When I’d finished piecing the top and put it on the table, I saw that it was a bit small for my purposes (dear self: allow me to introduce you to the concept of measuring in advance – it’s quite radical, I know, but you might want to try it sometime). I realized that if I were to double it, it would cover the table top almost perfectly. So, back to the cutting board I went, and cut pieces for a second runner.

Fortunately I’d bought quite a lot of each fabric, so I had plenty to work with. And here it is, pieced and stitched to the first one.

Now I just have to layer and quilt it. I’m not sure yet exactly how I’ll quilt it, but I will probably go with straight lines, both in-the-ditch and through the larger open spaces.

Some details:

fabric: Stonehenge by Sunshine Cottage, from Northcott in colours 3952 (the light beige), 3954 (the pink) and 3955 (the mottled blue/rust)

pattern: Moroccan Tiles table runner by Carolyn Griffin, Far-Flung Quilts

what kept me company while sewing: Blood Ties season 2 and Castle season 1, both on DVD.

I’m not one to make New Year’s resolutions – they always feel so doomed to failure. I haven’t made any for years. That doesn’t mean that I don’t stop and think about things like goals and desires. At this time of year, with the new year beginning and the solstice having passed and days getting longer, it’s hard not to pause and take stock. I look back over last year and forward at the year to come, and wonder how I can move closer to realizing my goals. That, of course, leads to thinking about just what those goals are.

If you’ve been reading my blog this past year, you’ll know that I’ve been taking classes and trying out some new things in the realm of art quilts. In truth, I’ve been taking classes here and there for several years now. I’ve tried everything from thread painting to fabric dying, from stamp carving to beading. I’ve also taken classes in creative thinking, and journaling for inspiration, and other topics intended to stimulate the creative part of my brain. I’ve realized that I love working with fabric and thread more than any other medium. I also love adding embellishments and beads. I have many ideas, and all of those pieces of the creative puzzle are falling into place and making me want to really get creating.

I find myself wondering what obstacles stop me from doing just that. As with most people, life does sometimes interfere. Things need to be done if I want to eat food and live in a clean home and have clean clothes to wear. It’s also hard to keep focussed. I so easily get distracted by the internet or other things. And my sewing room is constantly a mess and hard to work in. On the other hand, I tend to have unrealistic expectations of myself. I find myself thinking that I could do so much more if I just had more self-discipline, forgetting that I can’t simply will away the health problems that often sap my energy. I need to find the middle ground, where I can focus what energy I have on what matters most, while still accepting that I need to allow enough time for rest, exercise and self-care.

On top of that, I get caught too often in perfectionism and the fear of making mistakes. That’s a big barrier, one that can lead to projects in progress being avoided for months or years. It’s about time for less fear and more courage, and focussing on the mantra “finished is better than perfect!”

So, these are my intentions for the coming months: to spend more time doing the things that I love to do – creating and learning; to use up some of my stash of fabric and yarn – some of which has been patiently waiting for attention for years now; to crack open some of the wonderful books I own, and try out the techniques and patterns contained in them; to let go of that anxiety and have fun making things; and to finally get my sewing room organized into something more functional. And I hope to keep on sharing my art and craft adventures with my friends and readers.

So, do you have any hopes or intentions for the coming year?

Here are a few knitting projects that I’ve recently finished:

A pair of socks:

I love this pattern, it’s the second time I’ve made it. This time I used this pretty colour of wool/nylon blend fingering weight sock yarn from Holiday Yarns. The pattern is slightly lacy, and very easy to memorize. I think they’ll be great in summer.

Pattern: Seduction Socks by Ann Budd, from Interweave Knits.

Yarn: Flocksock Sock Yarn from Holiday Yarns in colour Articado

Needle size: 2.75 mm

Started on July 6/11, finished on December 9/11.

A pair of fingerless mittens:

These are made from yarn I bought in Rhinebeck in 2009. I’ve already used some of it to make a Riverbanks Hood, so these will match. They also match my coral-coloured rain jacket. These were very quick to knit, even for a slow knitter like me. I’ve come to love fingerless mitts for those in-between seasons, and even indoors when it’s chilly. This pair has a little lace and texture, with a simple picot edging.

Pattern: Suzie’s Reading Mitts, by Dancing Ewe Yarns (a free pattern that seems to no longer be available – which is why it’s wise to download those freebies when you first see them!)

Yarn: Four Play from Brooks Farm Yarn, a 50/50 wool/silk blend in colour M6

Needle size: 3.75 mm

Started on December 11/11, finished on December 17/11.

A lace shawl:

I knit this up for a friend. I’m so pleased with it that I might just make another one for myself (I think I’ve got enough yarn for a smaller version). I love lace knitting, and shawls. I like different shapes of shawls, and this one was a nice change from the usual triangle or rectangle. It’s more like an isosceles trapezoid, with the increases done along two lines instead of one, as in a triangular shawl. The shape drapes nicely across the shoulders and doesn’t need a shawl pin to stay in place. Here it is being blocked:

Pattern: Live Oak Shawlette, by Rosemarie (Romi) Hall, from Knitscene Magazine, Fall 2011. I made this larger by knitting two repeats of chart A, then one of chart B.

Yarn: Kicking Horse Sock from Rocky Mountain Dyeworks, a blend of merino and bamboo rayon, in colour One-Eyed Sphynx.

Needle size: 3.5 mm

Started on October 10/11, finished on November 24/11.

I have quite a lot of fingering weight yarn that’s been hand dyed. Much of it is variegated or multicoloured – some self-striping, some more random. I’m finding that I most like the sort that has very short colour runs and knits up mottled, like in the shawl and socks shown above. I’m far less fond of the random pooling that can happen with medium-length runs of colour in socks and shawls. I’m happy with the mitts, though. The pooling turned out very nice and stripy, instead of blotchy.

I have a few other works-in-progress. One is a sweater, another is another pair of socks. There’s also a shawl that’s been sitting in time-out for a while, while I decide whether I really want to tackle knitting nupps. I think I do, but we’ll see. My first try wasn’t very successful and I ripped it back to a lifeline and haven’t yet picked it up to try again. I probably will – I don’t usually give up easily!