I also haven’t knitted much this weekend because I am in the never-ending cycle of sleeve knitting which bores me to tears so I don’t knit, so it never gets done. I need to motivate myself with the leafy cuff pattern that I get to knit once I’ve done another billion decrease rounds.

Though on a positive note, I have chosen buttons! Photos will follow when I have them.

I have spent a lot of time looking at buttons these past couple of days, when I could be knitting a sleeve. In the comments on the previous post, Roo mentioned Textile Garden, which was another reason to spend an hour browsing buttons and getting more confused!

I think I am now leaning towards buttons with a shank, which is a start, although I was also rather fond of these when I saw them:

because they can be edged with some of the yarn from the sweater. I think this is a lovely idea, although I know that by the time I’ve sewn on the ribbon backing onto the buttonbands, and then all the poppers, I am not going to want to faff about decorating buttons!

So it’s just a choice of whether to go for pretty decorated buttons or plainer ones. Right now, my favourites are these:

What do you think?

I finally cut out the felt heart for Louie’s tummy, using a handy cookie cutter as a template, and then glued it on. He is now resting under a few heavy books so that it will stick down firmly. I haven’t sewed up the body yet because the stuffing will probably need re-plumping after being flattened for a day or so. Perhaps it will be a chance for him to become better-acquainted with English literature, though maybe these aren’t the best choice of books for a Lovebot.

It sometimes feels as if I post FO photos on here and then my projects are never seen or heard of again. Do they get worn, loved, used and abused? Well the hats do, at least. Which is a reason to post a lovely photo of Oscar and Rose keeping warm last weekend wearing Koolhaas and Quatra.

I came across this brilliant video linked on another site. No yarn in it, but I bet there are some craft books somewhere in amongst them..!

You can probably imagine how stressed I was about running out of yarn at one point. There was much swearing under my breath.

Of course, if I had been more organised and had extra yarn, this wouldn’t have been an issue. And this tenuously brings me to Lauriel and the preparation needed before I even buy the yarn.

I mentioned previously that the patterns are ultra-adjustable for a perfect fit. The first step is to take a gazillion measurements with the aid of a willing friend:

I got MrB to help with mine. We got about halfway through before I realised he was measuring from the plastic tip of the tape measure, not from zero inches. So we started all over again and I now know probably more than I ever needed to about how big different bits of me are.

Comparing these measurements to the sweater now leaves me with a conundrum about what size to cast on for. Clearly my back width measurement either hasn’t been taken correctly, or I have a strangely wide back. The most important factor is the underbust measurement. So looking at the measurement table, I am plumping for the 40 inch size with adjustments for the ginormoboobs, a-line shaping for the waist and a longer body length. If this had been a “normal” pattern, I would have absolutely chosen the 44 or 46 inch size and ended up with a giant baggy cardigan that looked dreadful!

I’m still not sure about what yarn to use, but am leaning towards Rowan Calmer, perhaps, in a spring-like shade.

Finally, sorry for not replying to all the comments recently. I am slowly working through them all and promise to reply to everyone eventually.

(Click on each image for the pattern details.)

But none of these are going to be the first sweater I knit for myself this year, beautiful though they are. I am going to knit Lauriel from Little Red in the City. Back in July when I went to KnitNation with rubbishknitter, the samples from the book were available to fondle and I was very taken with the fact that they weren’t just tiny little sweaters. I ummmed and ahhhhed for a long time about buying the book because it was going to be purely for my benefit and it’s obvious I am very bad at doing anything for me. But when the book price had gone down to a measly £14 on Amazon (it’s gone back up to £17 now ), I caved in and bought it. The great thing is that there’s a scratch ‘n sniff panel* at the back of the book with a code so that I can add the pdf version of the book to my Ravelry library for free. Meaning I have a nice book to browse and print offs to scribble on.

Lauriel was the first sweater that really caught my eye, because of the scooped neckline and bust shaping. I used to be big all over and, though I’m slowly getting smaller all over, my bust seems to have its own agenda and is getting bigger… This means that I have to wear larger tops than the rest of me really needs, and mostly end up looking like I’m wearing a tent. In addition, anything with a high neckline makes me look like a pair of boobs on legs. So I was very taken with the idea that I could actually wear a cardigan that fits properly all over, with neither gaping buttons nor spare fabric flapping about.

I am finding it very hard not to buy the yarn and cast on immediately for this cardigan, but it’s going to be my reward for finishing the birthday socks. The second one has half a leg, so I’d better keep on knitting..!

* may not actual smell of anything

I managed to complete twenty seven projects in 2011. That’s equal to my previous record in 2008, which I thought I would never match!

It was a very Rose-centred year, with lots of sweaters and cardigans for her. I learnt to love seaming and Sirdar patterns, and found that knitting toys was actually very satisfying. For myself, thought, I only managed to knit Mayrose and Bitterroot. 2012 is going to be far more selfish!

Firstly, Christmas was good. Although the fruit cake was revolting and literally went straight into the bin after I took one bite. But there were plenty of other things to nibble to ease the pain and I know now to avoid that recipe!

I received absolutely not a single knitting-related gift (other than a pattern from the lovely rubbishknitter) so don’t have any gift photos to share.

Mr B loved his three pairs of socks, though. He wasn’t even expecting one pair because he never notices what I am knitting unless I wave it under his nose. This is handy for gift knitting! All three have been worn at least once I am am hoping that I can get another pair done by his birthday at the end of January.

So, to the resolutions.

Buy Fewer Patterns
Quite simply, I have a problem with buying patterns. The easy access to pdfs on Ravelry and elsewhere makes it far too simple to spend my money on patterns, then not have the money to buy the yarn to make them! I resolve to not buy any pattern or pattern book or magazine unless I will be casting on for a project from it immediately. No more hoarding Interweave Knits, either. I was strong in the face of the Winter 2011 issue and realised I don’t need to buy it just so that I can have all the issues looking pretty in my Ravelry library.

Knit For Myself
I mentioned before that I have joined the 12 in 2012 group with the aim to knit 12 projects for myself next year. I honestly would be happy with just one! I have kind of scuppered myself for the best part of January already, with a couple of swaps that need knits and then Mr B’s actual birthday socks, but planning and yarn buying can be done, at least.

Keep Getting Smaller
This year I have cracked the 5 stone (70 pounds!) weight loss since I started dieting back at the end of 2007. A certain small person put paid to my weight loss for most of 2009 to 2010, so this year I want to get rid of the final pounds.

Learn Something New
Whether it’s a new knitting technique, or a foreign language, or anything. Rose seems to pick up new things every day and while I don’t need to learn the difference between an apple and an orange, it doesn’t mean there are things that I don’t know!

Keep Blogging
Blogging has kept me sane this year, more than anyone probably appreciates. Even if I can only manage two or three posts a week, I’ll keep doing it.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year! See you in 2012.

I have joined a group on Ravelry with the aim to knit 12 things for myself in 2012 and have rashly started my list with six sweaters. This may change pretty soon! I am totally crap at knitting for myself, other than my annual winter hat, and I do want to change this. For some reason, I feel incredibly selfish spending my time doing things for me. I suppose knitting in itself is something for me as I enjoy doing it, so knitting AND knitting something for me seems positively greedy. But just one sweater would be nice! I have also joined a couple of swaps so won’t be knitting entirely for myself next year, either, so maybe that will help absolve me of any guilt.

And for Rose, my first project for her will be Alice Starmore’s Secret Garden from The Children’s Collection:

because it’s been on my wishlist to knit since she was about six months old and I’ve been waiting and waiting for her to be big enough to fit into the smallest size. It definitely meets the requirements of being a bit more challenging and shouldn’t end up in the corner because it’s too boring!