I know I wasn't supposed to ...

At the beginning of the year, I had decided not to start anything new until I finished a few things. Well, that lasted about 30 seconds. There's just something fun and awesome, something energizing, about starting a new project.

In March, I caved and started a baby blanket for a hypothetical baby. No one is pregnant yet, but there is ... hope. (It's not me, so there will not be a bunch of baby pics on here; my brother and sister-in-law are trying.) Since I likely won't know about the pregnancy until they are at least 3 months along, and I figure a baby shower would happen around the 7-8 month mark, well, then that means I'd only have 3-5 months to get the blanket done. We all know I am not efficient at getting projects done, so I figured I should start now and work on it as I can.

So, my sister-in-law's favourite colour is orange. My least favourite colour is orange. This might be a bit of a struggle for me. However, I wound up some gorgeous Hazel Knits Lively DK in Carnelian.

I found a really pretty (and simple) lace baby blanket pattern called the Pine Forest Baby Blanket. and started on the border. Love me some garter stitch!

I struggled on the first lace repeat or two, but finally got the hang of it and it's starting to look good!

I still think it's going to take months to complete, but I'm aiming to knit two rows a day. It is growing!

Still Stitching?

I haven't totally abandoned cross stitching. Really! I haven't!

I just haven't had the time or focus to work on anything, plus I've been a little in love with knitting. Thanks to my stitchy friends though I am occasionally forced to stitch, which reminds me how much I do love it!

Over the course of a weekend retreat in February and a stitchy night in April, I made a little progress on a few things.

I've made a fair bit of progress on Stitchin' Pretty Waffles by Pattie Bennett:

And a tiny bit of progrss on my Welcome sign by Kincavel Krosses:

Even though I have barely stitched in the last year, I certainly haven't let that stop me from adding to my stash. I blame this on my friend Caroline. (Check out her blog here. She's full of crafty goodness!) She's been working on the pattern Amtrak by Sampler Cove Designs for a while and it is LOVELY! So I finally bought it and the floss I want to use (some gorgeous Dinky Dyes silk). Still need to decide on fabric though ... and a start date.

Back to Basics

Back in March and April I was very busy and struggling to do much crafting at all. I just did not have the time or concentration to work on some of my more complicated projects. So, I started making dishcloths.

Also, there was a sale at Michael's on cotton yarn.

Which sparked the idea to make a "flower" dishcloth (aka The Almost Lost Dishcloth). I had to figure out how to do short rows (without a wrap and turn), so it wasn't a totally mindless knit.

Once I was done knitting, it sat unfinished for quite a while, until I finally taught myself how to kitchener garter stitch (not that I'd ever kitchener'd stockinette before either)... and voila!

This was followed by several more straightforward dishcloths in varying sizes. This pattern is the Corrugated Cloth.

Regular size - 40 stitch CO

Mini size - 25 stitch CO

I've also given a few others away without taking pictures of them. Think I might need to cast on another one ...