Five for 2005

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
-Alfred, Lord Tennyson

I see reflections and resolutions popping up everywhere. Here are mine.

Top 5 for 2005:

1. New Technique: Blogging. Seriously. I know there are plenty of new and exciting knitting things I did this year, but most of them are variations on a theme. A larger colorwork project, a different angle for lace, things like that. With the blog, I learned how to use a digital camera (yeah, I had a lot to catch up on), learned a lot more about my computer, and realized just how important it is to leave comments when I visit other blogs.
   
2. Favorite Finished Object: So many to choose from . . . For myself, it's a toss-up between my self-designed Aran and Ene's scarf. But overall, I think I'll stick with the best gift I gave this year - my mom's Norwegian Roses Cardigan.
   
3. Favorite Knit-a-along: This is easy - I only joined one: Who Wouldn't Want a Handknitted Gift?
   
4. Favorite Shop: Sakonnet Purls in Tiverton Four Corners, RI. Hands down my favorite place to spend an afternoon. I'm going to miss this so much when I leave New England.
   
5. Favorite Tool: Don't laugh, but I love this little cardboard (it's really sturdy, OK?) 6" ruler that I got for free at some store-front LYS in Missoula, MT. We stopped on a road trip about 4 years ago (and I got the yarn for this). It fits into my sock knitting bag and is perfect for checking the length of socks subtly, without rolling out the tape measure. A close second are the clear plastic ones (also 6") that my dad brings me from work (which are fabulous for measuring gauge swatches).