The New Year So Far…Startitis

 I thought January would be a sorting out month, but so far I’ve been starting new stuff without finishing off the old. Above is the collection of yarn for the Sungold blanket, a CAL which started last Friday, of which I’ve done a gauge swatch. All worked out nicely, pulled back and to start soon.

Since then I have started on the blanket and worked through weeks 1 and 2 and now progressing through week 3 (as at 26 January).  

But not content with that I had a go with another stitch pattern from the Dahlia blanket with the colour order from the Sungold blanket.

I tried a few rows but putting on hold until I’ve gold the Sungold blanket done, but I think it will look good in the spike stitched version.  Both blankets will be lap size rather than single bed size so there will be plenty of yarn to make both.

I’ve started to knit a clown for my youngest granddaughter’s birthday at the end of March. This is Mr Fortywinks, a pattern in a book of clowns by the late Jean Greenhowe.  My Mum made one for my daughter Sarah when she was young that lives in the spare bedroom. I’ve made 3 clowns so far and this is the fourth.  Flo chose the colours for her cousin’s clown, who insisted should include pink and purple. but he has got a turquoise blue hat. The body so far…

I’ve still got a long way to go.

I also started some socks, I could not resist.  They are a small project that I can pick up and put down and apart from some shaping it’s mainly knitting round and round.  The yarn was a hand dyed I’d bought at Craft 4 Crafters last year and it’s the recipient’s favourite colour. I asked her to try on for size and it fits perfectly so second sock is under way.

I also dusted off the sewing machine and made a few quilt blocks after seeing a simple pattern in Love Patchwork and Quilting (issue 132, December 2023, on Readly) called Simply Scrappy.  The colours are easy to source as scraps, but I had to cut into the low volume background fabrics from stash, but I have plenty. Here are a couple of photos that I’d put on my Instagram.

Not sure how many I’ll make but so long as it’s enough to make a decent sized quilt, but the scraps don’t go down much 😕. 

At Dorset Creative Embroiderers I started on this butterfly. This was designed and Tutored by Fay Maxwell. This is how far I’ve got. Stitches used are backstitch, blanket stitch and bullion stitch. 

So a lot of things started and not a lot finished, so the UFO’s are building up a bit, but never mind they will be done (not saying when, though!  ;o)) ).