Tag: WIPs

Knitting, Crochet & More · Let's Talk

My Knitting Make 9 for 2025

ClassicBhaer1 Comment

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.

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For the record: everything I’ve written here is entirely my own opinion.These views do not reflect or represent those of my current or past employers.

Let's Talk

Trying the Gideon Method to Manage My WIPs

ClassicBhaer5 Comments

Hello and welcome to my little explanation of a knitting productivity I am planning to give a go in the coming months! While my February was great for getting my WIPs down from 8 to 5, I find that I still need a bit of motivation and focus. I would like to make something very clear, I actually learned about this in one of my knitting zoom groups that I am a part of where these two blog posts were shared. The first is by knit365 and the second is Wool and Honey. I am building my knowledge of this method mainly off of their posts and not much more.

The Rules

  1. Pick 5 projects from your WIP pile
  2. Create a priority list/order
  3. You work on the first project for 12 hours or until it is complete, which ever comes first.
  4. If it is not finished within the 12 hours, it is placed at the bottom of the pile and you move onto the next project, rinse and repeat.

There are some bonus things that I noticed that I am not quite sure I am going to follow. The first is when one is finished you can cast-on a new project. I think I will save this new cast-on for when the mood strikes not just automatically. I say this because I am a huge mood knitter so I want to have a little bit of flexibility to save for when I am really craving something new. The second is keeping the five projects in a special basket. I am just going to continue storing my projects as I have been because it works for my environment.

My 5 WIPs in Priority Order

  1. Bliss Cardigan Test Knit for Winter’s Weather Knits
  2. Coorie In Poncho by Amy Palko
  3. Sastrugi Tree Skirt by Amy Gunderson
  4. Brienne by Brienne Moody
  5. OPEN!

As you can see from my list, I only have 4 WIPs that I am focusing on at this point in time. I am leaving one spot open for that new cast-on mood hits. I am also going to continue to work on my Scrappy Sunday Blanket on Sundays to get that under control as well. I have so many scraps to add it is not even funny at this point! I also plan on keeping track of the time spent on each project using clockify which I have on my desktop and as an app on my phone for ease of tracking. It will also stop me from rounding up so I can switch faster than I should be.

Anyway, this is the knitting plan I am going to try at least for the month of March. Depending on how it goes and how I enjoy it, I might continue beyond that. I decided a month based on the idea that it is a good chunk of time, but not too long where if it is not working I feel trapped by it.

Thanks for Reading! ClassicBhaer.com

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For the record: everything I’ve written here is entirely my own opinion.These views do not reflect or represent those of my current or past employers.

Current Reads and WIPs

Current WIPs and Reads | August 2023

ClassicBhaer1 Comment

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.

Thanks for Reading! ClassicBhaer.com

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For the record: everything I’ve written here is entirely my own opinion.These views do not reflect or represent those of my current or past employers.

Knitting, Crochet & More

Knitting WIP Parade

ClassicBhaer4 Comments

Hello and welcome to a what is going to shape up to be a post on the longer side. Since I have been on the quite side and updating some things on the blog (I still have some things to do as well), I wanted to take a moment to share all the projects I am currently working on. So, if you are not familiar with what a WIP parade is. It pretty much is just showing all of the projects you are currently working on. In some cases others will take this as a moment to maybe determine to frog or unravel a project as well. I am not going to frog any of my WIPs I am talking about because I recently posted, Projects I Decided to Frog, but I will be evaluating my project priorities.


Coming Together (Website | Ravelry) by Lisa K. Ross

The start of a multicolored and textured shawl in a bag full of balls of yarn.

This is a gift project, they picked out the pattern and yarn in October 2022. I ended up casting it on in March. I am in the fourth section of it and I am enjoying the process. The only thing is I really need to pay attention while I am working on this pattern since the sections are so different and I am learning a lot of new stitches. I am planning on slowly working my way through each section and hopefully be done by October.


Intersections (Website | Ravelry) by Marceline Smith

The feet of two textured zigzag socks that are partially done connected to the ball of yarn and knitting needles.

These socks are my first socks I am knitting from the book 52 Weeks of Socks, I did a post a while ago called 52 Weeks of Socks | Series Introduction. I am still planning on keeping track of my experiences knitting from this book, but a lot of other things got it in the way. As with the last pattern, this as well as others from the book, I need to pay attention to and isn’t a pattern I can just watch tv or read a book while working on. I would really love to finish these by the end of the month since I only have the legs and cuffs to do at this time.

Test Knit Seashore Dress by TheLittleWolfKnits – Unreleased at this time

Start of a dress on the knitting needles sitting on a couch.

This is a really fun test knit I am flying through for TheLittleWolfKnits. I have never knit a dress before, but I am really loving the process so far. This picture is a little outdated at this point, but I finished the body of the body of the skirt as well as the bottom ruffle. It is shaping up to being a really awesome me made wardrobe piece. I am planning to finish this by Mid-July.


Ghost Whisperer (Payhip | Ravelry)by Park Williams

Start of a mohair (lace weight) shirt on the knitting needles.

This is a summer cast on that I have been wanting to make since the middle of Winter. I ended up casting it on during the last week or so of May and I am flying through. This is an older picture once again. I am actually on the back shaping currently. I am planning on finishing this project this month as well. I am excited to throw this over a dress during the hotter months.

Thanks for Reading! ClassicBhaer.com

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For the record: everything I’ve written here is entirely my own opinion.These views do not reflect or represent those of my current or past employers.

Current Reads and WIPs

Current WIPs and Reads | August 2022

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Hello and welcome to a midmonth check-in! This month has truly flown by, I feel like the year always speeds up the further along we are. While I have finished a few projects and finished a few more books, I am just going to take a moment to share what I am currently reading and working on. But, don’t worry, in my monthly digest post I will share all my reads and projects! Anyway, here is what I am currently focusing on.

My Current Reads

Maledictions: A Horror Anthology by Cassandra Khaw (Contributor), this is an anthology in a very expansive universe called Warhammer 40k. I have never read anything from this universe before, honestly I was very overwhelmed because this science fiction is honestly a phenomenon in my eyes. There is just SO MUCH. But, I finally decided to see if there was some horror within and lo and behold there is some horror, a lot actually. So, I picked it up. I am about 30% in this collection of short stories and honestly I think it is a great introduction to this very large universe that is so rich with lore and history. It gives small peaks into that, so I feel like I am only dipping my toe in before really jumping in. The writing is honestly just wonderful. All of the stories I have read so far have been done so well, I have been utterly freaked out, which is perfect since it is horror. While this is me just dipping in my toes for now, not knowing everything or much about Warhammer 40k I feel like these stories explain what is needed and I think is a good foundation/starting point, even though it is not a traditional starting point. I am really excited to continue to read this.

My Current WIPs

Cuff and part of a leg of a sock on flexiflips with a shark progress keeper

The first project I am working on is a pair of socks, this time I am following a pattern called Picnic Blanket Socks (ravelry) by Helen Stewart. It has been a fun and easy knit so far and this yarn has been a dream to work with, nice and squishy. I am looking forward to wearing them when the weather gets a bit chillier.

Collar and short row shaping on a started sweater with fluffy mohair, wool in 2 colors, and 2 skeins of multicolored yarn

The second project I am currently working on is a bit more of an undertaking and I feel like I am going to be working on for a bit. It is the Alpenglow I (ravelry\non-ravelry) sweater pattern by Andrea Mowry. It will be my first time doing color work, I am both excited and scared out of my mind. I have completed just up to the start of the color work. I decided to put it aside until I do a bit more research on color dominance and then picking it back up to continue. I feel like I will have done that by the time this goes live.

What are you currently reading or working on?

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For the record: everything I’ve written here is entirely my own opinion.These views do not reflect or represent those of my current or past employers.

Current Reads and WIPs

Current WIPs and Reads

ClassicBhaer7 Comments

Hello and welcome to a little chat where I share what I am currently reading and working on. I am actually happy to say I have been reading this month, I have actually finished 3 books already. I know, I know, where did this reading mojo come from?! I have no idea, but I am running with it.

Current Reads

Two current reads, listed below.

The first book I am currently reading is The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix, I am actually buddy reading this with Jenna! We have not buddy read anything in a while so I am excited about it. You can find her on twitter as @jkimexploring. I am also reading Irish Folktales edited by Henry Glassie on my own. I have always loved folktales so when I found this collection at my local store I picked up up right away.

Current WIPS

Current knitting projects, listed below.

I went from having no WIPs at the start of 2022 to be in the middle of three projects. The first one being a pattern inspired by Tube Socks by Mary Anne and I am using Spun Right Round Classic Sock in the color Sly Fox. The second one is another pair of socks called Vanilla Latte Socks by Virginia Rose-Jeanes I am using Madelinetosh Tosh Sock in the color Ultramarine Violet. The last one I decided to cast on out of no where is the Musselburgh hat by Ysolda Teague. For this I decided to use up some of my scrap sock yarn, Spun Right Round Classic Sock in Pavement.

What are you currently reading or working on?

Thanks for Reading! ClassicBhaer.com

Links to my other socials!

For the record: everything I’ve written here is entirely my own opinion.These views do not reflect or represent those of my current or past employers.