Crafty New Year!

Well, it's been a while since I last posted.  It seemed like the New Year is a perfect chance to start up again!  :-)

Here are two finished projects from 2015!

First, and the biggest: K's Blanket

This was my niece's Christmas present, and I finished it on the 24th.  It wound up large enough that I had to get help photographing it.  This was really my biggest project of the year.

I've also had a couple of requests for the pattern, so will be trying to write one very soon (the things that make sense in my head don't always make sense on paper).

Second: Bohemian Shawl (available on Yarnspirations)

This was a great project that moved quickly and was a lot of fun to make.  The only changes I made to the original pattern were (1) to extend the length and (2) to sew faceted beads into the tip of each diamond.  They don't stand out too much, but they add a nice bit of sparkle.

Honestly, this past year I was better at starting projects than finishing them.  I have some smaller finishes - a hat, a scarf, etc. but mostly a lot of bags of half-complete patterns.  It's hard not to start a new project when you have a really great inspiration that you're afraid of forgetting!

With that being said, I've actually stepped back a little on the complicated patterns since Christmas.  After frogging a scarf back to the beginning four times (a frustrating process!) I decided that some simple, basic, happy Granny Squares would be much more relaxing.

Here's what I've gotten done since the 26th:

I'm enjoying the colors so much!

One last thing I have to show off - my new crochet Christmas presents. 

A blocking board (actually, a set of interlocking boards) : 

And a yarn bowl!

I hope that anyone reading this had a wonderful holiday!