If you are unaware, every year Stephen West does a mystery shawl knitalong that takes place in October. For years I have wished to take part in this event of sorts, but never have because I was on the fence about dedicating a whole month to a single project while trying to clear my knitting needles for the next year. This year I decided to change this and join along regardless of what is on my needles.
The main reason I want to take part in this knitalong is to learn some new techniques, every year there seems to be different things integrated in the pattern that are new to me. I always love to challenge myself so this is a win-win for me because he creates videos for each clue that is released. The second is because I want the challenge of keeping up with the weekly clues that are set to releases on October 2, October 9, October 16 and October 23. While that is a very busy month for my personally, I think I will be able to do it if this is my only project or at least my main project I worked on.
screenshot of yarn order
As for the yarn, I was going to buy a kit, but with all the unknowns with tariffs and international shipping I didn’t want to take a chance. I am hoping maybe one day in the future I will be able to. I ended up buying from Cape May Fiber who I have met a few times as well as test knit for. I decided to get their sock base to ensure I have the right yardage and picked a pale neutral yarn called Shellfish, a light purple color called Luscious Lavender, a really beautiful peach tonal called Jersey Peach, and a neon yellow/green color called Chartreuse Button that is inspired by the movie Coraline.
Hello and welcome to a bit of a planning post. I know summer is technically still with us here in the northern hemisphere until Monday, September 22nd, but I am a planner at heart and felt like I needed to get some planning down on paper to focus this fall so I have some great pieces to wear throughout fall and winter this year. This winter I am trying to knit quiet a verity of things from slipovers to winter accessories, but here are the 6 patterns I really want to make this Fall!
The first two on my list are two WIPs I have been working on for longer than I care to admit. These would be the DRK Everyday Cardi by Andrea Mowry and Maple Vest by Yun Jeong. The DRK Everyday Cardi is a really comfortable purl side out high neck cardigan with ribbing detail along the raglan increases. I love the textural detail of this that just makes it a smiple and timeless peace I can easily thrown on. I am making it out of Mountain Meadow Wool Tweed Sport in the color way Shale Fire I am about halfway done with the cardigan at the time of making this. As for the Maple Vest, this is a layering piece I cannot wait to wear. I am not a huge vest person, but one again the little details for me with this pattern. I like the split hem with ribbing and cabling along the sides and bottom hem. I have really been enjoying playing this texture lately. I am making this knit with both Chelsea Luxe Eighty Ten Ten in Sunflower and Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair in Ocher brown.
Next is a little winter cape called Waltz by Miki Teragaki, this pattern was published in their book called Knit Pop: Designs for the Modern Maker, which has a ton of great pieces. What really drew me to this cape is that it can easily be a little accessories to use to dress up an outfit, but also function much like a cowl or scarf and keep you warm. It is a mixture of ribbing for quite a few inches and then transitions into beautiful cables. I ended up getting some beautiful yarn from fionakayknits in a beautiful white with pops of pink and purple that I think would allow the cables and such to really show, but also have a pops of color.
As for next cast on plans I am going to get The Weekender Light by Andrea Mowry on my needles since I am buddy knitting this with my lovely friend Allison! This is a really lovely purl side out long sleeve sweater with ribbing at the shoulders and a drop sleeve! We both bought the same kit at Rhinebeck 2024 together, which was such a blast to get to hang out all day together! The kits we got were created by Loop Fiber Sudio that utilizes their colors Everything In Its Place as the main color and A Place for Everything as the contrast color along the shoulder ribbing and sleeve cuffs to give it a little pop!
The last two projects I really hope to finish next are recently acquired yarn! While I am trying to make it a priortity to get through my stash, I am continueing to add some yarn into my yarn closet after finishing a few projects. I figure as long as I am using more than I am taking it, all is good! Anyway, I am planning to made a beautiful tank pattern called Twist Loop Top by Other Loops, that has a large beautiful cable down the center of it. I am using Pascuali Saffira in the color way 016, which is a really lovely blue color, which is missing from my closet. The next is Yuki No Hi No by eri shimizu, which is a chunky mohair cardigan that has a contrast color sew into it around the edges. While I love the idea of the contrast color, I think I am going to personally leave it out because I am making this cardigan out of Kokon Yarn Chunky Mohair in andromeda, which is a mix of lilac, light blue, and gray. I really want these colors to shine and don’t want to get in the way of them too much. Another bonus of this pattern is that it is made of chunky mohair so it is warm as can be, but very light.
So, those are the six knitting project I really hope to have finished over the next few months so I can wear and enjoy them during these upcoming cooler months. Let’s see if I stick to this plan or completely change it by the time the official start of fall kicks off, what are you planning on making this fall?
Hello and welcome to a post I should have done closer to the start of the year, but I figured better late than never! I decided this year I am going to be doing a make 9 in regards to my crafting, in particular my knitting and crochet.
My make 9 for 2025 is a mixture of WIPs or Works in Progress that are already on my needles, but also some projects that I really want to make this year and am inspired by. Anyway, here are the pattern I want to make this year!
Honey Bucket Bag by PetiteKnit, this is a small draw string pouch with a honey comb type stitch that I think would be perfect to take when I need a small little purse or a really cute project bag. I have the yarn all ready to go for this project, but it has not been cast on as of right now.
An Italian Autumn Cowl by An Italian Knitter, I am in need of a nice long scarf that I can wrap around my neck a few times for the really cold winter days. I actually bought some yarn at The NY Sheep and Wool Festival at Rhinebeck this past year. I love the mixture of the eyelets and how long this loop scarf is.
Frostina Poncho Vanessa Reyes aka Vanrey Knits, I actually got this pattern as part of my 2024 advent from Chelsea Luxe Yarns. I really loved the look of this textured poncho with some fringe, but I wanted to see all the colors to see if I wanted to change the order. I am hoping to pick this up in the spring to complete.
24 Birds Shawl by Curious Handmade aka Helen Stewart, this is my longest standing WIP. I really love how this pattern looks and the circle design, but I find myself passing over it for other projects. This originally was a mystery lace shawl knitalong from May of 2024 I believe and I cast it on when the first clue came out and then just never really picked it up again. I did get to 5% complete though.
Hazel Kjole by Sandes Designs, I have had the yarn for this project for over 2 years at this point. I saw this relaxed and oversized dress in their catalog and instantly fell in love with it. I really would love to have it for the fall time as a transition piece because I picked up a mauve yarn that I think would be a lovely pink for that time of year. On top of that it is made with alpakka yarn, so it will be nice and toasty.
Heirloom Quilt Cardigan by Katryn Seeburger, this year I really want to make this lovely cardigan. Not only is it a super cute wear, it will be how I use up all of my scraps and mini skeins that need to find a home in a project. What drew me in for this pattern is how the designer really made the knitting look like quilt blocks and how oversizes it is.
Pressed Flowers Kerchief by Amy Christoffers, this little kerchief that is lined with really pretty mosaic flowers along the edges. I have the yarn already picked out for this and ready to go. It is even wound up! I really want to make this on a long weekend or something and make it a little challenge to complete for some reason.
The Traveler by Andrea Mowry, this is a pattern I am currently working on, but it has been on hold for about a month because honestly, this sweatshirt inspired pattern is a huge slog to knit. It is interesting because everyone I know who has made it has felt the same way. Thankfully I only have the back and sleeves left to do. I am hoping to be done in February or March with this one.
Trifle Wrap by Curious Handmade aka Helen Stewart, This has been a WIP for some time, if you want to see more information about this one I actually talked about it in the following post. Current WIPs & Reads | July 2024.
Hello and welcome to a little post about my current knitting WIPs and current books I am reading. Yes, I am reading books, who would have thought?
Current WIPs
All yarn and projects laid out on a bed.
Trifle Wrap by Helen Stewart, this is a really exciting project since I am making it to wear on my wedding day next Spring. I figured it was best to give myself a ton of time to work on it between other projects that I need done sooner. I am using yarn from Cape May Fiber, Chelsea Luxe Yarn, and Sewrella Yarn.
Shell Cottage Socks by Helen Stewart, this pattern/sock is going to be used for Sock Week 2024 hosted by Knitty Natty. I decided I want to finish a sock before sock week so at the end I have a finished pair of socks. I am slowly trying to make my way through my Helen Stewart socks and this pattern is a great mixture of mindless and action. I am using yarn from Urban Girl Yarns, which is really an awesome sock yarn I have been enjoying very much working with.
Current Reads
For the first book I am about 5% from finishing, it is Who Censored Roger Rabbit by Gary K. Wolf, it is actually the book Disney took to create their movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit. It has been very interesting to see the characters I know from the screen and rewatches put in different situations and be a bit different. I do reccomend if you enjoyed the movie for sure, but keep in mind it is different. Disney took some leeway.
The second book I picked up this past weekend at a bookstore about an hour away from where I live. It is called People From My Neighborhood by Hiromi Kawakami and transalted by Ted Goossen. I read half of it in a single day, I love it so far. It is broken up into small chapters, where each chapter tells a story about someone or something that happened in the neighborhood. It also has a little touch of magic, giving this a feel of a magical realism. Also, it is great fun to slowly get bits and pieces of this town to slowly build your own picture.
Hello and welcome to a little post where I share my excitement of finally getting back into sock knitting in earnest. A while ago I wrote a post where I was making my way through the 52 Weeks of Socks | Week 01: Intersections. It was fun, but after that I really lost my sock knitting desire. At least with more “complicated” patterns.
This past month I ended up looking through my pattern library and one really caught my eye, Winter Rose Socks by Helen Stewart. I cast them on so fast and moved through the leg like lightning speed it was a ton of fun and really ignited my enjoyment of patterned socks. I still need to finish these, but I am already on the foot of each sock since I decided to knit them in tandem.
Instagram picture of lace weight sock leg laying on leg in a cozy room.
The main reason I wanted to share this is because sometimes I feel guilty just leaving projects to the wayside, but I shouldn’t. If I am not finding that type of fiber crafting fun, it is best left to the side until something really pulls you in and makes you excited about it again! Sometimes I know I need to hear this and maybe you do as well.
Hello and welcome to a wrap up of the shortest month of the year, but with a bonus day thanks to leap year! I had high hope for this month and honestly, I got a lot done with all the stuff life threw at me this month. I will say, I am happy to announce I read another book this month! I am honestly really thrilled with this because I would rather read a book or two a month consistently than not read at all like I did pretty much all year. I also was able to get some projects off my needles, which I am excited to use now.
Books
This month I ended up only finishing one book, but it was a beautiful read. I ended up finishing Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, which is the 3rd book in the series. The series is heart breaking, but beautifully written and just one I cannot get enough of. The bonus is, these books are usually around 200 pages or so and fly by. Even within those few pages a world is built easily and you feel like you fall into the pages of of the books. This most recent read from this series was the exact same way. I am hoping to read the next book in the series very soon. I have to be honest, this is probably the only series I have been keeping up with since reading has gone into a full slump over a year ago. That says a lot about this series in my eyes. It is hard to really summarize this series, it is slice of life where you follow the on goings in a café in Japan. It is not just a regular café, but has a magical realism twist where you can travel through time when insider its walls, but there are rules you must follow. The stories of those who work there and those who are patrons are always well developed and intriguing and at times exacting and totally heart breaking.
Finished Projects
I finished my Christmas Eve cast on the Teddy Clutch! (Website | Ravelry) It is a large clutch that is made using yarn like a teddy bear, so it is super soft and cute. I am excited to finally be able to use it out and about. If you plan on using the recommended yarn for the pattern, I will warn you, if you drop a stitch is is nearly impossible to find it. Thankfully in my opinion it is worth it, but if I made it again I might try a different type of yarn of the same weight for a different look. The instructions were well written and easy to follow, which was wonderful! I really feel like this is a great project for adventurous beginners.
The second item I got off my needles was a really quick little scrappy project, which was called the Mini Crop Puff (Ralvery). It is a tiny little sweater and I was testing out the pattern to see if I wanted to make ornaments for next Christmas with my scrap yarn. It was a really cute and I liked the project for sure. I am not sure if I am going to use it though, the main reason being is I think they are a tad bit too big for our tiny baby tree. I might make them for friends and family though and embroider the initial of their last name. Yes, I am already planning projects! I don’t want to be really behind like previous years.
Adventures
Honestly, this month has been one of a roller coaster let me tell you what. There were some really scary things that happened, but I also had some really awesome things happen as well. I don’t want to get into to much detail about everything, but one really great thing I would like to share is I got engaged this month and I am really, really excited. It is going to be weird introducing him as my fiancé now.
Hello and welcome to another little post from my small part of the internet. Every year I take the time to write up some goals for myself and do my best to stick with them. This past year things have changed in my life, which is why I am not on here as much as I used to be, serious how did I have time to write two posts a week? Anyway, I didn’t want to make goals in the way I usually do, but more so wanted to talk about what I wanted the year to look like for me.
Kindle, two note books, a winter themed project bag, and a clear box sitting on a made bed.
Reading
This year I realized I have not read many books. In total I have read 7 books in all of 2023. If you want to see which books I read, you can see those here in my Year in Books 2023 recap. While this is no where near what I used to read when I was reading more than 100 a year a lot has changed in my life. I think my reading is going to stay reduced as far as I can tell, but I would like to read at least 6 books next year. I say that because I still want to have a little bit of daily reading in my life and that is what I have been doing. I read a few pages when I have the time and brain space to do so. in 2024, I want to keep that up.
Knitting, Crochet, and Crafting
This year I did a lot of making, which I am happy about. I think I did so much because it is easier to knit and crochet while chatting with someone, watching a movie, or just out and about during my spare moments. I ended up making 31 items this year. These include socks, sweaters, cowls, scarfs, shawls, dresses, and other items. I am really proud of the things I created this year and I just want to keep that up as well throughout the year. Finding me time while doing something relaxing is something I have really come to enjoy.
Life in General
I have started going back to yoga a few months ago and I have been really enjoying how it has made me feel. I feel stronger, agile, and overall more relaxed. I really want to keep this up as well, even if it is just once a week. On top of that, I would really like to go on more adventures throughout the year. That could be trying a new place to eat, exploring a few place, or going on a day trip. I just want to experience some new things.
As you can see, my “goals” for this year are really just to continue to do the things that make my happy. I want to read a few pages a day, do some crafting to calm me down, maintain my yoga practice, and just do something new and exciting. Nothing to out there, but I really want to focus on what makes me happy this year and not worry about specific numbers or items. Will I make some mini goals for myself throughout the year, most likely, but I feel like this year I want to go easy on myself.
I really hope you had a wonderful 2023 and that 2024 is even better for you!
Hello and welcome to a little post where I share the things I was lucky enough to get from my loved ones in my life. I am attaching some pictures from my instagram account and then I am going to go into some detail into what they are.
The first picture is showing the cover of a knitting book called Mouche & Friends by Cinthia Vallet it is accompanied by the yarn to make two of the stuffed animals described in the book. There are three pink, 1 orange, 1 cream, and 1 brown to make the adorable pigs inside.
The second picture are an assortment of Maple and Thread items. My parents got me the jumbo binder so all my knitting needles can be in one home all together. They also got two pages for my needles to fit in as well as the holders for the needles themselves. They also got me the project page as well. I am really excited to get organizing!
The third picture is an array of small items. There is a brown patch work square based bag from Joji & Co, there is also a bunch from stuff from Katrinkles, these include a darning loom, sweater tags, and project hibernating tags. There is also purl strings so I can try on my sweaters as I knit them, a coco knits makers keep, and really cute needle minders by Hawthorn Handmade that look like a basket of yarn and cup of tea with cookies.
The last picture is of my new boots in a brown color. These boots are called Blundstone and I got the Chelsea Boots to be exact. I have heard really great things about their quality and how they age so I am really thrilled to get these.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read what I got for Christmas this year, in my next post I am going to be sharing my goals and ambitions for 2024!
Hello and welcome to a little mid-month check in with the book or books I am reading and projects that are keeping me busy. I will say, I already finished a book this month…who am I?! But, I am still working on another that I believe will last me the rest of the month because it a TOME. As for projects I am, as always, working on a few.
Current Reads
American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, which is about J. Robert Oppenheimer. Yes, I did see the movie Oppenheimer and then promptly picked up the book the next time I went to a bookstore. This is a tome, but I am reading a little bit at a time and really enjoying learning a bit more about Oppenheimer. I can’t say that this is an aspect of history I really ever delved in, I never thought to look up who or whom created the atomic bomb and their stories. After seeing the movie, I became curious and as is customary, not everything can be kept in a movie so I am already seeing some information that is new to me.
Current WIPs
Completed ribbing on knitting needles on couch next to lemon themed yarn bag.
While I have about four WIPs or works in progress on the go, I am really focusing on two at this point in time. The first being Wyethia by Jessica McDonald (Ravelry | Website) This is a really nice shirt with lace along the bottom that I really would love to finish ASAP so I get some wear out of it before the weather cools off. As of writing this I am done with the lace, body, and have split for front and back. I am currently working on the back, so I don’t have a ton more to do. I am using Concept by Katia Cotton-Merino in color 59 (gray), which is 70% cotton and 30% wool.
The second project I am really just starting is my Tessellated Vest by Andrea Mowry (Ravelry | Website) for New York Sheep and Wool this year. I am using a kit I picked up from Farmer’s Daughter Fibers using pincycle Yarns Dyed in the Wool in the color ghost ranch (wool), The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers Oh Dang! in the color clay dreaming (alpaca suri silk blend), and The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers Spinster’s Daughter in the color willow creek (wool). My goal is to work on this and finish in time to actually wear it to the festival. Since I decided to work on the vest, I think I will be able to do it in time.
Hello and welcome to my monthly recap! This months post is going to be short and sweet, but I did some reading and got a few projects off of my needles. I didn’t go outside too much due to the heat so I was able to get a bunch done on my projects.
Books
As for reading this month, I am making my way through The Spite House by Johnny Compton. So far, I am enjoying it, but I will say the building at the start is a bit slow. I am at a point where things are getting real and the pace is more something I enjoy. I am curious to see where this story brings this family in this apparent haunted house. I feel like it might get very intense, but I can’t be too sure.
Crochet & Knitting
Tee shirt with short balloon sleeves in a cream color with specs of various colors.
Ghost Whisperer by Park Williams (Ravelry | Website), this is the first project I finished this past month. I really enjoyed making this pattern, although I did enjoy up adding a few inches to the body for my preference. My plan is to wear this over a dress for a little bit of a cover when in the air conditioning this summer as well. This pattern is made with a single strand of mohair for most of it, but in certain points it is held double.
A pair of red socks with stitch markers counting rows.
My second completed project was a modified version of the Dorsal Socks by Helen Stewart (Ravelry). I actually made this pair in a single week as part of Knitty Natty’s Sock Week. It takes place every year in the Summer where you do your best to knit a single sock within the week, she also runs something similar in the winter that is a bit longer where the goal is to knit a pair. Anyway, I modified this pattern by only adding a single fin on the back of the socks and using a shadow wrap heel created by EarthtonesGirl. This is also my first pair of shortie socks and I can see myself making more of them to wear around the house in the warmer weather.
Adventures
Collage of yarn store, comic store, bubble tea, and knitting at a restaurant with a tea.
This month I went on a few adventures, but I am going to only share a few. The first one I want to share is the fact I went on a little day trip my with boyfriend to Doyles Town, PA. There we went to a yarn shop, comic shop, and ate some yummy ramen. It was a lovely day just walking around a little downtown together and exploring a new place. Another day I took myself out to breakfast, not something I normally do, but I was bored and I wanted breakfast food. So I took myself and my knitting out to breakfast and worked on my Twisted Tea Shirt by The Little Wolf Knits. I also ended up going to get my hair done that day and running to a little local yarn store and picked up some yarn to make a pair of socks.
Classic Bhaer 