The first finishes of the year

I usually start of the new year with a new start...this year, I didn't, and instead managed to get two finishes within a little over a week! That's not too bad a trade, is it?

My first finish is Satsuma Street's Halloween Cat - she was our Halloween SAL for 2017, so I started in August, but got distracted and haven't touched her since October, when she was about half finished. I actually picked her up on New Year's Eve, after finishing the December page of Fire and Ember, and worked on her for a total of eight days before putting on the last stitches this last Sunday.

I already got a frame picked out and ordered for her, so you'll see her again all nice and unwrinkled soon! She's stitched with all DMC on Opalescent 32ct Murano 'Evening Magic' by Crafty Kitten.

The second finish was my Saffron shawl and a very late Christmas present as well! I was able to complete a full pattern repeat, then do three rows of linen stitch on the long side (the pattern called for five rows, but I didn't have enough yarn for that, and also I prefer it like this). The yarn is 'Regentau' (Rain Dew) by Garnstube.

I have a hard time parting with this and will likely use the pattern again sometime!

You might notice that both projects are not part of my WIPocalypse list - both are things I really wanted to finish in 2017, and as you see, I just barely missed that goal. So having them off my chest I feel like really starting a new year now, craftwise. I shall now go to stitch a few bottles on 99, then try to do some catchup on Snow White, who is dreadfully behind (December 10th, I think).