What are you proudest of making?

I received a very thought-provoking email newsletter from 'Knitting Daily' a couple of weeks ago, entitled "What are you proudest of making?", and it piqued my inspiration for another blog post (can one 'pique one's inspiration', I wonder? Oh well, I'll say I can.)

So, what am I proudest of making?

1. Mohair cowl-neck jumper, also known as 'My First Jumper'. I had been knitting blanket squares for what seemed like forever, when Mum handed me a big bag from Victoria House with balls of Heirloom Picasso, needles and a Patons (or was it Cleckheaton? Maybe it was Cleckheaton.) pattern book, saying to me "Here. Now knit something useful!".

I discovered that with my ability to knit, purl, increase and decrease, I really could make myself something wearable. The colours are a dark rainbow of sorts, reminding me of an oil slick. I followed the pattern to the letter. The ribbing is riddled with errors, hidden mercifully within the fuzzy mohair; the seams are lumpy and awkward, as I had no idea about weaving pieces together; and the entire thing is enormous, as I was convinced that the best size to knit would be The Biggest. Because, after all, I could wear something that was too big, I couldn't wear something too small.

2. My First Socks; continuing the 'My Firsts' theme I have going here. There is something amazing about knitting your first pair of socks. Realising I could knit a tube using five needles was a revelation, and turning a heel to create a specially-placed dent in the tube was, well, mind-blowing. I credit Stephanie Pearl-McPhee with helping me make sense of it all, and showing me just how easy it really is. Plus, handknit socks really really impress knitting Muggles: "Oh, these? Just something I whipped up myself..."

3. My 'Raspberry Clapotis' and my 'Baby Mine': Firstly, 'Baby Mine'... I can knit lace? Yep. I can knit a seamless garment? Yep. A challenging and extremely rewarding knit - I loved it. It was this and my 'Raspberry Clapotis' that I believe helped my Mum (who taught me to knit) to see my knitting in a whole new way. When looking at the half-finished Clapotis on weekend, she commented that I seem to knit like I'm creating art. She has also mentioned that my Gran (her mum, who taught me to knit the second time) would be so proud to see my knitting. I'm instantly proud of anything I've made that can prompt a compliment from my mum.

4. WonderBoy's Weasley Sweater: The first knitting I've done where I've really thought about gauge, yarn substitution and the mathematics of size. It turned out reasonably successful, and I'm extremely proud of not just knitting what the pattern says.

And, in a preemptive listing on the 'Proud-O-Meter', I have a very warm feeling about Lola-Frog's 2009 blanket. Each month, I feel good about the squares I'm completing, and I'm so proud to think that she'll be have a tangible, huggable reminder of how I felt about her arrival.

Knitting speaks volumes, and I love that.