Hand Knit Catch Up

I have been a busy little bee working away on a few hand knits since I last posted about November projects.

I have completed my Lunenburg Pullover by Savory Knitting and I has become a fast favourite of mine.

I used the called for yarn, Lichen and Lace Rustic Heather Sport, and I fell completely in love. The yarn is milled by Briggs and Little but dyed by Lichen in lace in the most delight shades. The pattern calls for Charcoal, Shrub, Birch, Pollen, and Sky and they worked so perfectly together that I didn’t deviate. While it is on the rustic sides, as the yarn name states, the knitted fabric is squishy, bouncy, airy, and still sturdy. It is such a pleasure to both knit with and wear that I’ve already planned another sweater knit for more in the future. But I digress…

The pullover pattern was a very speedy and satisfying knit. The colorwork yoke worked up like magic and kept me wanting to knit “just one more round”. Recently, I learned to work the Norwegian purling method and that came in very handy. I am a two handed colorwork knitter and with the use of this method the colorwork (purls and all) just flowed.

I have also finished my Aito Shawl by Melody Hoffman The pattern was simple, straightforward, and very well written and it was a very pleasing knit. It worked up quite quickly and the lace sections were easily memorized. In my books, a very fulfilling project!

Instead if using Plotülopi as the pattern suggested, I opted for Briggs and Little Country Roving because we had a great supply of it at the shop and I wanted to try out a fun project with it. It did require some prepping as it is wound into cakes with 5 strands held gently together together but I separated it out into a huge ball of singles and knit away. The yarn is feather light, bouncy, and quite soft. Plus, when knit up it is very warm … exactly the qualities you want in a woollen shawl. I love to toss it around my shoulders while knitting and relaxing at home.

My last finished project to share today (before moving on to a couple of works in progress) was a test knit for an amazing new Newfoundland designer I stumbled across on Instagram …. Heather Nolan aka Oileánach Knits.

The pattern is the Foraois Hat, which is now available to download through her Ravelry page, and was a very quick knit! It called for bulky weight yarn and luckily, I had a ball of both Fleece and Harmony’s Heatherdale Lopi and a ball of Alafosslopi in my stash. The finished hat had a doubled brim and as such is very warm. It is a fantastic hat for hiking in winter!

Speaking of stash, I found out through Laura of Louis and Jane that haberdashery on Instagram has suggested a Makers Dozen for 2022. The premise of the initiative is to use either stashed yarn to complete 12 new projects this year or to pull out twelve old works in progress that have been languishing and finish them (or any combo there of) and I jumped right in. This fits in perfectly with my crafty goals for the year and the Foraois Hat is the first project completed toward my dozen.

Another project that I have underway that fits well within the Maker’s Dozen parameters is my La Manche by the lovely Jennifer Beale. I knew when I saw this pattern that this was a must knit for me. I had some Island Collection Worsted in my stash which worked perfectly.

I had originally purchased the yarn for another pattern but when I knit the swatch the colors and original pattern were just not what I was going for. You ever have that happen? Fortunately, they look lovely knit up here.

I’m speeding right along with this project and am very much looking forward to wearing the finished cardigan!

And last project to share about today is my Gotland socks. This is another Maker’s Dozen project AND it fits with the Natural Sock-along and Rustic Knitalong and I’m also participating in. All three are year long “alongs” so there is plenty of opportunity to experiment and play.

I am using some Gotland fibre I hand dyed and then handspun as the main portion of the sock and some leftover Fleece and Harmony Point Prim Sock. The socks are going to be soooo nice to wear when they’re finished!

The pattern is pretty basic and I opted for the modified Eye of Partridge heel from Hermione’s Everyday Sock and a teeny bit of colorwork on the foot section.

Well, that’s it for me for now! How about you? What are you working on now? Are you participating in any “alongs” this year? I’d love to hear.