2nd Annual Knit & Crochet blog week {DAY 2}

Skill + 1UP – 2KCBWDAY2

Look back over your last year of projects and compare where you are in terms of skill and knowledge of your craft to this time last year. Have you learned any new skills or forms of knitting/crochet (can you crochet cable stitches now where you didn’t even know such things existed last year? Have you recently put a foot in the tiled world of entrelac? Had you even picked up a pair of needles or crochet hook this time last year?.

As I mentioned in my first post of this series, I have just started to officially knit this past September.

Having watched my mom knit and crochet for as long as I can remember, I was intrigued.  I figured I'd give it a shot, it couldn't be that hard right?  The first time I picked up knitting needles I was excited to be working on a scarf for me.  I was so bored by the time I got half way through it and gave up.  The second time I thought I'd give it a try I started knitting yet another scarf for my sister this time.  BORED! I didn't finish it....I think it's still on the needles in my closet.  So this last time in September when I picked up some needles again, I told myself I wasn't going to make a scarf - I needed something more difficult.  I decided to make a sweater for my daughter.

It was a struggle to get this finished - it's just basic garter stitch and I was getting bored but I wanted to see it through to the finished product so I did.  I finished the sweater for my daughter and it didn't fit! :(  It was too small.  My first lesson in sizing - I knit small.

My second project - I decided I'd try something a little more challenging.  I decided to make a pair of socks for my daughter.  I really enjoyed making these.  I liked the challenge of a different technique.  I enjoyed making them so much I decided to make a pair for my little guy that was still cooking in my belly

Socks for H

Socks for baby boy 

Next I decided to make a hat for my niece along with matching gloves.  Again first time working on a round, or making gloves.  It was a learning experience but it was fun!

A hat for my daughter was next with a matching pair of mittens.

Hat (I don't have a picture of the mittens, and she has since misplaced them!)

I decided then that I wanted to make my sister a sweater as her Christmas present.  I picked the sweater and started at it.  It was a fairly easy knit but I hadn't done anything of it's size before and I underestimated how long it would take me (all the while, I gave birth to my son) it didn't quite get done in time.  Oh well she understood!

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of this sweater.  I really should get a few of my sister wearing it, she does wear it often.

Next I wanted a break from the big projects and decided to go back to hats, I was looking at making my little boy (E) a winter hat.  I had to knit him three hats before I finally got the right size!  How frustrating!!! but I did it and he wore it all winter long!  Don't worry, the other hats are going to be used! I've got two baby showers coming up! :)

Then it was hubby's turn to receive something.  He needed a winter hat so I knit him up a really nice hat.  Again I forgot to take pictures of it, I'll have to do that too!

Next up, a sweater for E!  Yup I make a lot of stuff for other people, I still don't have anything knit for myself!

And now I'm working on pants and a baby blanket.  So the reason for posting all the things that I've created since September to show that I've really taken a big step into this knitting thing.  I don't shy away from projects and I LOVE the thrill of doing something that I haven't created before.  I have definitely gotten better since the first sweater I knit for Hannah that didn't fit.  So I'm pretty happy with my progress! :)