Knitting and Other Hobbies Review 2016

nitting!

And other hobbies...

My goals in 2015 were to:

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!

These didn't change much over 2016. Instead of cowls, I got heavily into baby blanket knitting:

Photos of the fourth, a purple-y blanket, are here.

In the same post I talked about a secret group project and shared photos of my contribution. Still can't reveal the details yet, but as soon as we've given the gift to its intended recipient, I'll share!

Besides the four blankets and the secret project, I knit:

Three hats (here's one hat)

One shawl, as a gift

One fox scarf:

One pair of mittens

The Azel Pullover

This one didn't turn out quite the way I'd hoped, as the needles I used were a couple of sizes too large given the wool I'd selected, and I also made the pullover too short. But now that I have a feel for the pattern, I'd like to try knitting a child's version of the same item. An excuse to buy wool!


I only seem to have shared one post on my ongoing knitting in the wild series. I like collecting photos of knitting back in the day or in unusual spots or of people you wouldn't expect knew how to knit...

As for that list at the top, I do have some lovely Kate Davies patterns, but haven't attempted one yet. I've actually kept on top of photo organizing and even made a few printed albums, and shared some photos!

I haven't baked as regularly as I'd like. Tried an apple crumble that was a bit of a gooey mess, made cookies often, and attempted a recipe from Outlander Kitchen!:

It tasted good, even if it looked nothing like it was supposed to.

I also have fun supporting artists on Patreon and entering authors' contests every once in a while. Sometimes it leads to fun things arriving in the mail:

Linda Grimes

Sloth mail, through Amanda Palmer's Patreon

Monica Byrne

This year, I wonder if I'll get back to finishing those cowls? Or the sweater I started for myself long ago? I'm trying hard not to have too much extra wool and yarn lying around, and to use what I have before I buy more. That said, one of my first goals is to knit some wee hats and booties to go with the baby blankets.

With all this wool lying around, I read this fun book the other day:

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen

What hobbies are you exploring this year?