2012 In Review

Last year was nothing like I thought it would be, but what year ever turns out as expected?

 I intended to knit 12 pairs of socks. I knit four (five if you count the man-socks as one pair each). I knit a hat early in the year, some shawls/wraps, then didn’t finish much for quite a while. There were two sewing projects for SpaceCadet’s InterStellar Yarn Alliance. A pair of baby quilts. More weaving.

My mom died in August, and I didn’t knit another stitch for the rest of the year, although my knitting needles have gotten back into the action in the last month. In all of its less-than-expected glory, here are my finished projects from 2012

1. Dawn Gnot Socks, 2. Koolhaas Hat, 3. Sweet Tomato Foot Ovens, 4. Gaskell Shawl (name of shawl was changed from Cranford to Gaskell by designer), 5. I.B. Footsie, 6. Ginormous Man Socks, 7. SpaceCadet Notions Bags, 8. Northwestern Baby Quilts, 9. Wiggle Wrap, 10. Color Affection, 

11. Rag Rugs, 12. Rainbow Rep Weave Placemats, 13. Dad’s Doubleweave Blanket.

2011 In Review

Ahh, yes. Time to look back at the year that was.

As I created this photo-mosaic, it became very clear very quickly that I didn’t get much done during the first half of the year. Really, only those first four pictures are of things that were finished before July 4. And if the blanket hadn’t been done in a class, there would have only been three things finished during the first six months.

The first six months of the year saw me really and truly buried with freelance writing assignments. And colds. I was sick four times last winter, with the last bout in early April forcing me to call in sick for my shift at the yarn store. You know you’re really sick when you can’t get out of bed to go play with yarn.

When you live in Freelance Land, lots of work is good. But too much work isn't great either. I had far too many days where I woke up in the morning, wrote like a madwoman, took a few breaks for meals and went to bed. Weeks went by without me having any time to touch my crafts, and that's not good for anybody.

The summer months were less productive than I would have liked thanks to the the ongoing renovations at my house. The sewing area was boxed up and moved out of the way to accommodate the installation of a new air conditioner, new ductwork to go along with it, and various and assorted electrical work to accommodate the changes we made to our house. It was a disruptive summer, but we still adore our contractor (and architect!) and are beyond happy with the finished project, so there is absolutely no question that all the upset was worth it.

The finished list of projects include three pairs of socks, three quilts, five weaving projects, a pair of mittens, three toys, two shawls, two sweaters, a hat, and a cowl. Oh, and a house.

Enjoy this little trip down memory lane:



1. Northman Mittens II, 2. Bunny Rabbit, 3, Cleopatra’s Socks, 4. Double Weave Blanket,
5. Margarethe, 6. Oakland Shawl, 7. Softball Socks 2011, 8. Bagstopper #5, 9. Rep Weave Mug Rugs, 10. Dishtowels, 11. Rep Weave Placemats, 12. Copper Collage, 13. Squares Quilt,
14. Penn State Fibonacci Stripes Blanket, 15. Kogarashi Sweater, 16. McHenry,
17. Annabella’s Cowl, 18. Jerry, the Musical Monkey, 19. Steelers Hat, 20. Holidazed III,
21 & 22. Mary’s Quilts, 23. House Renovation.

2010 In Review

While I didn’t get as much sewing done as I’d hoped in 2010, I once again enter the new year hopeful that I can make stuff with the large quantity of supplies that reside in my basement. There’s a nearly finished quilt down there you’ll hopefully see sooner, rather than later. At a minimum, I’m quite behind on baby quilts and need to remedy that problem.

Weaving became part of HPWT in late June, when Mom and I purchased a loom. Of course, we didn’t learn how to use the darn thing until Mom and I went to Mecca The Mannings in August for Beginning Weaving Week.

Knitting will always be around, as it is still my only truly portable hobby. It still dominates the finished projects list. Much like Noah’s Ark, that list seems to include a lot of 2’s: 2 cowls, 2 hats, 2 pairs of hand coverings, 2 vests, 2 toy projects and 2 shawls (my first!) in addition to a toddler jumper, an adult sweater, 3 pairs of socks (that’s all?!?!!), 8 weaving projects and three “other” projects, all knitted, including a möbius, the felted door mitten and a Bagstopper.

The following links go to the blog post for the corresponding finished project:

1. Stonehenge Neck Warmer, 2. Sherbrooke Cowl, 3. Hybrid Hat I, 4. Northman Mittens, 5. Alexis Vest, 6. Shawl That Jazz, 7. Brittany Jumper, 8. Gumdrop Socks, 9. Scylla Socks, 10. Softball Socks 2010, 11. Celtic Cabled Slipover, 12. Mondo Cable Pulli, 13. Class Dishtowels, 14. Twill Sampler, 15. Class Scarf, 16. Farmhouse Scarf, 17. Fuzzy Feet, Redux, 18. Daybreak Shawl, 19. Herringbone Möbius, 20. Felted Door Mitten, 21. Nate the Snake, 22. Give a Hoot, 23. Navy/Green Woven Scarf, 24. Karen’s Christmas Scarf, 25. Scott’s Christmas Scarf, 26. Euan’s Christmas Scarf, 27. Erin’s Bagstopper, 28. Knucks for Jeff, 29. Jeff’s Watch Cap.

Thanks to all of you for reading my little blog. I’ve been terrible about returning the favor in recent months, something I hope to rectify in the new year.

I hope all of you had an enjoyable holiday season and I wish you and your loved ones a happy, healthy and safe 2011.

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!