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.
There are some new projects on the coffee table this month and an old one too.
First up... I have made significant progress on Caine!
Caine is a sleeveless slipover designed by Monie Ebner (a digital pattern is available to buy on Ravelry and in the shop).
I'm using one strand of Rowan Felted Tweed in shade 216 French Mustard.
I started it in November 2022 but it's been off the coffee table for a while only recently making a return as I tried to get the body finished.
Caine is knitted from the top down with minimal finishing on the neck and armholes. But despite the simple mistake rib stitch pattern (on one round you do a K1,P1 rib and on the following round you knit every stitch) I lost all interest on the body.
I also kept reading the pattern wrong.
At first I thought the body was 8" long and got very excited as the end was in sight. But then I realised that I had to knit 10". I knuckled down and knitted round and round for even loooooonger THEN realised it was actually 10.5" with another inch of K1,P1 rib to do.
It's 'mindless' knitting so I left it on on the coffee table and on my couch and tried to work on it every day. A few rows a day really does add.😆
Now I've finished the body AND the neckline with only the arm holes to do.
It's looking so good!
I don't consider myself to be on Sleeve Island for Caine. It should just be simply picking up of stitches, work a few rows and a cast off. Surely I won't get marooned...
However I am a bit marooned on my newest project - Holiday Sweater by Petite Knit.
This is Holiday Sweater designed by PetiteKnit. It's a digital pattern that you can buy on Ravelry or in the Pittenweem shop.
I'm using our new King Cole Explorer Super Chunky yarn. I knitted the body and a sleeve in one long weekend so it's a very quick knit.
This is the small size should take 8 balls. It has a finished chest size of 104cm/41". The sample is photographed on a 34" mannequin.
It's knitted from the top down. You start by knitting back and forth before joining in the round to complete the raglan increases. Once you have enough stitches you'll slip the sleeve stitches on to a holder before knitting round and round to finish the body. You'll then go back and finish the sleeves.
The sleeves are very dramatic as you increase to make them wider before decreasing sharply at the cuff to create a balloon effect.
The neckline is picked up and shaped with increases and decreases before folding in half to make a cushy neckband.
This project has stalled a bit as I had to pack it away to clear the coffee table ahead of visitors. Super Chunky garments are BIG, but now it's a case of out of sight out of mind.😆
But I do plan to get back to it.
Another plan is to create a Learn to Knit/Crochet Kit using our new Rico Creative Cotton DK.
The kit will include very very simple knitting and crochet patterns for some cloths that will hopefully help someone make their first stitches.
I started with two of the most basic stitches, knit and double crochet and I've just started a half treble crochet cloth.
The first cloth is all in garter stitch - where you knit every row.
For this cloth I've used the slip stitch edge that I use in our free blanket patterns. It gives such a polished finish to a simple square.
The second cloth is all in double crochet and I'm very proud of my straight edges.😆
For the knit cloth I cast on 44 stitches using a 3.5mm needle. Every row is the same - knit to the last 3 stitches. Bring your yarn forward between your needle tips and slip the last 3 stitches purlwise. Repeat this row until you've made a square. Mine measures about 20cm x 20cm.
For the double crochet cloth I chained 31 stitches on a 4mm hook and then switched to a 3.5mm hook and double crocheted every stitch on every row until I made a square 20cm x 20cm.
For the half treble crochet cloth I chained 33 stitches on a 4mm hook and then switched to a 3.5mm hook and half treble crocheted across the row.
(Obviously there will be more instructions in the kit.)
I'm using a 4mm hook to make the foundation chain so the edge is not too tight and a 3.5mm hook for the body of the cloth as I am a loose crocheter just like I'm a loose knitter.
I've a few more stitch patterns to try and obviously some stripes to use up the yarn but the aim is for them all to be achievable for the newest of beginners and if you're more experienced you could whip a few of these up in a evening.
Still a lot of work to do on the kit. Will I get it finished for Christmas gift giving???
One thing I did finish was Lunaberry.
Lunaberry is a very sweet Christmas jumper designed by Rachel Brockman. It's a digital pattern available to buy on Ravelry and in the Pittenweem shop. The pattern is sized from 6 months to 12 years.
It uses an aran weight yarn. I used King Cole Wool Aran in 3 classic festive shades - Cranberry, Cream and Sage.
Wool Aran is 100% wool. It softens on washing (and it is machine washable) and works so well in colourwork. The stitches relax and snuggle up against each other making a smooth fabric, giving a neat finish.
I've written up Lunaberry in more detail here. Including info on picking the right size, using the right needles by checking you gauge, working your stranded colourwork and washing the finished project.
I've made no progress on the two other projects on the table. Next month!
Although, I'll also be starting the WYS Forager Blanket KAL.😁
