2012 :: the year in knits, originally uploaded by earthchick.

Shameless Cowl, 2 pairs of Warmest Mittens, Liquid Amber Cowl, Color Affection, Big Bay
Child’s Placket-Neck Pullover, Baby Granny, Striped Child’s Placket-Neck Pullover, Nefertem, Zelkova
Aranami, Perry Street Rugby, Mukluks, Camp Out Fingerless Mitts, Cladonia
Child’s Mukluks, Child’s Mukluks, Smitten Garland, Mukluks, Irving Cowl

I made fewer items overall than in years past (21), unless you count each Smitten mitten (24!) individually (heh). I also did a lot less spinning in 2012, until the end of the year (finishing only 9 yarns total), but almost a third of what I knit was from handspun.

By the numbers:
cowls: 3
mitts/mittens: 3+24 (for the Smitten Garland)
shawls: 5
baby sweaters: 2
adult sweaters: 2
blanket/afghan: 1
slippers: 4
handspun: 7

I made a pile of mittens, obviously, since I was creating my Advent garland. Apart from the mitts and mittens, I made more shawls than anything else, with the Mukluks coming in a close second. There were actually two more pairs of slippers I made earlier in the year, one of which I tossed after a felting mishap and one of which I never assembled (bunny slippers for one of my kids, which are now too small). So if you count those, I made more slippers than anything else except mittens. I didn’t make any socks at all, nor any hats.

I was pretty pleased with everything I made this year (except for the felting mishap), which hasn’t always been the case in the past. I would be hard-pressed to pick a favorite knit this year; there are actually several that I love a lot. I wear my handspun Mukluks more frequently than anything else, just because I happen to kick around in slippers a lot; the Camp Out Mitts have also seen a lot of play this fall/winter. I don’t wear my Liquid Amber as much as I should, because I like it *too* much – it feels delicate and special. Same goes for my handspun Cladonia, which honestly is probably the prettiest thing I’ve made this year. I adore my Aranami, which is one of the cleverest patterns out there, and I super-love the colors of mine (and the yarn – BrooklynTweed Shelter). This shawl gets a lot of action (I wear it as a scarf).

The Perry Street Rugby has turned out to be one of my very favorite thing to wear, which is funny since at first I thought it wasn’t very flattering on me. I have totally changed my mind. I love the shape of it – it’s loose and long without being a tent. I love the cable detail, the stripes, those long ribbed sleeves, I love the colors and the feel of the yarn. I love the wide neckline. Every time I wear it, My Old Man comments on how much he loves it. He is not one to enthuse about anything, so for him to compliment something multiple times is high praise indeed. In fact, every time I wear it I get compliments, and not just from him. I think everyone needs to make a Perry Street Rugby, a Zelkova, and an Aranami.

I published two designs this year, which is exciting, but I’ve had another five in my head that I’ve not yet managed to get knit, written up, and released. My hope for 2013 is that I get at least two of them out there. I also hope for more sweater-knitting, more spinning, and more handspun-knitting. It would be nice if I could finish up some old WIPs, too. If 2013 is anything like 2012, I will have more plans than I can execute, but I’ve always found that to be a pretty good recipe for getting a lot done.

Wishing you and yours a very happy (and very knitty) 2013!