Year-end Knitting and Other Hobbies Review, including Outlander and John Howe

Part two of the year end reviews, this time for all other hobbies!



I had a very short recap last year of my knitting in 2014, and posted these goals:


1. Finish knitting three more cowls
2. Think about buying expensive wool to make, slowly, methodically, and properly, a gorgeous design by Kate Davies
3. Organise all our photos and print a few, especially for our grandparents
4. Bake more!

I completed 3, got a start on 4, and am still doing 2! The first goal got derailed a bit as the second cowl fell to pieces (I attempted to use a set of very thick circular needles, which didn't work in my hands at all. I need to tink (undo; knit spelled backwards!) that cowl and restart).

Items that I completed were a square for a joint project, a baby tuque, a second tuque, and two baby blankets.

The second tuque started as a pair of leg warmers, promised to Diana Gabaldon when she was up in Scotland, and cold... 

...it reached this height...

...and somehow turned into a hat instead!

If I had started both leg warmers at the same time, they might have stayed leg warmers (also if I had been able to finish them in any decent length of time), but one of the reasons why I use the Magic Loop method when (and if) I make socks is because I can't stand knitting something then having to turn around and make a matching second item. Much better to knit both at once!

 This is the start of the baby tuque; I shared a photo of the completed tuque in October.


Blankets one and two. Funny, I guess I didn't take a photo of the first one after I completed it. Will try to remember to take one after baby comes!


I only had a handful of blog posts last year, some featuring interesting knitting links, one related to Outlander, one featuring Geek Knits, and one on Tolkien Reading Day.

I also became a patron of Knitty magazine, and kept up my collection of knitting-in-public-and-literature references. Here's one more:

Edith Piaf knitting


A collection of other-hobby items:

Blog contests
Crystal's always featuring new authors! Back in December she showcased Jules Smith, and I won a signed copy of Sophie's Throughway!
A new author each time; see who she's featuring this week at Crystal Collier.

Illustrations
It was the anniversary of Charles Perrault's birthday last Tuesday, and Google had some lovely doodles:

And I got an Outlander colouring book and a signed (!) page of a Pauline Baynes illustration for The Chronicles of Narnia!



Travelling
I just learned that one of my favourite Tolkien illustrators, John Howe, lives in Switzerland!

Poetry
This weekend is Burns supper night, held to celebrate the life and poetry of Robert Burns.

Here's a track that features a line from Tam O' Shanter:




Gratuitous baby photo

What projects are you focusing on?

Comments

Hi Deniz - I'm hopeless at knitting or crocheting .. cannot stand wool anywhere near me! I wouldn't make a Celt. Glad Emily hasn't got a whisky in her hand .. or perhaps she's waiting for the weekend!

Projects - after a cold, and cancellation week of events ... I'm coming back to life - so getting my self really into no distraction mode and steaming on straight ahead.

Cheers to you all ... Hilary
Chrys Fey said…
I've been wanting to learn how to knit. My mom knits and she tried to teach me when I was a kid but it didn't take.

Those blankets look so comfy. :)
Crystal Collier said…
Hey, thanks for the mention! I hope you love Jules' book. It gave me a few good chuckles. Oh, and way to go with your goals!
Signed illustration book - that's awesome! Cherish it.
S.P. Bowers said…
I got that outlander coloring book, too!

I've recently started crocheting again. Thanks to meds, my hands can handle it again. I started a shawl, but then got one from my sis-in-law so instead I've been crocheting, star wars characters. I'll have to post some pics when I finish my storm trooper.
Denise Covey said…
I have been a great knitter and crotcheter in the past, but haven't touched it for years. Writing has replaced those crafts. I bake, I cook, I write, I read, I travel...all good.:-)
sage said…
I love wool but having moved back south, it is only good in the winter when on the water. I would love to raise my own wood, but I would not have patience to knit. My only project right now is to recover from my surgery.
DMS said…
I once knew how to knit, but haven't done it in so many years. I can see how it would be fun and relaxing. I loved looking at your work and the colors of your pieces are all so pretty. :) Happy knitting in 2016!
~Jess
Deniz Bevan said…
Hope your recovery's going well, sage!

Yes, please, share photos, Sara!

Too funny, Denise, I'n trying to get back to baking more often...

Thanks all!