2009 In Review

It appears that it was a rather prolific year of crafting here at chez DPUTiger. The mosaic maker can only accept 36 photos for the mosaic, and I was just under the wire with 35 finished project posts!

There are two additional projects that have been sent out for some level of finishing. You’ll see those again in 2010. Meanwhile, I was able to sew more in 2009, which is a good thing and something I hope to continue into 2010.

The final tally includes four scarfs (Noro Scarf II, Bright Stripes, JC’s Moebius, Stealth/NU Scarf), nine pairs of adult socks (Leyburns, Cloning Anemone, Holidazed, SB09, Smurf Killers, Erin’s Socks, Calvin & Ripple, Christmas Class, Holiday Holidazed), three pairs of hand coverings (Knucks, Postwar Mittens, Lychee Mittens), five quilts (Picnic Plaid, Pineapple, Baby Bargello, Pumpkinstein, Quilt for Tiffany), three bags (Bagstoppers 1, 2 and 3), five adult sweaters (Cabled Vest, Yin-Yang, Mondo Vest, Side-to-Side, Big Thaw), four baby items (Ellie’s Eco Tulip, Nephew Tulip, Baby Bobbi Bears), two Christmas Stockings, one cowl (Christmas in the Country) and a Hippopotamus.



1. Noro Scarf II, 2. Leyburn Socks, 3. Knucks, 4. Cloning Anemone Socks, 5. Holidazed Socks, 6. Cabled Vest, 7. Postwar Mittens, 8. Softball Socks 2009, 9. Picnic Plaid quilt, 10. PPPPineapple Quilt, 11. Everlasting Bagstopper, 12. Bagstopper #2, 13. Yin-Yang Bolero, 14. Baby Bargello Quilt, 15. Ellie’s Eco Tulip, 16. Nephew Tulip, 17. Smurf Killer Socks, 18. Erin’s Socks, 19. Mondo Cable Vest, 20. Bright Stripes Scarf, 21. Side-to-Side Vest, 22. JC’s Moebius, 23. Calvin & Ripple Socks, 24. Christmas Class Socks, 25. Pumpkinstein, 26. Bagstopper #3, 27. Baby Quilt for Tiffany, 28. Big Thaw, 29. Baby Bobbi Bears, 30. Lychee Mittens, 31. Christmas Stockings, 32. A Hippopotamus for Christmas, 33. Holiday Holidazed, 34. Stealth/NU Scarf, 35. Christmas in the Country Cowl

Links go to the finished object blog posts for that particular project. Thanks for playing along here at Have Projects, Will Travel and we will look to continue with more of the same in 2010! (Minus the Craptastic Summer of Suck ™ I hope. I admit to being happy that 2009 is just about in the rear-view mirror.)

I've been participating in a Ravelry STASH KAL since Labor Day, and I've used 40 skeins and 7,180 yards of stash yarn in finished projects. The KAL is re-setting on January 15. I don't plan any additional yarn purchases between now and the start of the KAL and my weakness seems to be sales (hi, Mom!). If I can stay away from sales, then a tiny bit of club yarn should be all that enters the house between now and the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival. Here's hoping I can stick to that plan!

Happy New Year everyone! Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2010 and thanks for reading my blog!

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Yesterday
Hubster and I met the parentals and Aunt Suz/Uncle Mike for dinner downtown. We saw the big parade in downtown Pittsburgh, walked over to Fifth Avenue Place, then Hubster walked around while I went with the aforementioned foursome to Pittsburgh’s First Presbyterian Church (I link simply because I was quite impressed by the building itself, and it’s a National Historical Landmark).


We were there to see the Balmoral Highlands bagpipers at the First Presbyterian Church

Hubster and I met up again at the main stage just in front of Fifth Avenue Place. Where we watched a pair of pre-teens grope each other for two hours. Seriously. I doubt either one of them was older than 16. And talk about inappropriately dressed? She was wearing a camisole top and windbreaker. In 30-degree weather. He was wearing his Central Catholic sweatshirt. Of course, they were so all over each other that they must have been “keeping each other warm.” Ewww.

Why were we there? To watch The Clarks (couldn’t get a decent pic in the dark). There was also a pretty cool display on the building (the old Hornes Building? I can never remember. It’s the one with the plaque for the flood waters on the corner), and fireworks went off atop that building at midnight.


Just after the stroke of midnight, The Clarks played their signature song (Cigarette), then we headed for the T at the Gateway Center station. It was juuust a little crowded


Believe it or not, we (obviously) didn’t make it onto this train, but we not only made it onto the very next one around the bend, but we got seats! More people got on at Wood Street, and it quickly became Sardine City. Yikes.

But, the evening was uneventful and we arrived home none the worse for wear.

Today
I finished knitting the BruWin scarf in the middle of the Penguins game, which leaves me with NOTHING on the needles. (Well, nothing that's active, at least) The scarf is in the basement, drying after a good soak, and can be fringed and properly photographed tomorrow.

The rest of the plan for tonight is to pick a yarn/pattern for my next pair of socks, and to start finishing sweaters!

Tomorrow
Well, literally, tomorrow is Hurricane Knitters, and I’m looking forward to that.

But in a more general sense, I’m going to take to heart a suggestion that I read somewhere within the last week or so. January is going to be Finishing Month.

My plan is to start, today, with my purple V-neck. It just needs one armpit seam. You've seen these pictures before. This is just a refresher.


Next in line will probably be my Countess, which just needs a bit of seaming and end-weaving


Haven’t decided what’s next for finishing after that, but I have at least one, probably two more winter sweaters that just need a little finishing work to be up and running.

I’m not going to go nuts and just finish everything in sight (that’s 11 sweaters at last count) for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, about half of those sweaters are warmer weather shells. I don’t need those right now. I need warm winter sweaters!

Secondly, I have three sweaters in my queue right now that are winter sweaters that am really itching to knit. Cobblestone for the Hubster. The neck-down pullover for me (photo on front page). And my Mountain Colors Twizzle sweater. At least those first two are knit in the round and will require very minimal finishing. Hooray!

OK. Off to get finishing. Wish me luck!