Dec 27 2007
A 2007 Retrospective
Lopi V-Neck / Sesame Cardigan / Glee Tee
Wren Cardigan / Easy Street Pullover / Aftur Pullover / Street Smart Hoodie
Seven sweaters in 2007. How fitting. Perhaps I should make eight in 2008? I do have my eyes on quite a few things… and sweaters have been my go-to knit in the past few months.
I have become a better knitter this year. I have learned new skills, and I have gained a little patience and confidence in the process. I have produced knitted garments that are wearable and (in my opinion) stylish. I do hope the trend continues into 2008!
Since I was reminiscing, I decided to put together a few other collages of my 2007 knits. You can see them here:
In the spirit of looking back over a productive year and planning for a new exciting one , I have decided to answer Knit Lit’s Best of 2007 meme.
1. your best FO of the year
While all of my knits hold a special place, I think my favorite finished object of the year is my Aftur Yoked Pullover. When I look at it, I am still surprised that I actually made it. In terms of wearability, I also love my Verona Shawl and my sister’s Montego Bay Shawl. They were not difficult knits, but match well with many different types of clothing. And for the sheer fun, my Noro Silk Garden Lite socks are quite nice to wear!
2. best FO of the year made by a blog you link to
This one is extremely difficult to answer – I read almost 400 blogs! and I follow many talented knitters on Ravelry and Flickr as well. Instead of one single finished knit, I had many favorites. Some of them are (but there are so many!): Stacey’s Turkish Stockings, Minty’s Shocking! Skirt, Elliphantom’s Demi, Claudine’s Little Majolica, Olga’s Bubble Pullover, so many more… including the continuously beautiful knits (and photographs) by Leslie, Lucy, Kirsten, Tiennie, Margaux, Jody, Vanessa, Pamela, and Terhi. (See? I told you I could not narrow it down – there are so many more!)
3. best yarn you tried
I got the opportunity to work with some very nice yarns this year – many from my stash. The two favorites that come to mind are the Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool that I used for Glee, and the Cottage Craft 2-ply that I used for the Street Smart Hoodie.
4. best new book/mag/pattern of 2007
For me, this is nearly as difficult to choose as a favorite finished knit! There are still a large amount of knitting books hitting the market every season, and it is hard to keep up with them all. I like the new trends of looking to traditional patterns and motifs and updating the patterns for modern use. This is what attracts me to Nancy Bush’s work, and what also excites me about the new books like Terri Shea’s Selbuvotter. In terms of magazines, I am continually inspired by the Interweave Press publications – my favorites are Knits, Knitscene, and Piecework.
5. best new knitting technique or gadget you tried in 2007
I love colorwork. I cut my teeth with two stranded colorwork patterns this year, and there will be many many more in my future.
6. top 5 inspirations–what five things inspired you the most over the past year?
In terms of general inspiration for both life and art, I receive my greatest inspiration from ONE main thing: the beauty of the natural world. I love to be in nature and get the fullest sensual experience of sounds, smells, sights, and feelings. This year has brought the opportunities to see varied landscapes and climates, and I have gathered endless inspiration from the world around me.
7. designer who most amazed & inspired you throughout the year
Norah Gaughan has continued to amaze me – I love seeing her influence and touch in Berroco’s design work, and I am looking forward to seeing more of her work in 2008. (Tina had a very nice interview with her on Christmas Day!) Another designer who continues to amaze me with her sheer skill and eye for detail is Eunny Jang.
8. knitting resolutions for 2008–what’s next for you and your blog?
My immediate goal is to just keep getting better. I plan to focus on stranded colorwork and continue my study in technique and practice. In terms of general fiber, I will also be testing the waters with some other fiber activities. I am doing a weaving workshop in January, and am hoping to learn more about textiles through this new medium. As for me and the blog, we will continue our long-standing relationship 
I will continue to write, and hopefully work towards a larger body of work that can be published in the near future. I have rediscovered my love of writing, and am hoping that 2008 will bring more opportunities to share my work.
Thank you for reading!! I would love to see your answers to this questionnaire as well. Check out Knit Lit’s blog for more information on this particular set of questions!
WOW! Lolly, am quite impressed how much beautiful, wearable and stylish knitting you have done this year. I can visualize your knitting to be even more remarkable next year! You are such an inspiration!
Thanks for the mention, it’s such an honour. I hope you’ll have a prosperous 2008!
I hope you had a wonderful holiday & I’m wishing you & your hubby a great 2008! I can’t believe you read 400 blogs.. lol. I thought MY blogroll was monsterious! I’m hoping to try 2 stranded colorwork this year because both my hubby and son want the “We call them pirates” hat… *sigh*
Great retrospective! Thanks for another year of entertaining reading. I always get a little thrill of excitement when I see a new entry on your blog. Your knitting has directly inspired some of mine. If 2008 brings you back to San Francisco, I’d love to see you again!
Happy happy holidays to you!
I loved reading this look back at the year, Lolly — and seeing in the photo collections just how much your knitting progressed over 12 short months!
And, of course, I’m super honored & flattered that you included me with all those fabulously talented knitters.
Happy New Year! xo
Lovely knitting, Lolly! I especially like your sweaters – you did great! Happy New Year to you and Kris!
And thanks for mentioning me, I feel honored.
I’m loving your sweater accomplishments this year – especially those last two! I actually wanted to thank you for the links to your favorite FOs and various other knitting blogs – I just expanded my blog reader by about 10!
Those sweaters are so fabulous! They’re lovely. And such great colors. I love the yoke on the Aftur pullover.
You are such an inspiration! 2007 has definitely been a productive knitting year for me, but seven sweaters! Wow! I’ve been kind of afraid to tackle sweaters, but your fearlessness is giving me hope! Maybe I’ll shoot for 2008 to be a sweater year—thanks so much for being a trailblazin’ knitter!
Lolly – what a year! You had an awesome 2007 — so many great knits and great adventures. You continue to inspire me – bring on 2008, I say!
I am just incredibly impressed—— and inspired, did I say that? Thanks for sharing your compilation of knittery, you must have sat back and thought that you were quite the Thang when you saw that lovely parade of projects!
WILD APPLAUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
8 in ’08 eh? I am sure that you will do it!!
You had a very full year!! Huzzah to you!!
I love your retrspective mosaic! I think I will do that, too, for my blog. What a neat way to see all off the things you’ve done over the year.
Thanks for keeping up your wonderful blog, Lolly! I’ll keep reading ya in 2008
Lolly, I am too impressed at how you’ve covered your year with knitting projects and all. Very nice and look at all the gorgeous objects you’ve created.
Lolly, I have a question…for either of your two stranded colorwork projects did you use steeks? I just completed my first stranded colorwork project (one mitten…not a pair, mind you) and am anxious to try something like your pullover, but I don’t think I’m ready for steeks. Any thoughts?
Great retrospective! You’ve had a beautiful year (SEVEN sweaters? my how a year flies by), and your post has given me some food for thought for my own 2008 plans.
ps – thanks for the lovely mention, and right back atcha — thank *you* for some lovely inspiration as well!
Wow! What a lot of great knitting! I’m impressed by all of those sweaters, and those Silk Garden socks are still calling to me. I’ve got to make a pair!
Thanks for the mention, I’m very honored, especially coming from one with such fabulous knitting and photography skills!!
What a productive year you have had! Contragulations……..Can’t wait to see what 08 brings….
What a great and awesome year of FO’s… on to 2008. happy new year
I love your easy street pullover. It’s not a sweater I’ve seen a lot of while surfing the net, but it looks really good on you. The fit and the color are fantastic.
You’ve had a prolific & beautifully successful knitting year!
Dear Lolly–I answered your prompts–what a fun and revealing meme. I hpe you have a wonderful 2008. I am still checking in but commenting very infrequently. Hope your other “journey” is still going well, and if you visit Seattle please do get in touch… Much affection, Dana
What an interesting meme! I also discovered Silky Wool this year and am so pleased I did.
you accomplished a lot this year! and with project spectrum and all the socks and traveling, wow, 2007 was awesome! here’s to another great year in 2008! happy new year!
what a beautiful and inspiring retrospective, lolly! you should be very proud of your lovely creations. i love this about knitting… continued growth in the medium, engagement with beauty, always something new to learn… and something gorgeous to wear at the end of the road
thank you for your friendship and inspiration this year. hope you have a fantastic new year! xo
So much beautiful knitting. Like you, I also gave stranded knitting a try for the first time this year. It’s not as hard as it sounds although working the yarn with my right hand is still a bit awkward for me.
Your sweaters are all so pretty, but my simple tastes have me liking the grey one for Kris the best. By the by, Happy Belated to the Mr.!
Great post Lolly! Happy new year and I will look forward to more of your wonderful FO’s:)
Yep, great post, Lolly! I love just about everything you made. And 7 sweaters, wow! I didn’t get to do as much knitting as I’d like this year, but I’m hoping to make more sweaters next year. Hope you have a wonderful 2008, I’m looking forward to see more of your adventures next year!
A very productive year!! My favourite, hand down, is that gorgeous Aftur pullover! I am yet to venture in colour work! Well done!
[...] courtesy of Lolly and Knit Lit I bring you the Best of the Best 2007. However, instead of just keeping it to my [...]
Goodness gracious Lolly!! Seeing it all in one montage like that is very impressive! You inspire me to get cracking and knit even MORE! Red traffic light? Well, that’s enough time for a row surely!!
Wishing you knitterly contentment, many belly laughs and general sparkle in your days of 2008 
Thanks sweetie! I would have a hard time answering this meme–I think this year I knit quite a few of my all-time best items. I can’t believe you knit 7 sweaters, girl! I made one tank top. Sigh. You’re an inspiration!
You always amaze me at your talents! What a great year in knitting and life you’ve had. Have a wonder and productive 2008!!
You have accomplished quite a bit this year–beautiful knits. Happy new year to you!
So lovely to see all your great knits for 2007 together; a wonderful year of knitting it has been.
Glad to hear you had a great Christmas and wishing you a fantastic 2008.
nice retrospective! A great bevy of knitting & musings this year.
Happy New Year!
I love 7 sweaters in ’07! They all look great. I especially love the hoodie. I am hoping to try a sweater sometime soon. Maybe it’ll happen in ’08. Maybe!
A great wrap up! Seven sweaters! I really need to do a wrap up on my own, check knitting goals and see what I did this year.
Can’t wait to see what’s happenin’ in ’08.
beautiful round up of the year. I love all the projects……..there is so much inspiration out there!