It is my five year anniversary of signing in to Ravelry! By now I have forty something projects listed on my Ravelry page. Let’s see how some of these stood up to time.

Christmas Chickens

Well, they are a bit plucked, particularly those missing the hanging string, but they still make it onto the tree every year. No hanging string? They just sit on top of the branch and hold on with their tiny pipecleaner legs.

Grade: Yay!

Green socks and fur socks
(See second row fourth picture and fourth row first picture on top of the page, also below)

My first two attempts at socks went miserably wrong. The second green sock never got made and, though the fur socks were technically well executed, I was not sorry to see holes in them within weeks of commission. I understand why people make sweaters from the fur of their beloved dog, but as I have never met the possum that donated this fur, I can only say thanks but no thanks and I’ll stick to wool for now.

Grade: Fail.

Fog socks
(Third row fourth picture)

These were my first truly successful socks. I love the pattern and the yarn was lovely. I would go to parties and show off my socks. That might have been a faux-pas with non kniters but whatever. Eventually though the yarn got a bit too fuzzy and, with exception of the bottom of the feet which are still nice and shiny, you can’t see either the tidy slanted stitches or beautifully subtle colour variations. I don’t really wear these any more, they piled so much they actually look like I’m walking in fog, and they are not half as comfortable, easily washable or even easily replaceable as commercial merino socks.

Grade: Meh.

Hot hot socks, Forest balaclava and May hat

Hot hot socks
(First row seventh picture and above)

If for no other reason I love these because they remind me of the mat leave with Markus. I used the same yarn as the Fog socks but you would not know it from the behaviour thereof. Unlike the Fog socks, this yarn never shrunk making the socks too big. In the end they worked out really well as boot liners which is perfect for handmade specialty yarn socks. I neither put too much wear and tear on them, nor do I have to wash them as often because I only wear them for a small portion of the day over another pair of socks. They keep me warm and comfortable, especially when wearing those rubber and neoprene boots that are all the rage with the kids these days. Finally, they add a splash of fun colour over drab but functional commercial socks

Grade: Yay!

Hockey sweater and green sweater
(Fourth row sixth picture and first row third picture)

If I learned anything from my failed knitting experiments, of which these two sweaters are perfect examples, is that you really have to go all out. I was intimidated of making a sweater so I picked boring patterns and cheap yarn. How I managed to forget that I dislike anything boring and cheap is beyond me. Anyhow, both sweaters have been worn less than half a dozen times and then put away for good.

Grade: Fail.

Trev’s cardigan and one fur sock

Trev’s green cardigan
(First row second picture and above)

One good thing that came out of the green sweater debacle is that I made a sweater for Trev with leftover yarn. Technically the sweater is sucky because I could not be bothered to tear back and fix small mistakes which I would have done if I was not fed up with the crummy yarn, but it still looks cute on any of the kids that wear it. It is warm and snug fitting making it the best choice for camping or skiing when baggy cotton sweaters they usually wear do not cut it.

Grade: Meh.

Ribbon scarf
(Second row third picture)

I like lace, but this particular pattern with this particular yarn just did not work. I wore this scarf for a couple of months before I lost it. I don’t even feel particularly bad for losing it.

Grade: Meh.

May hat
(First row fifth picture and above)

I used one pattern for the shape of the hat and another for the colour work. It took some recalculating and some luck but I just love how this hat turned out. I like that it is thin enough to wear under helmet and that it does not take up too much room in my pocket or purse. When it is colder I can match it with an exercise cap or even balaclava for extra warmth. The yarn piles a little, enough to give the hat a cozy look but not enough to spoil the pattern.

Grade: Yay!

Urchin mitts, pocket hat and Fish hat

Fish hat and pocket hat
(First row, eight and tenth picture and above)

I am very pleased with both of these hats. Trevor wore the fish hat for the whole season. It is not the warmest hat so I am glad that he wears padded fleece hats instead. He still wears the fish hat now and then. It looks great after all these years.

Markus’ pocket hat is too small now, but it did get quite a bit of use both by Markus and the little girl down the street after we’ve misplaced it at their place and her mom though it was one of theirs.

Grade: Yay!

Urchin mitts
(First row, ninth picture and above)

The in-between season in Ottawa is really short but the Urchin mittens get used every year. They are simple and cute and it always make me smile to see the kids wearing them.

Grade: Yay!

Jayne hat
(Second row second picture)

For a joke hat this thing gets worn occasionally.

Grade: Yay!

Kiwi and Pumpkin hats

These were super easy and fun to make and they look good even after all these years. They are not very warm so they are not full time hats but they do get some love particularly when Chris goes out to shovel snow.

Grade Yay!