Project Update (January 2024)

Many WIPS, few Finished Objects

I always knew that, in my question to finish projects, things were going to get worse before they got better. That has very much been the case in January with not a single project done and many, many things on my knitting needles. Why don’t see how January’s gone together?

Finished Objects

None, but there is good reason for that! Please see the first entry below.

Current WIPS

Wearing Cardigan (with modifications)
Pattern designer: Donna Smith Designs
Yarn: Langsoond Double Knit in Clod (2020 clip)
Intended for: Dad

This cardigan would be in the Finished Objects column right now except that I am forcing myself to wait to knit the button bands that would complete it. This is because the Wearing Cardigan is a woman’s pattern, and I am knitting it for Dad, which requires some modifications, particularly in the length of the arms. I’ve also lowered the funnel neck to make a crewneck. I am planning to see Dad in February, so before. I commit to finishing this bottom-up construction cardigan with buttons bands and then realize I need to rip back to make more changes, I am giving it a mini hibernation. Also, buttons are ordered and coming in the post as I write this.

Oaken Shawl
Pattern designer: Tin Can Knits
Yarn: Garnstudio Drops Karisma in Wicked (stash yarn)
Intended for: Me

I’ve written before that this is my 2024 buddy knit with my sister who is on Instagram as @IShouldStitchThat. Well, she took a transatlantic flight and finished it, while I’ve relegated my Oaken Shawl to my new commuting project bag. (More on that later.) I have completed the garter stitch central square and started on the lace segment, however I haven’t picked it up again since mid-week last week. Must do better.

Hiedra Mitts
Pattern designer: Fiber Tales
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash in Camel (1961) (stash yarn)
Intended for: Me

I will be the first to admit that I flew through the first glove as my commuting project until I reached a pattern instruction that called for a crochet hook to create a braid made from dropped stitches. I set that aside because A) I didn’t have a crochet hook with me and B) that seemed like it was going to need some concentration. I have since looked at both the pattern and the accompanying video explaining the braid and it’s really quite simple and was a very satisfying stitch to knit.

I’ve now finished one mitt except for the thumb ribbing, and I’ve cast on the second. I anticipate finishing these early in February. I’ve transferred the project to my new commuting project bag, crochet hook and all.

Olive Cardigan
Pattern designer: Pernille Larsen (Knitting for Olive)
Yarn: Knitting for Olive Merino in Dusty Aqua held double with two strands of Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair in Dusty Aqua
Intended for: Me

I actually have been working on this knit. As of writing this, I’m nearly done with the raglan increases and am getting ready to separate the sleeves and join the body. This pattern has been very easy to memorize, but it still doesn’t quite qualify as mindless TV knitting because of manipulating three strands of yarn and picking up and decreasing stitches regularly. However, I am very much enjoying it, and I’m feeling more secure in the color choice I made.

Moby Slipover
Pattern designer: PetiteKnit
Yarn: De Rerum Natura Ulysses in Pavot
Intended for: Me

This continues to languish at the bottom of my knitting basket where it has been for months. I feel as though I am literally excavating projects in order to reach it and work on it again.

New Projects

Sophie Shawl
Pattern designer: PetiteKnit
Yarn: King Cole Luxury Merino DK in Cream (stash yarn) held together Rowan Kidsilk Haze in White (stash yarn)
Intended for: Me

I can justify casting this on (I swear) while still having technically five other WIPs on my needles. After basically finishing the Wearing Cardigan, I needed something that fit the bill as mindless TV knitting. I remembered my friend

jenni

telling me that she was starting this one, so I cast it on!

Since this is a purely stash busting project, I dug out some King Cole Luxury Merino DK from The Gentleman’s cricket jumper I made last year and some Kidsilk Haze that’s been languishing for years. They have knit up to make this squishy, sumptuous yarn that I’m really enjoying knitting. Also, I should note that since I am attempting to stash bust here, I am doing PetiteKnit’s recommendation of weighing my yarn and knitting half on the increases and half on the decreases.

I absolutely love the way this yarn is knitting up together.

New Acquisitions

Commuting project bag

This was a birthday gift from my friend Mary who had heard me muttering about struggling to keep my knitting needles from escaping my backpack on our regular writing day together in the city. It is spacious but squishable, which is key, and it has already been getting a huge amount of use.

The Camel’s Yarn purchases

I am on a stash-busting mission this year, as I’ve written about previous. However, I am only human and I am delighted/saddened to report that Instagram got me. I saw a gorgeous post from The Camels’s Yarn (@thecamelsyarn on Instagram) about her Moorland hand-dyed yarn drop and I immediately doomed. I bought (hold me back):

• 2 skeins of Deergrass NSW fingering for a Ranunculus by Midori Hirose (likely short sleeved, so there might be extra for socks or a small scarf)

• 2 skeins of Autumn Bracken NSW fingering for a Ranunculus by Midori Hirose (likely long sleeved, so there might be extra for a stash-busting project)

• 1 skein of Lichen and Stone standard sock for to be determined socks

• 1 skein of Deergrass standard sock as a gift for my sister just because

• 1 skein of The Spectral Haze standard sock for to be determined socks

• 1 skein of Tom Bawcock’s Eve standard sock for to be determined socks

When I break a yarn-buying ban, I break it with wild abandon.

In fairness to myself, there’s no formal ban in place in my household. Instead, I’m trying to work through projects and work through my stash yarn because I hate to see it just sitting there unused. I’m also using this as a bit of a reward for finishing off a huge project that has been sitting on my desk since this time last year.

Since this Moorland drop is a preorder (it is actually still open until February 4th), I likely won’t receive this yarn until April/May. Present Julia is giving Future Julia a lovely gift.

Buttons for Dad’s Wearing Cardigan

Buttons might not seem like the most exciting thing, but he wanted leather buttons like you would get on a tweed jacket, so I went hunting for them in the right size. I think they’re going to look amazing.

Size 3.5mm double pointed needles

I don’t know why my DPN set doesn’t come with this size, but I had to buy these separately.

Plans for next month

I have a big theme to next month that I’ll be sharing more details of tomorrow. (Keep an eye on your inboxes and Substack app.) However, amidst all of that, I’m mostly just planning to keep knitting away. My goal would be to get at least a couple of Finished Objects listed at the top of February’s project update page (the Wearing Cardigan being the obvious one, possibly followed by the Hiedra Mitts). Other than that, I’m just looking forward to knitting away and enjoying the process!

What are you planning for the month of February? Leave me a comment and let me know!