February State of the Knitting

Hi friends! It’s been awhile since I’ve shared what’s on my needles, so how about a little WIP round up? Right now, for me, it’s all about the knitalongs!

Earlier this month, I’d finished a few projects (some posts about that should be coming soon), and I’d felt a bit in the knitting doldrums.  I couldn’t decide what to cast on next, or what longer-term unfinished object to show some love. Then I came across Dawn Henderson’s posts about her recently released Kia Socks on Instagram. She writes about the pattern in a really moving way — the socks were directly inspired by discussions about racism in the knitting community.  I loved how she talked about knitting the textured pattern, which is suggestive of equal signs, as a gentle act of solidarity, but one that also should remind us that the work to be done goes beyond knitting.  Dawn’s released the pattern for free and is hosting a yearlong knitalong, but if you choose to knit it and your circumstances allow, why not send her a coffee — releasing a first pattern is no mean feat!

I’m knitting these using the Ovis et cetera Herba, a no nylon sock yarn that’s strengthened with ramie, a plant fiber; I picked up this skein at Yarndale last September.  The yarn is a sport weight, so I’m knitting the smallest size of the Kia Socks on US size 1.5 needles.  I’ve just finished the gusset stitches and am hopeful I can get them off the needles and onto my feet this week!

I’m also nearing completion of the yoke of my Threipmuir jumper, designed by Ysolda Teague, which I cast on last weekend. I bought the yarn for this last year at Edinburgh Yarn Festival and was going to knitalong with my friends Kate and Jenni.  Both of them have long since finished their gorgeous versions, and I’m determined I’ll wear this to Edinburgh Yarn Festival this year.

I love the colorwork pattern and the gorgeous yarn, which is Birlinn Yarn Company‘s 4ply.  I’m using KnitBritish’s Fieldwork KAL (which celebrates 100% wool yarns that will be at EYF) and Ysolda’s just announced sweater knitalong to help motivate me to finish this in time for the festival.

And later today, I’m hoping to cast on for one more big-ish project: Bristol Ivy’s recently released Niska.  Sometimes, you see a pattern and know you just have to cast on. I love the poncho/sweater mash up, and after swatching with a few different stash yarns, I’ve settled on some very deep stash Beaverslide Dry Goods yarn — I must have had it at least ten years, if not longer!

This is another project that I’m double dipping with — I’m really excited to be taking part in a Cables knit/makealong that Grace of Babbles Traveling Yarn (a podcast I really enjoy) and two new-to-me podcasters, Akira of Knitting Annihilator and Marsha of Fairy Little, are co-hosting.   I’m also excited to be giving KnitBritish’s yearlong Good Intentions KAL another shot (after failing a bit last year).  While I haven’t intended to knit Niska for long, I never intended to let this beautiful Beaverslide yarn sit in my stash for this long!

I find the structure and camaraderie of makealongs can really motivate me to stay focused on projects and (hopefully) finish them in a reasonable time.  But more importantly, they can be a really nice way to connect with makers around the world, and I’m really looking forward to that over the coming months!

That being said, I’m not sure if I’ve ever tried to participate in so many at once — we’ll have to see how it goes!

Thanks to all of you who spend a bit of your day with me and put up with my rather inconsistent blogging schedule!  I’m always aiming to do better.  What are you working on this weekend?

More soon xo K

PS After woefully neglecting it, I’ve updated my teaching schedule for February — you can see my upcoming classes if you’re interested here!