One of my favorites is the Peasant Blouse knit from Isager Highland Wool,  pattern by Birgitte Hygram.  I loved the intricate chevron pattern, very fun to make.

I wear Alexandra by Jenny Watson all the time. Knit in Rowan Cork, a favorite discontinued yarn.

Gavotte, pattern by Cecily Glowik MacDonal. Meh.  I usually love her designs, this one is so-so.  Knit in discontinued Rowan RYC Cashcotton 4-ply

Loved knitting and love wearing Bailey's Irish Cream by Baby Cocktails knit in Louisa Harding's Mulberry Silk.

Glamorous 5200K by Suvi Simola in Rowan Kidsilk Glamour.

This was my grab and go sweater this summer, Caramel by Isabel Kramer, knit in Rowan Calmer.

Very fun lace pattern to knit, Eos by Marie Wallin in Rowan All Seasons Chunky.

Opaline by Robin Melanson in Rowan Softknit Cotton, very very nice new cotton.

A test knit for the darling Baby Cocktails, Tanqueray knit in the classic Rowan Felted Tweed DK.

Favorite Cardigan by Wendy Bernard, a good beginner top down cable project, knit in Sublime Aran.

Rita by Martin Storey and my first of what will be at least 3 sweaters in Rowan Angora Haze.

That wonderful Angora Haze again, this time in Mila by Kim Hargreaves.  What a gorgeous sweater in color Nest.

Oh man, I love this.  Luna by Kim Hargreaves in the awesome Rowan Kidsilk Eclipse in Topaz.

My last knit of the year, the fabulous Easy Folded Poncho by Churchmouse  using Rowan Felted Tweed DK, a GREAT combo. I just loved all the stockinette using on of my favorite yarns.

I knit 4 sweaters for Annie.  First is Twigs and Willows by Alana Dakos in Rowan Belle Organic Aran.

Peasy by Heidi Kirrmaier in Cascade 220 Superwash.

Olmstead by Jenny Ujiie in Cascade Cotton Rich DK.

Clearwing by Amy Cristoffers in Debbie Bliss Cathay, love yarn and pattern.

I made a few baby gifts too.   Here's Josie wearing the Louisa Toddler Cape by Sarah Hatton  Rowan Baby Merino Silk DK.  Love the pattern and the yarn.

I can't begin to think how many Owl Cardis I've made over the years. This one in Rowan Wool Cotton 4-ply.  Lovely yarn, lovely pattern.  What a great combo. Classic pattern by Penny Straker, her mother was the first to turn cables into owls.

Latte Baby Coat by Lisa Chemery.  Loved making this in Cascade 128 Superwash!

Lark Scarf by Gemma Atkinson knit in the new Rowan Fine Art.

Walking Rib by Churchmouse Yarns in Rowan Felted Tweed Aran.

Lonely Tree by Silvia Bo Bilvia in the new and wonderful California yarn, PIONEER!  Yay!

My 5th or 6th Cedar Leaf by Alana Dakos, this one in Tosh DK.

I knit the Oaklet Shawl by Megan Goodacre in Plucky Primo Fingering, a good match.

I was in my blue phase and knit yet another blue neck thingy this time using the Wurm Cowl Pattern.

Take It or Leaf It by Marilyn Porter, a one skein, one night wonder knit in Rowan Lima Color.

I'm proud of Paso, offered by Rowan, using one skein of the new Kidsilk Amore.

Rowan also published Medocino, again using just one skein of the new Rowan Kidsilk Amore.

My first self published pattern, Christmas Dollies, here using Rowan Angora Haze.

I added another free pattern to the Ravelry pattern base, Woodland Elves using Lion Brand Wool-Ease.

Easy pattern, a hybrid of others I've seen and offered for free on my blog, Boot Cuff knit in Rowan Alpaca Cotton.

Thanks to my knitting friend, Konrad for inspiring me to write this post, and ahem, when I chronicle it like this, it looks like all I did was knit!  But do check out Konrad's amazing 2013 knits.  He excels in fair isle, lace, cables, and well, there is really nothing he can't do, (and wait until you see his afghans) plus he is humble and generous.  Because of him and many of the other knitters I've met over the years through this blog; knitters who have inspired me beyond measure, I've decided to extend myself a little in 2014.  So I resolve to try a simple fair isle pattern, something I've stayed away from for fear of frustration!  2014 will be my fair isle year!  Do you have a new year's knitting resolution?  (Maybe we can knit down that stash a bit?)

My very best to you dear readers, and I hope your 2014 wishes and dreams come true.  And as always, thank you for stopping by.  xoxo, Kristen

Linked to The Dedicated House.

Well the title says it all, Easy Folded Poncho.  This might be the easiest project ever and it's a perfect project to recommend to beginners who want to go beyond a garter stitch scarf.  It's endless stockinette and that drives some folk nuts, but it's totally soothing to me.  This was a travel knit, I took it NYC and knit it without thinking on the airplane and back in the room at night.  Using Rowan Felted Tweed DK is very easy to knit and makes it perfect for touch knitting when you can't look down at your work, like in the movie theater or at a meeting.

I've knit with Felted Tweed DK many times before and it's always a treat to knit and wear, but I usually knit it more as a sportweight at 24 stitches per 4 inches.  This pattern requires that you knit it on larger needles for 20 stitches per 4 inches.  This makes the fabric quite fluid and is perfect for this project.  This fluidity is what makes this poncho work, so I think that you'd need to give any yarn substitutions a good think and make sure you were getting the same type fabric.  With that said, I am diving through my stash to see if I have something that might work, but may end up in the yarn store for the FTDK, I do need another movie knit and could use it today! 

We are going to the movies this afternoon to see The Wolf of Wall Street with Leonard DiCaprio.  Remember I told you my mom was his talent agent when he was just starting out as a boy?  Because of that, and because he is a great actor, etc., we always love to see his movies.  I hear this one is terrific!

This is a very quiet weekend for us.  I am going to play with my new knitting needles I got for Christmas!  My family totally gets me and gave me the new Knit Picks Caspian Needles.  There's always eye rolling when I open my presents, they think I have too much knitting related stuff already, as if.  And these are so pretty!  But I love them because they have great points and are super smooth.  They make for a fast knit but not slippery at all.  Plus the joins on the circulars are very smooth.

The table is set for Christmas Eve.  I feel so settled.  We actually went to the movies and saw American Hustle, two thumbs up.  We also braved Costco, so crowded, but they expect large crowds and had us out the door in no time.  We plan a very simple but delicious meal, starting off with this classic crab cake recipe and ending with a modified version of this yummy looking recipe using the ollalieberries we picked this summer.  In between we'll have a standing rib roast and the last of the frozen green beans from summer.

The Christmas Eve table centerpiece is from Costco.  The evergreens are so pretty and smell so nice and I imagine they'll last for weeks.  The dinner plates are those lovely, large inexpensive ones from Pottery Barn.  The salad plates are awesome, they are from Vietri, made of glass and look like a tortoise shell.  The tablecloth is from Beauville.  Every year they create a special Christmas tablecloth.  The DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS I go to my favorite linen shop and see if I can buy it half price, I will stand in line for half price linens.  This one is so pretty with snowflakes and fir trees and I use it all winter. 

We've been gone for a good part of December and have not had much time for many of our Christmas traditions.  (It looks like I've been in town because when I travel I pre-write and schedule my blog and FB posts.)  So this busy year we have a teensy tree, nary a Christmas cookie in the house and haven't really decorated much at all.  But it's all OK, and I think it was kind of nice for a break, taking a year off.  But just for this one year only.  I told my husband, next year, sweetie, we are full on Christmas again; boxes down from the attic, big tree, and parties!

I'm looking forward to a relaxing week ahead, visiting with friends and family and spending some time at home too.  Merry Christmas and may you be blessed with hope, peace, joy and love.

xoxo Kristen