12/12 in 2012: Last shawl of the year

Squeezed this one in under the gun!

This fabulous shawl is knit in a self-striping yarn: Canon Hand Dyes "I See These Witches Are Afraid of Swords"; and was knit modularly from the great pattern Lokken in the Knitscene Accessories 2012.

I loved knitting and wearing shawls this year. I don't know that I will knit 13 this year, but I know I will always have a shawl on the needles!

12/12 in 2012: Let's Go Pokes!

A little late on my October shawl--I may have briefly quit really knitting on this and tried to give the game, er, shawl away. Ah, but I pulled it out in the end and now have my own fabulous hitchhiker!

12/12 in 2012: A Maple Mizzle

What's that? A monthly shawl completed early in the month?! I'm shocked too! The Mizzle pattern just flew off the needles in Sweet Georgia's Maple yarn. I loved this whole knitting experience, especially that I finished it before all the leaves changed color!

12/12 in 2012: August Shawl and a Little Teal

Whoops! I tried to change my tabs and the blogger app ate my post. Quick facts: Fabulous Hithchhiker Pattern by Martina Behm, HazelKnits yarn in the Nemo colorway.

As I model this shawl with my Ovarian Cancer Awareness teal, I can report I love this shawl and will make more!

Edited to add a picture with its final recipient!

12 & 12 in 2012: That's the power of blocking!

Okay, so the July shawl went into August--my excuse is that a red/white/blue shawl is perfect for the Olympics!  It could be a "USA!  USA!" shawl or a "Go GB!" shawl.  Or, maybe having lost naps and easy bedtimes, my knitting mojo is down a bit.  Anyway, this shawl perfectly shows off the power of blocking.  Above, find the shawl in its unblocked (or unwashed/pinned) glory.  Lumpy border, shorter shawl.

Behold, the power of blocking!  The shawl is much, much bigger!  (Modeled pictures of all my summer shawls will be added soon, I promise!)  The lace border is crisp and visible!  The shawl is lighter and airier!  Pattern:  Trillian by Martina Behm (I am currently working on knitting all 4 patterns from her Hitchhiker book)  Yarn:  Creatively Dyed Beaches in the Cardiff colorway, purchased at the Estes Park Wool Market

12 & 12 in 2012: Knit On, in Grey

 June Shawl:  Wingspan, in Shalimar Breathless, Colorway Newsprint

 Short rows, modular construction, cashmere, silk, merino

 May Shawl:  Boneyard, by Stephen West, in Plain & Fancy Sport Graphite

Simple triangle, stockinette, garter, purl bumps

 "Knit on, with confidence and hope, through all crises." - Elizabeth Zimmermann.

12 & 12 in 2012: Pink Scallops

 I started my April shawl on the road to Arizona, and in squishy garter it zipped along.  The pattern is 22.5 *, by Martina Behm, a German designer cutting a bit of a swath in the knitting world.

 I loved the pattern and I loved the scallops at the end.  They took forver to knit, but they look so fabulous and scallopy.  I love the yarn too--Done Roving Frolicking Feet in Windflower Anemone.  It GLOWS hot pink.

I made this one a bit smaller to mainly wear in the trendy kerchief fashion--I love it, and if we have any cold, windy days it might be just right.

12/12 in 2012: The March Shawl Must Be Green!

In thanks/reward for designing my hat, I received five glorious hanks of Manos del Uruguay Clasica in the colorway Forest Floor. I gave two away, but saved three for myself.

I knit Stephen West's Colonnade, a beautiful and fun knit on size 10 needles. I cast on on Monday, and finished it on Friday--just barely getting it done in March!

I love the columnar lace in the Forest Floor color--it makes me think of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," with the juxtaposition of Ancient Greece and the wilds of the forest.

This shawl has a very unique construction, which helps it sit firmly on the shoulders. In a 100% wool yarn, I will definitely be reaching for this all winter.

12/12 in 2012: A Future Gift from a Long Past Gift

The shawl is "Yvaine," which I have knit before, in a beautiful German yarn sent to me in a swap long ago.


The colorway is called Sommerlavendd, which I have translated as Summer Lavender, and it is much prettier than my camera could capture--for instance, what looks white is really a pale blue/pale purple, while the blackish looking colors are really deep purples. This shawl is destined to be a gift, come Christmas.

12 /12 in 2012: January/February Socks

Look--that's two socks, not one! In under six months!

I love the swirly affect of the afterthought heel. My heels are a bit wonky, but my next pair will be much better.

This is a really true representation of this fabulous yarn and colorway.


So, I actually finished these about two weeks ago, so they were just a bit late, for the February sock anyway. My first afterthought heels, and a pair of socks in a bit over two months--a record for me. My 12/12 in 2012 challenge just might work! I seriously love this colorway--A Skirmish of Wit"--and enjoyed reading Much Ado About Nothing while I was finishing up the knitting.

12/12 in 2012: In By a Toe

This is my last skein of yarn from the lovely Shakespeare Yarn Club I did for my birthday. The three skeins were all based on "Much Ado About Nothing," and this skein is named for the main characters, Beatrice and Benedick. Actually, the name of the colourway is A Skirmish of Wit, which comes from a Leonato line regarding their constant interplay. It is a lovely stripey, with navy standing for Benedick, and a rich burgundy red for Beatrice. (The colors are pretty accurate in this picture.)

As part of my goal to knit 12 shawls and 12 socks in 2012, this one just squeaked in, and it's not even quite whole. I'm planning to do afterthought heels (see that line?), so I will hopefully finish this one and its mate next month. I am loving this yarn and how it knits up. Stripey socks forever!

12/12 in 2012: Souvenir Shawl

This, you might recall (but probably not), is a lovely skein of Plain & Fancy yarn in the colorway Turquoise, that I picked up at the Taos Wool Festival. I used a lovely pattern called Arroyo for it, as they all seemed to meld together in the perfect souvenir--Arroyo, Turquoise, Taos.

This is the shawl just after I cast-off, unblocked. Shawls do amazing things when blocked properly.

This is the lace after blocking--all lovely and open, and a bit pointy.

I love that even though there is a true riot of colors in the yarn, the overall feeling is of Turquoise.

I struggled getting pictures of this one, as it is so long and lovely, but this gives you an idea. You have to see it in person to get an idea of its drape and softness.

The 12/12 in 2012 Project: I have acquired a relatively small yarn stash, but a stash nonetheless. My goal for 2012 is to knit a shawl and a sock each month. Arroyo is this month's shawl, and I'm well on my way with my sock of the month. Not every shawl do I necessarily need to keep (nor every sock, I guess), so if you see anything that you like, let me know! You may receive the shawl, or one like it, for Christmas.