After almost a year of hardly knitting,
it feels good to be back on the ‘always knitting’ wagon.
I thought I would summarize my current knitting plans as well as projects in my queue, and then periodically check back this year ... and document what progress has been made. Hopefully having this list will discourage random additions.
In addition I am seriously considering using an excel worksheet to document all my yarn at present. The last time I did an inventory I probably had double what I own now. Much of it was given away because I had just lost interest in them. What is left is loved and a list would be helpful when I see a pattern I like. If I don’t have the yarn in stash for it - no point buying extra patterns - that at some point would force me to acquire more yarn. But the inventory would take time away from actually knitting. And progress is my goal this year. Still the lure of having a completed inventory still beckons me.
My current WIPs are: (% complete a guesstimate.)
Mosaic crochet blanket, The Queen by Tina - 15% complete link I don’t need another blanket, but I love this technique and the pattern. I should be further along than my current 18” inches, but crocheting makes my hands hurt worse than knitting. Still, this is on my radar to finish. The picture shows the front side and the back side.
Einstein Coat - 30% complete Link I started this project with my knitting group. God knows, I don’t need another knitted coat, but I love the pattern and I have the yarn and it is started. The yarn is a combination of 2 yarns that I believe together are prettier than either separately. I definitely will finish this.
The Boxy BoyFriend Sweater by Aisling Yarns - 70% complete The yarn is Cozy Color Work in Speckled Pecan. The picture does not do this yarn justice. It is beautiful yarn, but I am on the fence about finishing this project. My problem is two fold: it is a one size fits all - which it doesn’t, and it appears I have a dye lot problem I didn’t notice until I took the pictures. It is not as dramatic in person but it is obvious. I hate the idea of pulling out all that work - but if it is going to bother me after it is made - I should cut my losses and find another pattern.
Set Sail Shawl by Erin Johnson - 20% complete Link by Erin Johnson using Plymouth Select Worsted Superwash Merino Yarn - kettle dyed. I don’t need another shawl, but this one is designed for wearing in the house - and for warmth. It is mindless and good for TV watching and time in knitting group.
Satie Lace Shawl by Dee O’keefe - 20% complete - Link using Classic Elite Yarns’ Waterlily also kettle dyed but not as obvious as the Plymouth Select in the previous project. Ditto - being made for home use and for warmth (and to make a dent in that Waterlily yarn that I have so much of.) Also a mindless project, this shawl is not terribly impressive unblocked, but once blocked I suspect I will love this shawl.
High in the queue but not started are the following but this list can easily change:
Shawl Andromeda by Birget Freyer Link by Birget Freyer - using a Gradient 60% superfine merino / 40% silk lace weight yarn - purchased at the Alpaca Fair last year. This yarn is so yummy. Actually the yarn came with a different pattern and matching beads, and I decided I like this pattern better. But, yes, another shawl!! Whatever was I thinking when I bought it the past November.
Stolen Stitches Dacite Sweater by Carol Feller Link by Carol Feller out of Ireland - using Classic Elite Yarns’ Waterlily. I fell in love with the sweater the moment I saw it. It has been a long time since I knitted a sweater for myself. Looking forward to this project very much. Classic Elite in Waterlily will also be used for this (yes, I have THAT MUCH Waterlily.)
Rhaegal’s Wing Shawl by Jennifer Ansara Link by Jennifer Ansara of Fireworks using Shimmy Yarn, 100% Superwash Merino. This is MDSW purchase from 2024. It was the last stall we visited. I had made it all the way through the fair without purchasing yarn! But I didn’t leave the fair without falling into a trap. The yarn is fun and I have some plans to use some beautiful fiber locks in colors that match the yarn mixed into the knitting..
A new project grabbed my attention while creating this post.
The Temperature Blanket Link Have you ever heard of this? It is new to me. Although I linked you to a paid pattern, you can easily find free instructions on Ravelry or YouTube. I discovered the pattern on a fellow bloggers site. Karen of Life is Good Link was recently introduced to this blanket. This is a simple stitch stripe blanket (stitch is your choice) with each color representing a specific high temperature (or low temp or medium temp) for each day of the year - with 365 rows or stripes. I immediately thought it was a cool idea but tabled it for myself because of my numerous WIPs and projects in queue. Then I remembered my enormous supply (56 skeins - at 220 yards each or 12,320 yards) of brillantly colored Pima Cotton that I purchased eons ago and have not used. Since it was only mid-January I was not too far behind. I went out to the web and gathered the high daily temps for the January so far. I joined a Facebook group for this pattern. I printed out a few beautiful blankets on Ravelry as examples. I took pictures of the yarn I could to use. I discovered you only need 10 colors - I have 11. Yeah!! But then a little voice in my head that I can’t seem to ditch, wondered if the colors transitioned the way I wanted them to - and should I purchase better transition colors ... just maybe a few skeins! Right! More skeins added to the 56 I already have. (I am sure you see my problem.)
(SEE HOW EASILY DISTRACTED I CAN BE!)
Still more ... YouTube has various video logs on this blanket as well. I was kind of surprised at the volume of offerings considering just how simple an idea this is. But there are all sorts of variations on this and it is fun to check them all out. I discovered that you can pick any year you want and make that blanket just by looking up weather stats on line. So who cares if I am getting behind on this year! Will I do this? Only time will tell, but it seriously is an ideal, mindless, yarn eating choice for someone like me who has the desire to use up yarn inventory.
Some of this post is driven by my hands! In the last few months arthritis in my hands has become an issue. It is developing way faster than the arthritis in my back and knees. Scary fast I would say. I remember my mom’s hands. They were swollen and painful with arthritis. When she lived with me, I tried to get her interested in knitting and/or crocheting. She was a knitter earlier in life. She wanted to do it but her hands would freeze up and she couldn’t manipulate the hook or the needles. She couldn’t even let go of the tools without help. She was in her 80s at that time. I can’t help but worry the clock is clicking on my hands. How long will they work for this dearly loved hobby.
So this year - I am all about the progress!! It is one thing to give away yarn I felt luke warm about - that was easy. It is entirely another thing to give away yarn you dearly love but can't use any more. Heartbreaking.
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