In light of this, and the fact that I am 3 weeks away from my 1 year knitting-versary, I thought I would have a look back through some of my finished projects and see which ones have been successful and which have vanished without a trace ;)
I think the most successful FO I have made is the Lore Hoodie from Vampire Knits (note to self, get better pictures of this!):
I wear it fairly regularly (wore it last night in fact *grins*) and really, really like it. If I were to make it again, I would definitely modify it to have long sleeves, a hooded item with elbow length sleeves is a little strange ;) This is also the only thing I have made with lace (I don't count some of the attempts I have made that never got finished), and the lace part only has one mistake - score!
A project that I initially thought was successful has not really stood the test of time/greater experience. My self-designed tank top:
I still like this, but there are quite a few changes that would make it so much better. I didn't do any waist shaping (didn't know what it was at the time!) so it is a little boxy. Because the shoulders are plain stocking stitch, they roll in, apart from at the top seam where my ability to join pieces together shows a painful lack of skill ;) Overall though, I think it is still pretty cute.
A complete failure project was my Ugly Slippers:
Yeah, wrong yarn, wrong size... just wrong *laughs* They were wonderfully cosy despite their revolting appearance, until they stretched, and stretched, and stretched. Then I decided to try and salvage them by felting them... The less said about that experiment the better!
Well, it's kinda fun to look through the projects I've made and remind myself of how far I have come. Given that I am unlikely to have any FOs for the next couple of weeks, I might continue this theme in the lead up to my year-of-knitting anniversary. At which point it'll culminate in a giveaway and probably a party for everyone... Ok, maybe not a party, but definitely a giveaway *grins*
For actual finished objects, pop over to Tami's, and for more creative and fibrey posts go to Natural Suburbia and Wisdom Begins in Wonder.
I LOVE all of your projects but the first one is one I keep eying in Vampire Knits (that book really had a lot of great patterns in it).
ReplyDeleteHappy Yarn Day!
What fun to stroll down memory lane with you today!
ReplyDeleteOne note: if you try to shrink anything that you've knitted in wool (technically 'fulling', not 'felting'), you can do it by hand with hot water and soap (rubbing, rolling on itself, etc.), and you may not have it go too fast, like it tends to do in a washing machine. :)
I agree with the longer sleeves for your vampire hoodie, but it is still gorgeous, I love the tank top - the colours a great and your slippers....ummm you are brave to share :) Nice one
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to celebrate your knit anniversary! I have been a knitter for 1 year and 5 months! It's very addictive isn't it?
ReplyDeleteHave fun. :) xx
Your sweater and vest are fantastic! I would never guess that you are a relatively new knitter.
ReplyDeleteWow - love them!!! I'm glad you wear them - it's a shame sometimes to put so much work into something and not get use out of it. As for the slipper... hee hee!!!
ReplyDeleteI love your tank top vest. Great colors, great lines. You look so cute in it!
ReplyDeleteI think all of the knits look great! The vest is beautiful and with the ribbing who needs waist shaping?
ReplyDeleteYou cetainly are busy! Top cardi is just lovely.
ReplyDeleteWow... all that in only a year of knitting? I think that's pretty successful!
ReplyDeleteHahaha, fail-slippers! I also had a pair of fail-slippers. I recently shoved them into a clothing donation bag, along with a fail-PJs set.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that hoodie! I'm amazed that you did that during your first year of knitting. I still have not made a knitted top and I'm going on a few years now.
Wow, very impressive - I can't believe you've only been knitting for such a short period of time!
ReplyDeleteYour sweaters are amazing! I hate failed projects but you made me laugh because you wrote exactly what I have felt about several projects!! I have a whole large basket full of rejects. Nice job on your finished sweaters and the yarn choice is perfect on your tank top!
ReplyDeleteWe all have mistakes and mis-knits, but isn't it great that we can sometimes recover with un-knitting and felting, even if it didn't work for the slippers.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous work on the hoodie -- isn't it great when something like that works out just as beautifully as you hoped?
ReplyDeleteAnd kudos to you for being brave enough to experiment with your knitting -- some people never do. I think we learn as much or more from what doesn't work.
Happy almost anniversary :D Your hoodie is amazing. I've seen that book at the library a couple of times, but haven't picked it up yet.
ReplyDeleteI love that hoodie! I wonder if you could sew in some darts on the tank? I dunno, I'm just pulling ideas out of thin air. Don't mind me. ;)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! You've done very well.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping my daughter doesn't see Lore Hoodie...or I'll have another big WIP on my hands. Beautiful work!
ReplyDeleteWhat a good idea for a FO post. I may try this the next time I have nothing to show :)
ReplyDeleteI love love love that hooded cardigan, it's beautiful!
The hoodie is great. I love going back through some of my old blog posts too. Gives one such a sense of accomplishment. Happy Fiber Arts Friday!
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely to hear about past projects, and really handy to know what you think is good/bad/should be altered
ReplyDeletethe hoodie & vest are so beautiful, great job. the slippers are interesting but if they keep your feet warm does it matter what they look like?
ReplyDeletethanks for the wonderful comment. :o)
Your knitting looks awesome. How could you only have been knitting for a year? I spent many years knitting nothing but scarves before I went outside of the rectangle.
ReplyDeleteThat Lore Hoodie is AMAZING!!!
ReplyDelete–Cassandra
I'm really impressed by the vest - despite all your concerns about it, it looks great and the yarn looks lovely. As for the slippers, well, I'm at a loss there. LOL
ReplyDeleteDo you mean that you've only been knitting a year, but you made that fabulous cardi? That's like year-ten level!
ReplyDeleteThe title of this post cracked me the heck up! And I absolutely love that vampire knit. I have to check it out. You are so cute and your knits are gorgeous! Thanks for stopping by my space. It's great to "meet" you!
ReplyDeleteOk - I love that you've got the courage to look back on these projects with us! That knit hoodie is great ... and no matter what, you won't ever get me to like slippers, at least not most of the time. :)
ReplyDeleteI also enjoy reviewing old projects. It's one of my favorite benefits of blogging about them. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI really can't believe you've been knitting for less than a year. I'm impressed with your skilZ.
I think that it is always fun to look back on past projects. Great learning experience, too. I love your Lore Hoodie. It looks great on you! I am so impressed that you designed and made that vest, all within your first year of knitting!
ReplyDeleteYour vampire hoody is gorgeous, I want one!! It is so much fun to look at past projects and see how far you've come. Your first year of knitting puts mine to shame, you must be a natural!
ReplyDeleteLove the Lore Hoodie, I kinda like the shorter sleeves. Great idea going through past projects!
ReplyDeleteI love your hoodie - and the 3/4 sleeve would be perfect for the weather around here. I'm going to have to go and look that up now because we all know that I could use another WiP laying around... lol.
ReplyDeleteI love them all - even the ugly slippers. who cares what they look like as long as they're comfy?
ReplyDeleteI really love your vest!
ReplyDeleteThe Lore Hoodie is simply amazing. So much work has gone into it and it looks so good on you.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to go back and check out old projects sometimes. I love the hoodie. I've been considering that knit. I think I like your's better than the one in the book. It may be on my next list.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you mentioned that you'd make the sleeves long on the hoodie . . . I've made several items from the book and was about to start on the hoodie . . . think I'll follow your advice!
ReplyDelete