pics of him modeling them!

I learned how to cable, making my MIL some hand knit cabled legwarmers

I learned how to "felt" a wool project - on purpose!

I did NOT felt the cat...but I did felt the bag. 

(the cats were not harmed in any way by my felting or knitting...Tigger just likes the camera's ANY attention)



I learned all about yarn swapping, and learned to swap out "yarn minis" like a pro. I also learned that when you are trying to find a scale that measures in the tenths of grams, you need to specify CLEARLY what it is that you are weighing so they don't think that you are a drug dealer.  (yes, I got a few weird looks)

But why would I want to cut up my pretty yarn into 20 "minis" and swap them with other yarnies, you ask? 

So that my itsy-bitsy sock yarn blankie will grow into a big couch-sized blankie

 
 
I think the last, and maybe the BEST thing I learned this year was how to dye my own yarn.  It's like coloring with a little chemistry for big kids! 
   

All of the yarn I have dyed has been cut into minis and swapped out, with the exception of this last one, "orange creamsicle"

 While I have never been a big fan of the color orange, I love how the yarn turned out.  I knitted it up into the socks shown above and L-O-V-E them! 

Well friends, that's all I've learned in 2010 as it relates to my craftiness.  I have not stamped or scrapbooked ANYTHING in at least a couple years...it's all packed away, and I don't really sew or quilt, although I have a sewing machine and would like to learn (I still have my unfinished quilt I started when we were first married). 

What does 2011 hold for me and my yarn?  I am not sure, but there is so much to learn...I'm sure I can fit it in somewhere between socks and dye pots!