WIPs and FOs: January 2021
Happy New Year! I haven’t really posted or shared about any new changes, resolutions, or goals for the year because I don’t really have any. I do plan to make a lot of socks this year, so I think that counts! I haven’t posted in a few weeks, but I actually have a LOT to post about and want to put together other blog posts to address a few things that I’ve been meaning to share: the VA handmade hug drive, my spinning wheel finishing project, and my visit to Hidden Pastures Fiber Farm.
It’s been a super busy few weeks with the holidays and work though so I haven’t quite gotten myself together. This post is mostly to address the status of my current WIPs and FOs and to update you all on my sock plans.
So my biggest FO has been my Wave Break Sweater by Susan Lin (ravelry link). This was a test knit that I started back in November and finished up right at the deadline (while squeezing it in around holiday knitting). This is a beautiful sweater with a lot of great textural details. There are a lot of challenging elements such as the tubular cast on for the hem and the short row shaping for the neck and back. I find these types of challenges to be really exciting when I’m knitting a project as it breaks up some of the monotony. The texture on this sweater is all created using a really simple slip stitch technique. I chose to fade mine with 3 different skeins of Dragon Hoard Yarn (link) and it’s so soft and lovely.
I also finished up a test knit for Tif Neilan of her Intwined House Socks (ravelry link), which will be releasing in few days. I was so excited about this test knit! I finished the pair in 4 days and they fit so well. I used Ritual Dyes (link) Selkie and Fae bases to create the softest most luxurious sock experience. I highly recommend all of Tif’s house sock patterns! My absolutely favorite use of House socks is for when I’m using my spinning wheel. I really don’t like to have anything hardsoled on my feet when I’m treadling, but my feet get SO COLD. Enter house socks! They’re thick enough that my feet stay warm, but not too thick for me to feel the treadles.
As for WIPs I’m still working on most of the projects that I discussed in December, although I’d say they’re essentially hibernating right now while I work on socks. My primary WIPs are my Fontana socks (ravelry link), a striped vanilla sock for Alex, and a hat commission for a friend. The Fontana socks certainly have the most progress as of now with one being almost completed, but the stripes socks are following closely behind.
I have plans this years to knit mostly socks. I’m using #sockgoals2021 to track my progress on Instagram if you want to follow. If you knitalong with me then I may be randomly sending out prizes throughout the year (although this is very informal). I’ve also been spinning a lot on my new wheel! I will share that progress in a separate post though.
