WIPs and FOs: December 2020
So Braided by RachyKnits (left) and Pebbles Hat by (right)
Christmas is almost here which means Christmas knitting is in full swing! I’m working on several projects that have a Christmas deadline that you may have seen already if you follow me on Instagram. I’m making a few hats using Anzula Luxury Fibers in Katara which is a 50/50 yak/merino blend and is absolutely incredible to knit with. I got this yarn from The Knitting Room in NY which is an absolutely lovely local yarn store and cafe. So far I have completed a So Braided hat by RachyKnits (ravelry link) and Pebbles Hat by Justyna Lorkowska (ravelry link). Both patterns were really well written and were super fun and quick cabled hat patterns for DK yarn. I just started a Hipster Hat from PetiteKnit (ravelry link) and also have an Oslo hat (ravelry link) on deck from her as well. I’ve made the Oslo hat before and the pattern is a really interesting (and warm!) design.
I recently ordered leather hat tags to use on finished hats featuring my new skein frog logo. I purchased these from Laser Llama Boutique (etsy link) and am so pleased with how they came out. I can’t wait to add these to all my hand knit items.
I’m in the process of moving my ‘for sale’ production away from hand-dyed yarn and more into the realm of finished items (specifically hats so far). I have a greater demand than ever for hats and it just makes sense for me to concentrate my efforts in that area. I’ve resisted selling finished knit items and commissions for a long time because I have trouble focusing on one project at a time, but I think I’ve figured out a new system that works better for me.
I’m trying to stay more organized and I’m hoping to get some ready-to-ship hats listed in my shop before Christmas as last minute gift options. I’m experiencing a whole new set of challenges as I delve into this area of selling. I’ve been debating whether or not to make items as they are ordered or to pre-make them, but ultimately being able to photograph them for the listings is a pretty important part of the process so I need to get stock made first before I can list them for sale. I’ve already had several pre-orders come in so I’m trying to make sure I can fill those orders as soon as possible too.
Wave Break Sweater Test Knit for Yeonee Knits
Aside from Christmas knitting and shop knitting I also have a ton of WIPs on the needles. First and foremost I’m working on a sweater test knit that is due Dec. 29. This is going to definitely be my most challenging deadline as I need to meet that very soon after Christmas and knit it in conjunction with all the Christmas knitting that I’m working on. I also started a new pair of tweed Fontana socks (ravelry link) which I’m obsessed with and are kinda the only thing I really want to work on right now.
Fontana Socks in Knitpicks Stroll Tweed - Persimmon
I have some outstanding projects that I’ve started throughout the year that are pretty close to done, but fell to the wayside as I got distracted by other things. This includes my Sweetheart Bomber Jacket (ravelry link), Del Rey dress (modification) (ravelry link), Wednesday Sweater (ravelry link), Seaglass Sweater (ravelry link), as well as 3 Afghans, and 5 unfinished sock pairs. I would love to start closing these projects out! I’m trying to think of a good way to organize them so that I can most efficiently complete them. The Marvelous Mrs. Maker recently released some awesome tips on getting your WIP list down so I think I’m going to take some of her advice and come up with a plan of attack. I track all of my projects through Ravelry, but may need to think of something a little more tactile for tracking. I’m wondering if there are any good apps out there for journaling on the iPad that might be useful for ‘scrapbooking’ about projects (handwriting/pasting/etc).
I have a lot of projects ‘on deck’ that I have yarn picked out for and really want to start working on, but I’m determined to close out some of these WIPs first. I also have yarn that I had set aside specifically for patterns that are by designers that I no longer support due to their questionable actions or behaviors (including but not limited to passive racism, gaslighting, non-inclusive sizing, general douchery, etc.). So I’m looking for alternate projects that fit the yarn type and quantities.
I specifically have a significant amount of spincycle yarn and a few indie-dyed fades that need new patterns assigned to them. I’ve been searching for just the right fit, but nothing has caught my eye (and been the right yarn quantity) as of yet. I also have my October advent from Dragon Hoard Yarn that I need a project for- it’s a 31 mini-skein advent and I don’t really want to make a blanket or shawl, but I haven’t found the right fit for a chunky cardigan yet. I kinda want to use it for a Portage cardigan (ravelry link), but if I do that I’ll need a sq of a background color to hold double with the advent since that pattern requires a pretty high yardage of DK.
Maybe I’ll do a post about the yarn I have and see if anyone has any pattern suggestions!
Hipster Hat by PetiteKnit in Anzula Luxury Fibers Katara
