Knitting, Fiber Art, and Lofty Thoughts
Tonight is Krampusnacht. While we don’t celebrate officially, we marathon Krampus movies with a finale of Rare Exports and play the gingerbread game where we take a bite of gingerbread every time a character does.
This year we’re munching julbok (Yule Goat) cookies in honor of Krampus, but next year I’m planning to use a Krampus cookie cutter.
We are celebrating Krampus Night because it’s fun. Do you have any fun new traditions you are celebrating during the holidays this year?
Look at this cute little teeny tiny mitten I made. If I make them all this size, I’m gonna need more mittens! Or I could hold the yarn double and make bigger mittens.
I didn’t hate knitting this mitten, but I didn’t love it, either. You know what that means. I’m not going to knit my mitten garland. Which is fine.
I’ve decided to focus on my Ranunculus, which I’m really enjoying. I also have a couple of hats to make. All my tonal yarn is in, so I can cast on Christmas Pudding Socks if I’m feeling super motivated.
See, that wasn’t so hard.
Hello. I have too many holiday projects I want to knit. I thought I would list them here so you can commiserate with me. All links are Ravelry links.
1. Christmas Pudding Socks. I ordered the solid yarn last year to make these, but then decided tonal yarns would be prettier, as shown in the photo. So I ordered some tonal yarns. I could be casting on by the weekend. I love the design, and it’s a good mix of colorwork and stockinette.
2. Holiday Doodle Cowl. I love the look of this, but it is allover color work. I have the yarn, which I ordered last year. I’m not sure I have the brain capacity for this one this year. Also, she’s updated the design, and I think I prefer the original version, which I have printed out.
3. Aurora Borealis Cowl. Work in progress. After I started it I realized how much I hate wearing one-sided stranded colorwork cowls because the floats on the back show. Not sure if I should forge ahead or frog a hasty retreat.
4. 12 Days of Christmas Mitten Garland. As I have constructed an entire advent ritual around this, I will definitely be making it. They’re tiny, too. I’m sure I can produce one mitten in an evening.
And then there’s my red Ranunculus. I’m on the stockinette now, so I should be wearing it by Christmas Eve!
Any tips on managing too-many-projects-not-enough-time syndrome? Project number three will probably be frogged. I’m thinking one and two will end up back in the drawer for next year. Or maybe one for Christmas in July?
You may have noticed I’ve been experimenting with backgrounds in my photos. I’ve been using the backgrounds I use at work for product photos, but I don’t want to continue to use them as I’m afraid I may damage them. So I’ve got some reclaimed barn wood heading my way for my small photography shots. Photography is for me part of the art of blogging, and a big part of my enjoyment.
Today is Day 1 of Advent, so I got to open my first drawer with a mini-skein of yarn and a new Christmas pudding stitch marker. I’m going to wind this into a little ball tonight, and cast on my first mitten for my garland tomorrow night.
My Ranunculus continues to grow. I hope I have it ready to wear soon. I love this color. I’m all about the red this year.
I’m ready to start the toe on my first Gourd Party sock. I may put this away until January and focus on more seasonal knits this month.
This will be an Unbearable hat for Henry. I’ve already shown him the design, and he approves. I’m going to use my new project bag which was a present from my sister for Christmas. It’s a Forage Bag from Joji and Co, a great size for hats and other small projects. I will get a lot of use out of it and I love the metallic pewter color!
I’ve gifted the first hat of the season. Despite the joking, the extra long length was appreciated. And check out that Microsoft sweater! Probably not hand knit, but definitely striking! I’m glad my children love brightly colored knits as much as I do.
A couple of years ago I blogged about wanting to start a vintage pin collection. I purchased this tree pin at that time, but had kind of forgotten about it. I pulled it out of my jewelry box today and it looks great on my Back Porch Shawl. I’ve also ordered a vintage holly pin, which is my go-to yuletide symbol. Do you have a favorite holiday symbol? Tree, star, holly, bauble, angel, dove, pudding, gingerbread person? Please share in the comments!
I’ve made a good start on my Christmas Ranunculus sweater. I thought I was going to have to go with the modifications for a larger size, but since I’m knitting it in Aran weight, I think it will be okay using the regular pattern. I haven’t even finished the yoke yet, and it’s pretty roomy.
I’ve started my holiday decorating.
Thanksgiving Day was nice but quiet. The kids came for a visit and a meal on Saturday, which was swell.
I haven’t sewed or spun. It was a rough week.
Yes, I intend to work YOP into the titles of as many holiday songs as I can.
This has been a Year of Projects update. You can find out more about the group here (Rav link) or here: Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list. You can read my updated list of projects here.
Knitting
I finished something and frogged something and updated my list. In the meantime I’ve been looking for something shiny to bring my knitting twinkle back. Something new, in Christmas Red.
I have some gorgeous Fibre Company Arranmore that’s been languishing in my stash. The color is a beautiful red named Ruari. I think I’m going to make a Ranunculus. I looked at other projects for this pattern, and some have been made in Aran weight. It looks just the thing: top down, festive lace at the yoke for holiday cheer, and then loads of stockinette.
Sewing
I’m really on a roll with my sewing. I have a bushel basket on my sewing table that I keep my current WIPS in, and it’s empty! I think I will pull out that plaid flannel that want to make into a wrap skirt. Having projects out inspires me to work on them. However, I am having trouble finding a pattern. It looks like I will have to take measurements and make my own pattern. This is a good exercise for me, as I haven’t done it in over a decade.
Spinning
My first attempt. I’m going to keep practicing on the merino top they sent until I get something usable. Progress not perfection!
This has been a Year of Projects update. You can find out more about the group here (Rav link) or here: Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list. You can read my updated list of projects here.
I finished my Marled Alaska Cowl this week(Ravelry link). They removed it from the Bad Sheep Yarn Co’s website for some reason. Yarn is Moondrake’s Soft Shawl in colorways Driftwood and Zombie held together. I find these colors difficult to photograph, but the above image captures them well.
Every stitch was a pleasure, and I love how the design lays around the neck and shoulders. It’s my new favorite cowl!
I finished my second pair of Plateau Joggers. The fabric is 100% merino wool interlock from Nature’s Fabrics. I may have enough to sew a matching Mile End Sweatshirt. This fabric was expensive, so I want to use up every little bit.
I’m not sure what I’ll sew next. I do have some navy wool flannel that I’m either going to turn into overalls or a jacket. I also have some plaid flannel I want to make into a wrap skirt. I guess I have plenty of options!
I finished sewing my Plateau Joggers! I LOVE them! I am dressed and comfortable at the same time. It’s amazing.
I highly recommend this pattern. It was easy to follow. I did make a mistake with the back pocket placement at first, mistaking where the bottom of the pockets should go as the top. As a result I had pockets on my back legs under my bum! I thought I might try to make it a fashion thing, maybe bring back the comb in the back pocket. Then I realized I’m too old to care about fashion. It was an easy fix.
Pattern is Plateau Joggers by Closet Core. Fabric is Trainers French Terry in Olive.
Next I’ll be making a pair from black wool interlock!
I haven’t posted for Year of Projects (YOP) in a few weeks. I haven’t really been focused on crafting. But I did update my list today.
Knitting
I added this cowl, which is the Marled Alaska Cowl (Ravelry link) in Moondrake’s Soft Shawl, colorways Driftwood and Zombie held together. I should be able to finish this up this week.
I had to frog my Stash Aurealis. After I got through the short rows and increases for the yoke, my stitch count was wrong. At first I was going to fudge it, then I realized that would be silly as it is a very small bit of knitting that I can certainly reknit quickly once my head is in the right place. So that project will be disappeared back into the yarn tubs for now.
I removed some projects from my list that I can’t see myself making anytime soon.
Sewing
I added my Plateau Joggers, which are now cut out and ready to sew.
Today I will make some Canada, Eh? flannel PJ pants for Bob. He has requested pockets, so I hope the pocket pattern from one of my dresses will do as a template.
Spinning
I added spinning to my list. My goals this year are modest. 1. Relearn to spin 2. Improve my spinning.
Listening to Music Intentionally
I removed this from my list. I’ve been enjoying indie folk playlists on YouTube that are themed by season or mood. It’s like hygge Muzak and is really the opposite of listening to music intentionally. But it’s nice background music and helps calm my nervous system.
We had snow flurries yesterday and the holidays are right around the corner! I’ve finished my shopping. It was easy as everyone is getting a Fair Trade Subscription. It feels good going into the season without many have-to-dos. I’m going to bake Rosemary Shortbread Stars today.
This has been a Year of Projects update. You can find out more about the group here (Rav link) or here: Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list. You can read my updated list of projects here.
headknits 