Off to a good start

I've begun 2011 by finishing a knitting project in the very first  week of the year: a zigzag striped scarf. It's based on a pattern by Debbie Bliss from the book Scarf Style. I varied it a bit, making random 12-row stripes and, of course, not using wool. After blocking it came out to be roughly 60 by 6 inches. The yarns are Classic Elite's Firefly and Allegoro.

I finished something!

 

Here is my rendition of the popular Springtime Bandit scarf/shawl pattern, made with Bonnie's Bamboo from One Planet Yarn and Fiber.

I've learned a lot making this and now view charts with something close to enthusiasm.

Lace knitting

 
After a recent knitting class where I learned to read charts in lace patterns, I'm making good progress on Kate Gagnon Osborn's Springtime Bandit I'm using slightly lighter weight yarn so it will probably turn out to be a scarf rather than a shawl.

Souvenir of Maine

When in Maine earlier in November I got some fluffy cotton yarn--Colinette Fandango, purchased at Heavenly Socks in Belfast:



Here is the resulting improvised scarf:

Tending to my knitting

I have project updates and yarn updates, and the yarn is growing faster than I can knit!
In the project department:
1. I have finished my scarf:


2. I have started and made good progress on a sweater/top for myself. It's a modified version of Pioneer (from Knitty.com), using TLC cotton plus:

The photo is a bit blurred, sorry.

In the yarn department:
1. I got some fabulous Flock Bransonas cotton-bamboo yarn in a swap package from a Ravelry pal:

Yarn detail:

2. I signed up for Whimsy Pinzy's hand dyed cotton yarn club and have 2 yarns so far:
"A Night In"

and Watermelon Sangria:

Every month is a fun surprise!

Lots of progress

The knitting marches on (that scarf photo showed 2.5 repeats and now I've done 5!) in spite of the call of the yard, and even (after the electric hedge trimmer literally went up in smoke) the hardware store. A late afternoon thunderstorm helped me carve out some more knitting time. Could I possibly turn into a lace knitter?

New Projects

I'm still not quite done with those socks (need to perfect my toe-weaving technique on something heavier than sock yarn) but I have 2 more projects underway.
I'm using the Farmhouse Yarns Bonnie's Bamboo that I bought at Heavenly Socks last month to make a narrower version of Veronik Avery's Lace Ribbons Scarf:





It's coming along well, thanks to the encouragement of my Ravelry friends.

My other new project is a new pair of socks:





in Crystal Palace's Panda Cotton from Unique One, using a free CP pattern: Mehehune Cobblestones

Finished scarf

Here it is--the finished scarf! Crocheted scallops turned out to be the best finish for the edges. It's beautifully soft. The color of the jacket in the photo is a bit off; it's a darker bronzy brown and the scarf's colors look really nice with it.

Still knitting

I haven't felt like I've had much to post lately, because I keep redoing the end of a little scarf over and over. It's mistake stitch rib, in a variegated synthetic chenille with a nice feel but no structure. I want the ends to flair slightly and look decorative but so far nothing is quite right. Perhaps crocheted scallops?