Selfish Knitting Time

• Posted on 5 January 2025
• By Anne
• 0

Another holiday behind us. And no immediate commitments to make anything other than what I want. Selfish knitting, here I come! What will it be, what will it be?!

OK, so I broke my golden knitting rule this year - never to knit something on a time schedule. Like for gifting. But my son included a knitted beanie on his Christmas list. Grr - I can't buy an already knit hat! Hats are quick though, right? Well, not when you add colorwork. He's a University of Oregon graduate, so of course it needed to include ducks. I chose a Jamie Lomax (Pacific Knit Co.) pattern, and created the patterns from charts in her new book, The Doodle Knit Directory. Green, white and yellow yarn, of course. Turned out pretty awesome, with a ring of yellow ducks just above the brim - he opened it on Christmas and gave me a giant smile. So worth it. Also made my mother-in-law a lovely scarflette with a skein of Alpaca, Silk, and Cashmere Alpha B yarn I had in my stash. OK, it was soooooo hard to knit with that yarn. Not!

Also among my required knitting was the annual Imagined Landscapes countdown to Christmas mystery gnome KAL. 'Required' is kinda a stretch, as I pretty much look forward to this KAL all year long, starting Christmas 26th. This year's adventure was Gnana's Visit. Gnana (pictured above) evolved over the first 24 days of December, along with a lovely story about the holidays, family, and togetherness.

Which brings me to my selfish knitting projects. A Gnome or two? Oh, yes! I've been collecting Imagined Landscapes designer Sarah Schira's patterns, snapping them up and bundling with yarn as they're released. Gnomes, accessories, trees; even a house and castle. And of course, my copy of her fall released book, The Gnomes of Grimblewood has numerous sticky note tags marking what I want to try. My village will be busting at the seams!

Of course, my January knitting always includes digging through my WIPs and giving them new life. Among the winners for 2025 are two sweaters. On the needles for several years has been my Stonecrop Cardi. I have a completed pullover version, which hails compliments every time I wear it. I really love that the rounds alternate between colorwork, cables, and tiny bobbles, then a few rounds of mindless, take-a-break stockinette. Unlike most, who detest making these little bumps, I adore making bobbles and nupps. Weird, huh?! Last time I set this project down, I'd just divided off the sleeves and started on the lower body. Since December 26th (my least favorite day of the year, by the way), I've worked a third of the way through the 64 row chart; guessing 3-4 repeats will get me the length I need. This one is kind of a slow go, what with all the fancy stitches worked with light sport weight yarn and US 3 needles. But I plow ahead, knowing that, once done, this will be a stunner. My colors are a golden apple greenish yellow main color, contrasting with the dark teals of Spincycle's Dyed in the Wool "Melancholia."

Where's the pink, you ask? Not to worry. My second WIP is Petite Knit's Champagne Cardigan. And it's PINK!!! The Fibre Co.'s &Make DK in a dusty rose held with a matching shade of silk mohair lace. Reminds me of a glass of rose champagne; my favorite! And unlike the previous sweater I described, nothing but stockinette. Yay! My end of the day with a glass of bubbles, or while watching an intense show on TV project. This one is also just past the sleeve divide. Bigger needles and less intricate stitchwork - hmmm, which will I finish first?

Finally, it wouldn't be a new year without a revisit to my absolute favorite thing to knit - socks. Haven't decided which WIP wins the honor, as I have more pairs of socks on needles than I can count. Maybe I'll close my eyes, dip my hand into the very deep bin of partially knit socks, pull something out, and be surprised. My new year's resolution for 2025? To free up at least one set of needles for a new pair of toasty toe warmers.

Happy New Year my fellow makers. Let's bury ourselves in beautiful yarn together and take a tiny break from the crazy. Make on!