2010, Year of ?

Well, 2009 was a very sad year here, starting and ending. The whole year was about loss, and I now look forward to the new year with hope. The new creation of springtime is right around the corner, dancing in the corners of my mind, teasing me. The anticipation has begun to build--I'm already thinking about those lovely warm days when I can sit on my patio and work with yarn, dig in the garden, throw the windows wide and let the fresh air in. I love the soft green haze of the trees leafing out, it is so ALIVE! And birdsong, especially the hoo-hoo bird...:)

Here's my new favorite blog: it's all about free vintage knit edgings! Oh, such lovely patterns she is sharing...

Now, how about some FOs. I finished "flowers in the grass", see:?

It was a gift for DD for Christmas 2009.

I used a Catherine Wheel Edging, which I wrote down somewhere--will have to dig it out and post it. Glad to say DD loved her blanket :)


Then, for DH's b-day in early January, I finished up the mitered squares blanket of self-striping yarns in aran and bulky weights. Here are pics:


I was unable to photograph the whole blankie, so here are the two halves, after blocking. I guess later I'll try to get a whole-cloth photo...


I had initially picked up stitches all the way around the blanket and knit lengthwise garterstitch for an edging, but it looked like puke after about 16 rounds, so I frogged it and learned a new technique from "Principles of Knitting"--how to knit on a sideways edging as I went. It was nice, I only had to pick up about 15 stitches along the edge of the blanket at a time, so I used my straight needles to do it. I like the results much better without the muddying of the stripes.

Here's to a new year filled with hope, health, and loveliness!