The Best of 2007

Well it's New Year's Eve, there's about 6 hours left of 2007 (depending on where you live) and so I'm poaching Knit Lit's review of the year meme

1. your best FO of the year

It really can't be a good sign that I need to cheat on the first question. Actually, it's not cheating, it's qualifying the question. (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

Anyway, my best FO of the year that I made for myself was my Kauni Cardigan - I love it, I wear it to death and it fits nicely.

In terms of FOs for other people, the stream of baby blankets deserve a mention - I feel so clever every time I finish one and the recipients seem to like them.

2. best FO of the year made by a blog you link to

Many people have made many beautiful things over the last year but for sheer ingenuity I'd have to say Mandy's Christmas hat - it's WONDERFUL and you need to watch the video.

Having said that, I'm watching Susan's pattern designing with great interest and I can't wait for her Morocco stole to be finished (actually I may have been given some yarn for Christmas that would look just right - hmmm)

3. best yarn you tried

I loved Kauni but the other surprise contender is Rowan Tapestry, very soft and fuzzy and makes great hats.

4. best new book/mag/pattern of 2007

I was given lots of lovely books last Christmas and some of my new books pre-date 2007. The one I knit most from was Debbie Bliss Baby Knits book which I think is fantastic; for inspiration and a slightly later publishing date, how about Victorian Lace today?

5. best new knitting technique or gadget you tried in 2007

Steeking - tee hee hee!

6. top 5 inspirations--what five things inspired you the most over the past year?

• The imminent arrival of babies (three in total, should they be one inspiration each? Babies E, Buttons and N, all boys and all warm and toasty owners of a blanket)
• Little Miss Peggy - who doesn't want a little curly-haired blond girl to knit for? Her Mummy sent me a picture of Peggy in her dress in their Christmas card and she looks perfectly sweet.
• Yarn: colour magpie that I am I just can't resist pretty colours (cue the Kauni cardigan)
• Blogs and Ravelry - it's not a rabbit hole for no reason and seeing patterns in "real" pictures always stirs the creativity - Rowan have done a couple of features recently putting the magazine patterns in different colours and on real people and I can completely pass a styled pattern only to be tempted by it in real life.
• H - I love making woolly things to wrap him in, he thinks it's a good idea as long as it isn't a jumper. We're onto a good thing with socks.

7. designer who most amazed & inspired you throughout the year

I've already mentioned the beautiful creations Susan Pandorf is coming up with and they really are stunning. Jane Sowersby's patterns in Victorian Lace today are jaw-dropping (and get my fingers twitching) and I have serious designs on patterns by Norah Gaughan and Fiona Ellis.

8. knitting resolutions for 2008--what's next for you and your blog?
I think I have knitting intentions rather than knitting resolutions for this year! My stash now holds yarn for a couple of really lovely sweaters, there are a few more babies on the horizon to welcome, I have yarn and patterns for some wonderful lace shawls and scarves and I've got two sock clubs to look forward to (and strange temptations towards knitting afghans). I think my knitting resolution if any is to knit for myself this year.

My crafting resolutions (and these are resolutions) are:

• to finish the embroidery from my SIL. She will be 30 in November and it WILL be her birthday present
• to practice my quilting and get better at it; and
• to sew so more clothes for myself.

I have an evening of curling up with H and watching films to look forward to tonight and I shall keep going with my Tangled Yoke to see out 2007. Tomorrow I have a pattern and yarn all lined up for my first 2008 project but that's a story for another day.

My 2007 has been another wonderful (if rapid) year, roll on 2008:

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!