Happy New Year! Everyone all over the blogosphere is busy posting grand round-ups of their highlights of the year, and meanwhile with my epic total of 6 posts this year I'm sitting here thinking 'crap, I still have finished projects 4 months old that I haven't even photographed yet'. Hence, this will be the grand catch-up of 2015 instead.
First off, Christmas! YAYYYY!!! I made all of zero handmade gifts, though I did receive handknitted goodness from my Mum and Granny, which made me feel very loved and only a tiny bit guilty.
My flat, on the other hand, is festively adorned with new knitwear in the shape of Alan Dart's advent calendar.
There are supposed to be 24 knitted tree decorations in the pockets as well, but seeing as I've only finished 2 of them I was forced to put Lindor truffles in instead, which was a terrible hardship to bear every afternoon in December.
Horribly twee cross stitch! I don't care, if you can't be twee at Christmas when can you be? Also, this continually makes me giggle because it reminds me of Celebrity Jeopardy.
I got this ornament as a kit in a swap a few years ago and it was fiddly as anything, but it's sparkly! Wheeeeeeee! I'm fairly sure I left a bead or two everywhere I worked on this as I'm a clumsy twit and kept knocking over my loose beads.
Isn't this little guy sweet? Awwwww
Next up, the oldest of the projects, which I finished in September to wear on holiday, and haven't worn since because I-know-this-Winter-is-mild-but-it's-not-quite-bare-arms-mild:
This little lady (as brought to you by my shiny, shiny face) is Blithe by Rowan, knit in Fine Milk Cotton - which is gorgeous to knit with and lovely to wear and is of course FREAKING DISCONTINUED! DAMN YOU ROWAN! So discontinued that I couldn't find a single ball anywhere when I ran out. I started this years ago so I have no idea whether I lost a ball, or I didn't buy enough, or the pattern's wrong, but either way I didn't have enough yarn to add the little cap sleeves so I had to fudge the finish with a rolled edge to match the neckline instead. Oh well, I still think it's cute without the sleeves, so I'm looking forward to wearing it again when the weather warms up.
I've also made up an Akita from Seamwork, which I finished in November? I think? and haven't worn once because congratulations Hannah, you made something short-sleeved in Winter again. I am a namby-pamby Southerner who does not cope well as soon as the wind starts to pick up a bit. This is a very basic pattern with cut on cap sleeves, which would probably look fine in a more drapey fabric, but in my bog-standard polycotton I sort of look like I'm trying to take off.
I belieeeeve I can flyyyyyy
(Something fascinating on the floor here)
While I'm happy with the sleeve fix I'm not 100% convinced about the top as a whole - I'm not sure if it's genuinely unflattering or if I'm just really not used to wearing this style of loose clothing. Maybe I'll prance around the flat in it a few times before I unleash it on the outside world. I made the skirt as well in the blogless years - New Look 6843. It doesn't get a huge amount of wear as it has a tendency to stick to my legs and I've been too lazy to add a lining. Maybe I should wear it with a slip? I'll probably need a thermal vest or two this Winter so perhaps I'll pick one up at the same time and cement my old lady status. Anyhoo, back to Akita...
What I didn't like about this top: the way the sleeves and hem splits are dealt with. Unfinished edges on a stress point? Bleh. Not great.
What I did like about this top:
Bias facing on the neckline (though I'll admit I found the instructions a little confusing and had to go to my Threads magazines for help). I've done lots of bias binding in the past but this is the first bias facing I've ever done and I not ashamed to say I found it a leetle bit sexy. I added some cotton tape bra strap holders as well since it's a wide neckline and they work great...until I inevitably forget I've done them up and get stuck with my arms in the air halfway through taking the top off.
Last knit of the year! A tiny hat for Tornado Jim, the new babby at Martin's cycling club.
Not much to say about this. Martin asked me to make a hat to match the team kit; I knit in the round, I decreased the top, I embroidered on the Tornado Road Cycling Club logo, job done. Parents were chuffed, and while I have not met Jimjam himself I have it on good authority that he did not immediately throw it across the room. Success!
Last up, the final installment in the trifecta of seasonally inappropriate clothing:
Hmmm...I really should get this lino replaced
This is the Walkley dress (picked up in the Sew Independent bundle) which was so ridiculously simple that the most complex thing I did was match the stripes. So not much to write about this either. I am actually wearing this right now (super comfy, and I have no business leaving the flat today so I don't need to worry about being warm), though admittedly I am wearing it with an enormous paint splattered man's hoodie and fluffy slippers so I don't look quite so put together today.
Finally, if you've made it this far, I have one more project that I've finished, but it's a big one and deserves a post all of its own. Here's a clue:
Home sweet home
Happy 2016 and here's to making things I can actually wear within 3 months of finishing them this year!
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