A mid-year knitting wrap up
the FO's, the "Failure", the WIPs & other knitting reflections
The first half of the year is over – time to reflect, reassess, and look ahead. My knitting year started a bit bumpy, as I dived headfirst into a project that was, in hindsight, perhaps a little too ambitious. But let’s start with the wins: the projects I finished successfully.
The Finished Objects
The first project I finished was the Sophie Scarf by Petiteknit. It was a spontaneous cast-on when I found myself projectless in another city. I used Yak by Lang Yarns, which is thicker than the pattern recommends, and added a contrasting i-cord. The result was a bit more bulky, but a very cozy scarf. I would recommend this project to beginners, but more experienced knitters might find it a bit boring.
The second project, the Fat Fur Beanie by Spektakelstrik, was also unplanned. I had wanted to knit with chunky mohair for a while, and the Biches & Bûches mohair was too tempting when I saw it at my local yarn store. Unfortunately, the yarn is quite pricey, and I had to buy an extra ball because my gauge was too tight. Knitting with double-stranded chunky mohair was a bit hard on my wrists, but I love how the finished hat came out: it’s fluffy, bold, and very warm.
My first garment of the year was the Manon Cardigan by Moreca Knit. It’s one of the preppiest patterns I’ve seen and it combines a Chanel-inspired silhouette with a more laid-back Scandinavian feel. I searched quite a while for the right yarn because I wanted to knit it in a dark brown. In the end, I combined yarn from the Wollfabriek
with ITO Yarn Gima 8.5 (colour: 0034 Chestnut), a pure cotton. It worked beautifully and knitted up surprisingly quickly. I can dress it up or down, and it’s great at regulating temperature. A full pattern review is coming soon!
Finally, I knitted my first pair of socks using the Basic Socks pattern by Paula Strickt with Merida yarn (colours: Natural 00 and Pine 34) from Lamana. Socks weren’t high on my list, and the heel construction initially worried me, but surprisingly I really enjoyed knitting them. The pattern is very accessible, and the rounds fly by. For my next pair, I’d like to try thinner yarn, perhaps the Cash Sock by Gepard Yarn, which, I think, would make the perfect pair of cozy winter socks.
The "Failure"
This is where I took on more than I could handle: my first attempt at drafting my own cardigan pattern. It didn’t work out, but I learned a lot along the way:
Pattern books on construction are often outdated and I’ve found it more helpful to study existing knitting patterns to understand different constructions.
Steeking isn’t that scary. Even with smooth yarns like merino (this guide really helped me). But you need to be 100% sure you’ll finish the project. Once you steeked, there’s no going back.
A contiguous sleeve construction achieves a similar look to set-in sleeves, but with the advantag of seamless shoulders and no short-row sleeve cap shaping.
Majo Garn Fine Merino is one of the softest merino yarns I’ve worked with, but it splits easily and stretches a lot after blocking. Holding it together with silk mohair solves these issues, so I would still recommend it.
Current WIPs
Until recently, I was a monogamous knitter, but it made me rush through projects just to cast on something new. Now I’m working on two projects at a time and switching between them every other day makes me more relaxed and I enjoy the knitting process again.
Are you a monogamous knitter, or do you have multiple projects at the same time?
I’m once again attempting a self-constructed cardigan, this time with a raglan construction. I feel much more confident now, thanks to the techniques I picked up from the Manon Cardigan and by studying other raglan patterns. I’m knitting it in Filcolana Peruvian in the colour French Vanilla.
The second project is the O-neck version of PetiteKnit’s Kumulus Tee, knitted in Pure Silk from Knitting for Olive (colour: Brown Bear). It’s a slow one on 3mm needles, but such a timeless basic that I know I’ll wear it for years.
Looking Ahead
For the second half of the year, I’d love to continue drafting patterns, I have a few more cardigans I want to knit, and go for a cable sweater for winter. If you have some recommendations for cable knits please leave them below. I also want to stay mindful about my pace and enjoying each project instead of rushing to the next cast-on.
How has your knitting year been so far? What are you looking forward to in the coming months?
See you (hopefully) next week!
xx, Sophie