Work in Progress - December 2023

 

A monthly update of all the projects piling up on and under my coffee table. You can read last month's update here and all previous months here.

This month things look a bit different as the coffee table has been moved out to make way for the Christmas tree. So, currently I only have 3 projects sitting out. And as we're in the darkest days of winter it's tricky to take daylight photos in the small surprisingly unpredictable window of not darkness. Especially given the rainy weather we've been having. So, I've taken some of this month's photos at the shop where I spend a lot of my time.😆

 

 

I have one finished project this month - my Bumble Hat!

Bumble is designed by Tin Can Knits. This is my second one. Last time I wore it inside out as I really liked the reverse of the slip stitch pattern. This time I'm wearing it right side out. 

 

the lovely slip stitch

 

I used our new Patsy DK, 100% merino hand dyed from My Mama Knits, in Metaphor for Doom. 

 

I've started 3 new projects. Two I can talk about, one will have to wait until January.

 

Frosty Pines, designed by Isabell Kraemer available to buy on Ravelry

 

I saw Isabell Kraemer's new pattern on the Thursday and had cast on by the Saturday. 

Frosty Pines is an asymmetrical triangle shawl in a DK weight yarn. It combines lace patterns, garter stitch stripes and rib. How could I resist?!?!

I'm using WYS Bluefaced Leicester DK in 002 Light Brown, 1034 Fossil and 1037 Umber. 

In the past week I've finished one ball of 002 and I have 2 repeats of the lace pattern to do before moving onto the garter stitch stripe.

This is a great example of how I am more engaged with a triangle than a rectangle.😆 You can see the opposite of that with our Wonderball Wrap which took me ages to finish.

(Hope I haven't just jinxed Frosty Pines.)

 

 

The second new project is much less taxing! This is a Simple Fluffy Loop and I'm using Nervus Fibre Suri Silk. A hand dyed blend of alpaca and silk.

OMG!

This is super super soft and squishy. On the hank it's soft but when it's knitted it's another level of squishy. I'm also surprised at how the colours are coming together. It almost looks like camouflage.

I'm using a 5mm needle and I've cast on 100 stitches. Knit every stitch on every round. I'm aiming for a tall cowl length of about 60cm.

For those that are sensitive to mohair silk I'd recommend trying this alpaca silk. You may find it less annoying.

 

I've made some progress on my Alpaca Asymmetrical Shawl.

 

 

This new scarf pattern is a stocking stitch version of our Asymmetrical Scarf. It has two row stripes and will end with a border in a third colour. 

I'm using one of our Alpaca Collection kits in Scandi Light colours.

Since last month I've started the third and final colour. I couldn't resist adding some eyelets.😆

 

 

Once I've finished the scarf and written the pattern I'll add it to the Alpaca Collection kits and you'll be able to download for free from the website too.

 

These three projects (plus the secret one) have taken up most of my knitting time so I've not made any progress on The Half Linen Stitch Cowl or the Textured Baby Blanket or the Mitred Square Blanket.

So, I've just used last month's photos below. 😆

 

 

 

For the Half Linen Stitch Cowl I'm using an Alegria Superpool Sock Set in Trapeze. This cowl is an adaption of our free Simple Cowl pattern. 

I'm using a slightly thicker needle, 3.25mm and a slip stitch pattern - Half Linen Stitch. I'm working it as follows:

 

Round 1: *knit 1, slip 1 purlwise with yarn at the front* repeat to end of round

Round 2: knit all stitches

Round 3: *slip 1 purlwise with yarn at the front, knit 1* repeat to end of round

Round 4: knit all stitches

 

Last month I was undecided whether to switch to stocking stitch for the second half of the cowl. I was interested to see how the colours pooled together. I've decided not to do that for this project. I think it would be too much patterning.

 

 

The Textured Baby Blanket has stripes of different stitch patterns. They're simple to work combinations of knit, purl and slip stitch. I think this will be a great next steps beginner project as it will make you very aware of where your yarn is before working the next stitch!

You can read more about it (and get a draft copy of the blanket pattern) here. 

 

 

No new squares on the Scrappy Mitred Blanket. 

For my blanket I am holding two strands of 4ply together and using 4.5mm needles with a cast on of 40 stitches (similar to the pattern at Purl Soho).

I am using stash yarn that I've acquired over the years and only using single or semi-solid shades. Nothing too variegated or patterned. I'm also only holding similar shades together. I hope to just use superwash merino or merino nylon blend to keep all the fibres the same.

 

As I had to pack away my projects when the coffee table left the living room and because it's the end of year, I thought I'd check in on my hibernating projects. The ones I've not touched for several months... 😬

 

 

CoCo Vest by Bana Kavanagh, available to buy on Ravelry

 

This is CoCo Vest. I started it in July 2022.😲

CoCo Vest is a v-neck tank top. I'm making it for The Teenager. I'm using Socks Yeah DK in Danubrite and Xenon. 

The pattern is written for a sportweight yarn so I adjusted my needle size and I am knitting a smaller size as it will come out slightly bigger than the designer intended. It will also be heavier but I really like the socks yeah DK in the stranded colourwork of the Moonwake Cowl so I'm confident it'll be ok.

It's worked in the round from the bottom up. And then you split the stitches and work the front and back separately. 

I really enjoyed working the stranded colourwork in the round but I slowed down when I split for the front and back.

 

Caine by Monie Ebner (available to buy on Ravelry).

 

Caine is a short sleeve slipover and is knitted from the top down. I'm using Rowan Felted Tweed in shade 216.

You begin back and forth to shape the neckline and then you join in the round and create the drop shoulders. Then you separate the front and back and knit down to make the armholes before joining back in the round for the body.

I am currently on the body and have about 25cm to go before I work the bottom rib. I started this in November 2022. 😬

 

 

I started these socks in October 2022. They even appeared on in last year's December WiP.

I'm using Opal Hundertwasser 4ply in shade 1435 and my favourite 'vanilla' sock pattern, you can find it on Ravelry.

For these socks I started at a specific point in the colour sequence so the cuff was knitted in the speckly bit. I knitted the leg until I reached the thicker stripes. For the second sock I started with the thicker stripes on the cuff and hopefully the heel flap will be speckly. This doesn't always work but that's part of the fun of these sock yarns.

SO! Going forward...

I've set myself a deadline for the end of January for the Opal socks (the recipient has their birthday in February).

Once I finish the Asymmetrical Scarf I'll use Caine as my simple project as I'm just going round and round in broken rib.

And once I finish Frosty Pines I'll get back to the CoCo Vest as it requires the same level of concentration.

Of course I'm also thinking about warm weather projects. Indeed, I should be knitting them right now... 😆