The year of no new yarn: a post with many pictures

In 2010, I decided not to buy any new yarn, but to work with what I already had. This was a real challenge for me, in my fourth year as a knitter. I guess that would make me a senior. However, I had amassed enough yarn to make for some neat, fun and interesting projects, many of which ended up being gifts.

1. Diamond Lace Shrug: yarn purchased in 2008 in Australia, took from December 25th 2009-February 13th 2010 to complete. I love it and wear it often, but only in the winter because it's so cozy!

2. February Baby Sweater: yarn sent from New Zealand (c/o in-laws), took less than two weeks to complete, earned me a gold medal in the Knitting Olympics (I started it during the opening ceremonies and finished it before the closing ceremonies). And Baby D looked great in it while it fit. Now it looks like a bolero with 3/4 sleeves.


3. Denim Blanket: yarn gifted to me in 2009 by my best friend's grandma, took a few weeks to complete, finished product given to gorgeous miracle baby Micah on July 1st.


4. Pretty Thing: yarn gifted to me in 2008 by knitter friend, took a few weeks in the spring to knit, finished product given to family friend suffering from cancer. No photo available.

5. Bergère de France top: yarn purchased in 2008 from a garage sale, took from April 16-July 10th to complete, Mom loves it! (I don't have a picture of her in it, though.)

6. Star-Crossed Beret: yarn purchased at the tail end of 2009, took a couple of weeks to knit, finished product given to baby sis' best friend, who is lovely and generous.


7. Chicken Hat: yarn gifted to me in 2008 by Mom, took a couple of weeks to knit, was a birthday present and now adorns our sweet little chicken's head during these cold winter months. It has buttons for eyes, and embellishments of a comb and beak.


8. Sniffy's Shrug: yarn gifted to me by same knitter friend this very year, took a few weeks to make it into a shrug voted on by you as an option for baby D's wedding wear.


9. Tree of Life blanket: sole yarn purchased in 2010, took four months to knit, well worth it for the special recipients, my brother and his beautiful bride.


10. Tree skirt: yarn purchased in 2006, started last year, didn't quite fit around the tree, knitted on it just before Christmas season began. It lives with my parents. I'd like to add something to it each year.

11. Endpaper mitts: yarn partially gifted from an acquaintance, partially bought in... 2007? Hard to say. Either way, it had been there for awhile. They turned into a project for a crafty gift exhange I had with a few friends at Christmas. I include them because most of the knitting on them was done in 2010, although I finished them in 2011. They were my first successful stranded colourwork pieces, and my friend who received them LOVES them! I'll show you another day what I got in that gift exchange.


One year, one challenge, eleven finished projects from a list of twenty-plus.