Norwegian Knits-Along: Week 24

Warning: long post. I'll post further updates to any finishers--Andrea and Kerry, great finish, girls!--for the next week or so. See you next Thursday!

All entries | KAL Gallery | CAPS = finished project

Sweaters & Vests
◊ Jen
◊ Rebekkah
◊ JILL
◊ SYDNEY
◊ JULIA
◊ LIZ
◊ CATHERINE
◊ Beth

Socks & Stockings
◊ Rachel
◊ Jessica
◊ JESS
◊ Jenny
◊ Meow Girl has finished her stockings! Research be damned, at least she has socks to keep her warm! Great job, MG!
◊ LIZ
◊ KATE
◊ Kerry finished her stockings too! They look great with the heels, Kerry!
◊ KELLY
◊ Prim has her second stocking but alas, no photo. But hey, it looks remarkably similar to this.

Mittens & Gloves
◊ WENDY
◊ Terri
◊ Paula
◊ VIRTUELLA
◊ Carie
◊ Mary Beth
◊ Katie
◊ VERONIQUE
◊ NANETTE
◊ Blogless TERI R
◊ Liz

Hats & Headbands
◊ JILLIAN
◊ Blogless Ellen
◊ ADRIAN
◊ Angela
◊ ANDREA
◊ Tiffany
◊ SARAH
◊ Susan
◊ MICHELLE
◊ NANCY
◊ JESSICA
◊ KIM
◊ CAITLYN
◊ SARAH W
◊ PHOEBE
◊ EVA
◊ Pixie
◊ MONICA
◊ STACEY
◊ Your host just received this picture from Germany of BF's "niece" trying out her Let It Snow! hat. Sooo cute, she is!

Miscellaneous
◊ Andrea has finished her bag! And it is a lovely melange of colors! It's really, really beautifully done!
◊ Jennifer has her Zombie Wristwarmers published in the April 2006 edition of Magknits! Congratulations, Jennifer! People with yarn scraps; here's a good pattern for you.

Honorary Knitalongers
◊ Strikkelise
◊ Elin
◊ Silja

There *will* be another Norwegian Knits-Along at the end of this year, for those who didn't get to finish their projects (another chance!) or those who want to knit another. If you're still jonesing for Norwegian knitting, why not join the Norge Knit group?

This being my first time hosting a KAL, I was faced with some unforeseen issues. If you're thinking of hosting a KAL, here is my advice:

◊ Set a time limit. It also helps if you indicate the week in your post title.
◊ Decide how the KAL should be managed. Should it be one you monitor and either a: ask participants to email you with updates, or b: check everyone's sites weekly? I prefer this over because I get to look at everyone's site (and thankfully there were less than 50 participants) and read about their progress. OR should it be an absentee host KAL, where participants post their own notes on an independent blog? I don't think this is as engaging as the first option. Besides, as a host, you're supposed to be watching over the KAL.
◊ Expect life to intrude once in a while. There were instances where holidays, work, and more work took priority over knitting and the KAL. This will happen. Just make sure you cover those missed weeks in the following update, or, better yet, have a participant blogger post on your behalf. (I should've thought of that. Earlier.)
◊ Check your emails frequently. Blogless participants send pictures; post those on their behalf. Also, check for people who want to join along the way.
◊ Categorize your participants. If it's a general knitalong such as this was, it's good to know who's knitting what so everyone can compare notes.
◊ Post a gallery of finished work. *Clearly* the most satisfying part of the KAL. I love having a page full of beautiful knitted items. Obtain permission from the owners (or make it part of your rules), give credit, and link to their posts. It's good to have a story.