Happy New Year! Year of Projects (YOP) 2023

I’m ready to start the New Year right with an impossible list of items I will never accomplish. At the same time, having a list ensures I will be somewhat productive. I do love the feeling of checking items off a list. Perhaps I will start adding gold stars next to completed projects. Plus, it gives me an excuse to blog weekly when I can’t think of anything else to say.

I’m grateful the Year of Projects group is loosely organized, and I was able to take a break last year. My approach this year is to divide and conquer. I’ve divided my full list of knitting projects into separate lists for 2023 and 2024. 2023 (below) includes works in progress (WIPs), and new cast ons I hope to complete this year. Add to this list socks, since my plan is to knit a pair of socks every month this year. That’s not realistic, but that’s never stopped me from trying. Some of these WIPs probably won’t make it this year. There’s a reason I’ve set them aside, but I’m not ready to rip them out yet.

Knitting To Do List

Arrowhead Cardigan
  1. Powdermill (New Year’s cast on)
  2. Willow in Moonstone Arcadia
  3. Super Simple Summer Sweater in Cestari Ash Lawn
  4. Hansel Hap in Ramsay Farms fawn katmoget Shetland with Jamieson and Smiths for trim colors
  5. Knitter’s Dude in Knitpicks Comfy for Bob
  6. Auchnaha in Schiehallion in Mooring
  7. Fall Favorites Sweater in La Bien Aimee Merino Sport (short-sleeved purple cats version)
  8. Cozy Autumn Socks
  9. That Old Christmas Moon Shawl in In Betwixt Yarn Advent (I want to be wrapped up in this by December 1.)
  10. Christmas Pudding Socks
  11. Streely Maid Trigger Mitts in Holiday Doodle Cowl colors
  12. Stash Aurealis
  13. Alaska Hat in Knit Circus kit
  14. Spisa Oven Mitts from stash (gift for Freya)
  15. Advent Scarf

Completed Knitting

Sewing To Do List

Ottobre Casual Cotton Pants

I’ve noticed my approach to sewing is to make a pattern to see if I like it. If I do, I make multiples so I don’t have to learn something new every time I sew. It’s more enjoyable for me if I can skip the instructions. So my plan for 2023 is to mostly make multiples. Also, I’d like to sew a trench coat, but I don’t have the fabric for it right now. Maybe next year!

  1. Ottobre casual cotton pants in black brushed cotton twill
  2. Liz Jacket in gray Shetland flannel
  3. Rachel Shirt in apricot linen
  4. Rachel Shirt in Liberty blue paisley lawn
  5. Ottobre summer tops in cotton prints
  6. Ophelia Overall shorts in Virginia cotton canvas with black walnut ecoprint accents
  7. Pym Pants from Lotta Jansdotter’s Everyday Style in deadstock denim
  8. Rui Shirt Dress from Lotta Jansdotter’s Everyday Style in Essex linen
  9. Ophelia Overalls in navy wool flannel
  10. Audrey Pant in Heavens to Betsy plaid wool, color Sophia
  11. Martina Coat in black wool floral embossed coating

Completed Sewing

Weaving List

I wove this scarf!

Spinning List

I’ll finish spinning my Pumpkins for Sale BFL and maybe participate in Tour de Fleece. I think I would also like to dye my natural rovings and spin skeins for gift giving this year.

Happy New Year! We’ve had a lovely weekend, with a gathering at a friend’s in Canton, then an overnight stay with kids in Cuyahoga Falls. New Year’s Eve was spent eating pizza and watching Bloody New Year and Terror Train. Neither of us had ever seen these, but they were an enjoyable diversion. I impressed even myself with my facial recognition gift by pointing out John from Shaun of the Dead in Bloody New Year. (I have a gift for pattern recognition. I am currently using this gift in my role as part-time Remote Bookkeeping Elf — title my own. I log in to computers remotely early in the morning and work on other people’s bookkeeping while they are still asleep. They wake up and their bookkeeping is all done for them! I would love to have an afternoon job that is more creative, and I’m thinking about knitting pattern tech editing.) Today we’re going for a New Year’s hike. Bob will make black eyed peas and collards for dinner.

I usually choose a word for the year, although I don’t think I chose a word for 2022. I spent most of the year focusing on my mental and physical health, and made some progress. I was able to stop taking medications. I was able to get off social media except Facebook. I think about closing my Facebook account, but there are connections with family and friends there I would miss. In fact, a friend recently shared this article that plays into my word for 2023. My word is Voice. The goal is to recognize and reaffirm my own voice, and share it if I want to. No pressure, though, if I don’t feel like it. My resolutions for the year are to knit from stash and have more fun. We’re also having a “no buy” year, as we have a new furnace and electrical system to pay off. This means we can buy food and necessities, but not anything else. Bob pretty much lives like this, so I think we all know who is going to be struggling the most. This was my idea, by the way.

Also from the Wool and Fiber Arts group on Facebook. I’m in it for the memes.

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.

Wednesday WIPS

I’ve picked up knitting my 2 Spooky hat again. I’m now on the crown decreases. Maybe I’ll finish it today?

I dyed this Virginia cotton canvas and am planning to sew another pair of Free Range Slacks, this time in the wide leg, cropped version. I need some beach pants for an upcoming trip to Michigan.

I’ve almost finished spinning my Pumpkins for Sale BFL. I’m going to try chain plying. Liz says I can keep it a gradient that way.

I harvested most of the Anaheims. I’m going to de-seed and de-vein them, and freeze them. I also harvested the indigo. I’m drying the leaves so I can dye with them later.

It stayed in the mid 50s today, which is cold for this time of year — even for me! I’m not complaining.

Year of Projects: Week 4/52

Knitting

I finished my Pumqueen Cardi this week! I hope to have finished my Halloween Livie shawl by next week.

Dyeing

I spent most of my week dyeing this gorgeous kit for an up and coming knitting pattern designer. We’re both pleased with how it came out. I’m particularly happy with the black. This is nonsuperwash merino and silk fingering weight yarn.

I had a black dye bath to exhaust, so decided to try my hand at dyeing fiber for spinning. This is some merino sliver from my stash. Of course I went for Halloween colors. I’ve dyed wool fiber for felting but not for spinning, so we’ll see how this spins up.

Spinning

I finished spinning and plying this Blue Faced Leicester (BFL) fiber from a local farm, and I love it. I think my spinning is getting more even. I enjoyed working with this fiber so much, I’m going to try dyeing it and then offering it in the shop for spinners.

This has been a Year of Projects (YOP) update. You can read my updated list here, and my original list at this link. You can find out more about the group on Ravelry or Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list.

Halloween in July: Wednesday WIPs

Kathy is hosting Christmas in July (or whatever holiday you like) and I am low-key participating with Halloween in July.

My Livie shawl is growing, and I’ve cast on my 2 Spooky Hat kit which I purchased last October. I don’t have a Halloween hat, and I’m on a mission to remedy that by October 1! I finished my Pumqueen Cardigan, which I’ll post about on Friday.

I’m still spinning (almost) daily for Tour de Fleece. I’m 3/4 of the way through this farm BFL braid. Tomorrow I’ll finish spinning it. On Friday I’ll ply. Then comes my favorite part: dyeing! What colors should I dye it? I’m thinking of experimenting with winter holiday colors.

What are you working on this week?

Wednesday WIPs

I finished one button band on my Pumqueen Cardi and sewed ribbon to the facing. Once I’ve blocked it, I’ll hand stitch that down to the inside. I’ll start knitting the other button band today, but I’ll need to wait until I get the buttons to finish it with the buttonholes and everything.

I also cut out a Clyde Jumpsuit in indigo midweight linen. I barely squeaked it out of my three yards. Good thing I needed the short size!

I also started spinning some farm BFL roving today. I think BFL may be my new favorite fiber.

2022-2023 Year of Projects Week 2

Completed Knitting

  1. Pumqueen Cardigan in Cascade BFL
  2. Halloween Livie

Knitting To Do List

  1. Arrowhead Cardigan in Lettlopi
  2. Powdermill
  3. Knitter’s Dude in Comfy for Bob
  4. That Old Christmas Moon Shawl
  5. Auchnaha in Schiehallion in Mooring
  6. Cozy Autumn Socks
  7. Peaceful Lodge Sweater
  8. Taxus Mitts in Tukuwool Fingering
  9. Holiday Doodle Cowl
  10. Christmas Pudding Socks
  11. Willow in Moonstone Arcadia
  12. Super Simple Summer Sweater in Cestari Ash Lawn
  13. Seavaiger
  14. Hansel Hap in Ramsay Farms fawn katmoget Shetland with Jamieson and Smiths for trim colors
  15. Summer Solstice Wrap
  16. Stash Aurealis
  17. Glenan in Tarheelbilly Farm Tunis (I may dye this)
  18. Skipwith in black Rauma Finullgarn
  19. Undulation Shawl in Shilasdair Tansy
  20. Straw Cardigan in Tukuwool DK
  21. ‘Onipa’a Shawl in Mindful Folk yarn
  22. Peerie Flooers. I have the J&S Shetland yarn for the original version of this that you can see in the show Shetland.
  23. Celtic Tree Handwarmers
  24. Long sleeve Treit in Foxglove
  25. Sunset Slouch
  26. Strom Cardigan
  27. Peace Fleece Ronan in Siberian Midnight
  28. Brown Felt Cowgirl Hat
  29. Vintersol in Wing and a Prayer Farm yarn

Completed Sewing

  1. Free Range Slacks in Black Linen
  2. Free Range Slacks in Olive Linen
  3. Clyde Jumpsuit in Indigo Linen
  4. Marvel-ous Shirt for Bob
  5. Zero Waste Gather Dress
  6. Tekura Tees

Sewing To Do List

  1. Mocha Tunic in yellow linen
  2. Florence Top in cream floral linen
  3. Ophelia Overall shorts in red linen
  4. Ottobre blouse in Liberty blue paisley lawn
  5. Lauren Boyfriend Shirt in aqua and apricot linens
  6. Two A-line Tees in batiked cottons
  7. Audrey Pants in black brushed cotton twill and gray cotton twill
  8. Ophelia Overalls in teal corduroy
  9. A Logan Shacket in navy wool flannel
  10. Ottobre Coat in black wool floral embossed coating

Completed Dyeing

  1. I dyed my handspun with some leftover acid dyes.
  2. Gourd Party colorway for the shop
  3. I custom dyed this kit for a knitting pattern designer.

Completed Spinning

  1. Tour de Fleece is going well. I spun and plied this Targhee from Allegheny Fiber Arts. I really enjoyed spinning Targhee. It’s one of my favorite fibers. I still need to set this hank with a good soak.
  2. I spun and plied 4 ounces of farm BFL.

This is my running list for a Year of Projects 2022-2023. You can read my starting list here. You can find out more about the group on Ravelry or Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list.

Music for a Found YOPmonium

This week I was listening to a Celtic music playlist — because Celtic music is my happy music — and in the middle of this playlist (at 29:25 to be exact) along came a song I recognized… from Napoleon Dynamite! If you are curious, the scene is at this link. Our family loves Napoleon Dynamite, and it is probably one of the most quote worthy films in our house, after A Christmas Story, and Raising Arizona.

Knitting

I am still planning a gansey, knitting one row per day on Arrowhead, and stimming in stockinette on Freya’s Musselburgh. I’m angry about my Vertices Unite, probably because the indigo dyed yarn rubs off on my hands. And I had my nails done this week, which match my gansey swatch!

Since apparently I’m bored with my current knitting, I am going to knit a swatch for another project: Auchnaha. It’s a cardigan that is currently only available through Kate Davies’ Argyll’s Secret Coast Club, which I am really enjoying. On the left, you see Tukuwool DK in Rohto, which I have in stash. On the right is Kate Davies’ Schiehallion in Mooring, which I would have to order. I get a club discount though, and I like that this yarn is smoother than the Tukuwool. But the Tuku may knit up just fine, and smooth out during blocking, so I’m going to give it a try. Both yarns are a blue-green color that I thought would be nice for spring.

Sewing

I have cut out the wool melton for my royal blue Clare coat, as well as the Thinsulate. I’m waiting on some interfacing before I do any more. I’ve also added a couple of new pieces to my spring wardrobe sewing: a Melba Dress in black cotton jersey and a Norman Jumpsuit in eggplant linen. I have the fabric, but I did buy the patterns — although one was a free bonus pattern with a discount code, which I felt good about.

Spinning

My spinning continues to improve. I should do more of it.

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.

S is for Sunday, Socks, Spinning, and Sewing

Knitting

I finished my Gourd Party socks! I love them.

Spinning

I made yarn! Okay, it’s thick and thin novelty yarn. It’s fine. I think I may dye it and knit a hat with it. It’s “wool top” that came with the wheel. I’m not ready to practice on my Coopworth fleece or pretty dyed roving. But I might try Shetland next.

Plying by Firelight

Our power went out today so I made use of the time by finishing up spinning a bobbin, and then plying my two full bobbins. By firelight. Because I have all the power that is necessary. Also I assembled my lazy kate.

Sewing

Before our power went out, I was sewing on my shacket. The inside of this fabric is almost as pretty as the outside. So much so, I debated which side to use for a minute. All I have left is the collar, the hemming, and to sew the snaps on!

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.

YOP Lang Syne

And with that, I will cease inserting “YOP” into the titles of carols.

Knitting

I started the Vertices Unite KAL that Sarah is hosting. It’s a super fun knit!

Sewing

I’ve cut out my first Logan Shacket in this gorgeous plaid heavy flannel from deep stash. I didn’t have enough for the pockets, so I may see if I can find a solid cotton flannel that will suit.

Spinning

I took my spinning wheel class, and I’m improving. I’m going to practice for 15 minutes every evening.

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.

Wovember Year of Projects Update: All The Wool

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.