This shawl is my first FO of 2020. The pattern is Armstrong by Cassie Munksgard. This shawl pattern is rather simple, but the color changes and combination of stockinette and garter stitch striping kept it interesting. I decided to forgo the tassels added to the tip, but otherwise followed the pattern as written. The yarn, Plucky Cozy DK, is a Merino and Camel blend that lives up to its name. Squishy and soft, it will definitely will be a cozy shawl to wear this winter. The color ways I used are Duck Egg, Aunt Hazel, and Cabin Fever. Full details of this project are on Ravelry.

After a lot of thought, I’ve finally decided on my “Make Nine” for 2019. Some patterns have been in my Ravelry queue for a while others are recent pattern releases. Cardigans, color work, and geometric shapes are all capturing my eye and making my fingers eager to knit.  I usually have 2-3 projects going at the same time, so I feel that I have a pretty good mix to choose from. Now I just need to go through my stash to make my yarn choices and decide which one will be my first cast-on for the year!

Here’s the Ravelry links to the patterns:

1. Stillwater
2. The Owen Hat
3. Nordiska
4. Kelderhouse
5. Tecumseh
6. Summer Bursts in June
7. Lineate
8. Bradford Road
9. Carbeth Cardigan

Dendros Shawl

I finished this rectangular shawl back at the end of August. I loved the construction, which was knit from the center out, but it was a bit of a tangle at first. The yarn is Plucky Primo Fingering from The Plucky Knitter. Super soft with a nice drape and the colors are so saturated, I love it.

Bitty Front Range Cardigan

This cute little cardigan was made for a friend’s sweet baby girl. The pattern was easy and fun to knit. I forgot how fast it is to knit baby clothes! The yarn is CoopKnits Socks Yeah DK is this pretty coral color. I also made the buttons with some leftover calico and a button kit I’ve had from Joann’s.

Water Hat

This hat pattern by Thea Colman was great for practicing cables, a skill I’d like to get better at before attempting a larger project. I finished this in less than a week in mid-September. The yarn is Trusty from The Plucky Knitter is a gorgeous cerulean blue. I also used it for my Dog Walker sweater. The proceeds of the pattern sales were donated to The Flint Water Project to provide bottled water and school supplies to children in Flint, MI. In addition, I’m send this to be included with other hand-knitted hats that are being collected as holiday gifts for the children.

Yellow Submarine Socks

Knit with Must Stash Yarns self-striping yarn in Land of Submarines, that was part of her series inspired by The Beatles. I love the gradient of blues with the pops of bright yellow. These were worked on intermittently though most of the summer and were completed at the end of September.

I have to admit, I’m so pleased with how my Dog Walker Sweater turned out. It fits like a comfy, well loved sweatshirt and the color makes me smile every time I look at it.

The pattern was straightforward and easy to follow. A top-down raglan with miles of stockinette, it was perfect summertime knitting. I especially like the broken rib at the cuff, neckline, and hem. It gives it a little subtle interest than using a basic ribbing. This is the worsted weight version, but there’s an Aran weight that I might cast-on later in the fall. The only modification I made was changing the turtleneck to a crew.

The yarn is Trusty from The Plucky Knitter. A 100% merino superwash that is soft, squishy and feels great against bare skin. A great workhorse yarn for any project. The color is “You’re Gonna Make It After All” a beautiful bright cerulean blue with the slightest variation. Swoon.

Planning on wearing this on repeat all through the fall.

Most of my projects right now are longer term, I wanted to do a bit of a progress report to keep myself accountable and on track for finishing by the end of summer. Here’s the breakdown of the four I have on my needles:

1. The Dog Walker Sweater

This worsted weight sweater is actually going fairly quickly. I cast on the first week of July as part of a KAL and I’m on track to finish by the August 10th completion date. I’m bit farther along than the photo, I finished the hem and started on the first sleeve. 2. Dendros Shawl

I cast on this large rectangular wrap/shawl a little before the above sweater. The beginning was a bit complicated, since it’s knit from the center out, but it’s now smooth sailing. It’s fingering weight yarn on size US 3 needles, so it will take a while, but’s it’s going to be so worth it. Goal it to have it done by Labor Day.

3. Yellow Submarine Socks

I always seem to have a pair of socks on the needles. I carry them with me and usually work on them while waiting at swim lessons, and oil change, etc. My current ones are self-striping yarn inspired by The Beatle’s song Yellow Submarine. Fitting since the movie is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. No real completion goal for these, but I know they’ll be finished before school starts.

4. Tea with Jam & Bread Sweater

This striped worsted weight sweater is actually for Joey. I’m doing a striping sequence and to have the sleeves line up with the body, I’m working them all at the simultaneously. This is making it go faster and slower at the same time. I’m intentionally making a little too large for him right now to make sure it will still fit when sweater weather is here again I want to have this done before school starts as well.

Hopefully, I’ll reach my goals on finishing, my knitting queue is already full for my next projects and I’m itching to cast on something new.

A pattern so nice, I knit it twice! I was so happy with how my first one turned out, I decided to knit a second version of the Shakerag Top ,but this time I wanted to make a few modifications:

I decided to marl  the stripes this time around,  using Ariel by Luna Grey Fiber Arts in the Mishigami color way that I received from Wool & Honey’s Sleeping Bear Yarn Club and some white fingering weight yarn from deep stash. Possible Kroy Sock but have no idea since the label is long gone. This makes it a little bit heavier weight than my first, but it still has a nice drape and fit.  (The photo above was pre-blocking, so it looks a little wonky, but once it was blocked and dried, it smoothed right out.)

I also went with Breton influenced striping and ended stripe sequence halfway up armhole, I then continued with Ariel held singly for the remainder of the yoke. I also did not add a split hem this time, just followed original pattern instructions, however I did add a few inches in length. Here’s a detail shot:

I was originally considering adding 3/4 length sleeves, but once I tried it on I decided to leave it as is. However, I’m now considering a third version in a solid and adding those sleeves. We’ll see.

Full details on Ravelry.