A few handknit FOs

Looking over my ravelry page, I haven't finished many projects this year. I can say that I love each project I've finished, and the desire to knit hasn't faded, after eight years. And I'm still learning new things, which is thrilling. For instance, I learned brioche this year.

As part of exploration station, I used lots of treasured yarns and that brioche section is my favorite part. It was challenging at first, but now I'd love to knit a project entirely in brioche stitch.

This shawl is giant, and I still haven't managed to get modeled photos (but we do still have pretty warm temperatures here in Houston).

I also just learned how to make a pom pom. I've tried once before, but this time I used the Clover tool (a gift from Amber), and now I want to pom pom everything.

Just look! yeah, pom poms rule. This hat is Sara's pattern: Nicke's Hat. Highly recommend!

Finally, I made a second Iz cowl, by Andi Satterlund.

This is such a great squishy cowl and I wear the first one I made as often as possible in appropriate weather.

So yeah, that's the latest finishes in knitting. I'm working on another pompom hat now, so I'll share that soon!

A backlog of knits

I haven't shared knitting here in months, even though there's been lots of knitting.

Most recently, I finished an Elis cowl, a free pattern using a new-to-me stitch, Indian cross stitch. It's very simple (although it took a little getting used to), and I think it's lovely in this semi-solid Madeline Tosh Sport.

I've also been working on the Ysolda mystery shawl, Follow your arrow. I'm nearly finished (although those last rows seem to take ages to complete! I have this and another shawl still on the back burner.

I knit this fingering-weight hat, the Serpentine, and promptly gifted it to a sweet friend.

I kept this one (Facets for myself, though. It's gotten lots of wear in the last few months!

This three-year-old pair of socks finally got finished. I really want to be a sock knitter. But they just drag for me.

Finally, I knit Andi's Iz cowl. And I actually got good use of it this winter. Note: this picture was not taken in Houston, but in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with actual snow!

This year, I made a goal for myself to stash LESS. Note I'm not saying NONE! My rule is that I can purchase one skein for each three that I use. So far, there have been no yarn purchases for the year. I've used enough (and destashed a few) to buy, but I'm really attempting to use the yarn I have, which is abundant. It's been a great incentive to knit more often!