Another double-posting with Restingmotion. This may be the final post here, or not. I remain undecided as to whether or not reopening this blog was a good, or an outgrowth of periodic ennui.
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Another glance over my shoulder perhaps, this time looking at my knitting progress in 2022.
Let's get the statistics out of the way first. In 2022 I finished 10 projects and used up 71 skeins of yarn totaling 10,909 yards. On first glance, it looks like I knitted less than the previous year in that there were two fewer finished objects, but the objects were larger and used more yarn. Technically, it is not about yarn use, although that was one of my goals, or number of finished objects, but both of methods of accounting serve a purpose.
More specifically, the project breakdown was as follows:
- two blankets
- one soft-sculpture (toy)
- four shawls
- one pair of socks
- two sweaters
Now let's look at that more thoroughly.
There were no photos taken of the two blankets or the toy. The toy and the first blanket was started in 2021 but never really photographed or blogged. This was probably because I had mixed feelings about them from the get-go, but I was too pig-headed to give up, rip out, and start something new. Instead I forced myself to finish both and promptly gave them away. The second blanket was one of those crazy ideas where I decided at the last minute to knit a baby blanket, finished it in a desperate rush, and immediately presented it to the new parents. I really liked that blanket, but I was too overwhelmed at the time to deal with record-keeping.
After that experience I decided I would never force myself to finish something again. I would admit defeat or I would rip and repurpose. Luckily, my remaining projects of the year turned out to be far more satisfying, although admittedly there were some false starts and some ripping out. Each false start then became a challenge and an opportunity. Not all of those opportunities have yet been realized as projects, but I have found a certain satisfaction in the simple act of swatching, in letting a yarn tell me what it is, even if that initial exploration does not yield immediate results.
But now that the disappointments are out of the way, what about the successes?
I knitted four shawls, the first three of which were blogged (shown above). Shawlography, (pink, purple, green wool) was started as part of Stephen West's 2021 MKAL. It was challenging, often fun, and sometimes maddening. None of the techniques were particularly difficult in and of themselves, but West did put things together in ways I would not necessarily have thought of if left to my own devices. Knitting this shawl was both fun and a constant struggle. This was partially due to the fact that my fingers, beset with lingering chemotherap-induced neuropathy, struggled to maintain tension, and partially because I was constantly fretting about my color choices. Half the time I was convinced that the resulting shawl would only be suitable for a clown show, and it was not until I knit the final border that I could admit to being happy with the result. Even so, it gets the least wear of the three, primarily because it makes the boldest statement. Still I think it was the accomplishment I was most proud of. I learned a great deal knitting it, mostly because the brioche was not kind to my hands. The brioche was ripped twice and reknit, even with the ripping and reknitting, I struggled. The sense of accomplishment I feel for this shawl is primarily due to that brioche section. Not only did I come to love brioche, I taught myself how to drop down to repair individual errors in brioche without ripping back and entire section, an accomplishment of which I am still proud even though I can honestly say that if the mistakes are many and frequent, it is still easier to simply rip back. Skill-wise, this shawl was my greatest accomplishment of 2022.
The cream striped Nantucket Summer shawl was the biggest shawl I knit in 2022, at 22 x 120 inches. It is almost a blanket and it has admittedly seen me through many cool evenings on the patio as well as early mornings watching the sun rise, coffee and hand. The yarn was originally intended for a cardigan, but as I have a long-standing aversion to heavy cotton cardigans, I feared it would be a cardigan I would never wear. The shawl is wonderful and I wrap myself up in it all the time, a perfect choice for me.
My absolute favorite knit of 2022 was the Artyarns silk wrap I named blue wave. This was an absolutely fun knit, full of short rows and changing colors. It required attention but was not particularly difficult and it was so exciting that I raced through it. This shawl was completely fun to knit and the results are absolutely gorgeous. Using 766 yards of Artyarns beaded silk and sequins light, knitting this wrap is an indulgence but well worth it. If I could justify having two versions of such a distinctive wrap, I would happily knit it again. It was that much fun.
My final finished project of 2022 was the fourth shawl, seen above. This shawl was knit in Noro Kakigori, a mostly cotton and silk yarn, using the "Stormy Sky" pattern by Ksenia Naidyon. Originally purchased for use with another yarn in a different project, it became evident upon swatching that I hated the two yarns together and felt that this yarn was completely unsuitable for its originally intended use. Upon further swatching I decided that I liked the fabric the yarn created and that it would be lovely as a relatively simple shawl. It is a not particularly large shawl, with both drape and a touch of crispness, which I think will prove very versatile in Knoxville's climate. I would happily knit with more Kakigori, because it creates a lovely fabric, although the yarn itself tends to want to twist up on itself while knitting, so it does require a bit of patience.
The one pair of socks knitted in 2022 have proven quite satisfactory. I intentionally knit them longer than my usual, perhaps a tad too long, but they still get worn. The Mominoki Finnwool, used for the body of the sock, is 100% wool without the nylon usually added for sock yarns. It was a remnant from Shawlography and put to good use here. I actually prefer socks that are pure wool without nylon, but they don't tend to wear as well, and so, as it true for so many things in life, represent a trade-off. These are holding up well, except for a bit of wear at the back of the ankle above the heel. I suppose it is a bit early to see that much wear after less than a full year's wear, and that area will be mended when the time comes. I love the socks nonetheless.
As I look in my sock drawer, I see that I need more socks, and I am loathe to purchase them. It seems that there must be sock knitting on the horizon. I have thought of exploring breed specific wool, looking for hard-wearing wools that hold up better for socks and I may well do that. In the end, however, I will probably mostly use nylon reinforced sock wool, which comes in many pretty colors. Although I may struggle with a brightly colored shawl, I have no issue with wearing carnival-colored socks. The first pair of socks I ever knit are still going strong, after 13 years, knitted with KnitPicks simple stripes, 75% wool yarn, a ringing endorsement if ever there was one. I will admit that the tutti-frutti color palette of that first pair is not one I would chose today, but those socks simply will not die. That specific yarn has been discontinued, but I would think KnitPicks' sock yarn would still be a good economical and hard-wearing option if that is a consideration. But longevity is not my primary criteria when knitting socks. I am all for knitting, and wearing, what one loves and we each make the compromises that best suit us. I am fine with balancing practicality with comfort in my sock wardrobe, but also admit that there is nothing quite as nice as cashmere socks on a cold evening, even if they are not practical for everyday wear. Perhaps my sock wardrobe needs a touch of softness, as well as an indulgence in frivolous colors.
Even though I was once almost exclusively a garment knitter, I only knot two sweaters in 2022. The first, a cardigan finished in June, was not really worn until fall, when the temperatures had cooled. Although it is not a winter cardigan, being knitted with cotton/nylon/polyester novelty yarns, this was not a sweater for hot humid summer heat. It may have been had I followed the pattern as written, which was for a cardigan with more ease and drape.. After knitting my swatches however, the hand of the resulting fabric reminded me of the kind of light drapey boucle that is often used for soft Chanel-style jackets, and I decided that a short, more fitted cardigan was required. I altered the pattern accordingly, individualizing it by taking in some of the asymmetry I was finding in my sewing pattern sloper development. There was some fudging, and some ripping and reknitting, which is not easy when three rather snaggy strands are held together while knitting. But I am absolutely enamored of the finished cardigan. This is not a hard-wearing everyday sweater but more of an occasional item. I need to take care not to catch the rather fine sequined filament that runs through the sweater on buckles, latches, or even rings and other jewelry. This cardigan wants to be the star of the show in its own understated way. It is a sweater I can imagine myself wearing for a long time.
The second sweater was for a wool shell or vest, knitted to be worn as a layering piece. The pattern was Carol Feller's Trellis top, and I used the recommended yarn, Stolen Stitches Nua Sport. Even thought I used the designer's yarn I did not quite manage to get gauge, My gauge was slightly tighter in stockinette, but the same as the recommended gauge in the pattern stitch. Since I wanted to make my sweater a bit more close-fitting than the pattern, this was easy enough to manage. Aside from size issues, I more or less knit the pattern as written with the exception of the shoulder shaping and the finishing. The original design is looser and more casual, with button bands in lieu of seamed sides. As I was seeking a more classically close-fitting silhouette that could also be worn under a jacket, I simply seamed the sides. I am very happy with the result and this sweater has already proven to be a favorite. I wore vests frequently in my 20s and early 30s, did not wear them in the intervening decades, and find I now reach for them again and again, something to consider as I contemplate future knitting.
As to 2023, who knows.
My plan is to begin the year by finishing the temperature blanket I started at the beginning of 2022. This started as a whim, but I have mostly stuck with it. I put the blanket aside during the hot months and picked it up after Thanksgiving, trying desperately to catch up. When the year ended, I had knitted the blanket through the last day of September, or three-quarters through the body of the blanket.
I am determined to finish this blanket before finishing anything else this year. Since January 1 I have knitted 47 garter ridges, which finished out October and put me half-way through November. I should finish the body by early February and then I need to pick up and knit the borders, As you can see from the blanket, spread out on my bed, the borders will be long, and I am thinking now that I do not want them to be particularly narrow, although I am considering the idea that the side borders may be wider, perhaps, than the top and bottom borders. I haven't yet calculated what color the borders should be, but if I am serious about finishing this, I should figure that out and make sure I have the yarn in house before it is needed, simply to avoid further delays. I do know that should I put it aside, it will be difficult to pick back up again, so best to keep knitting until it is finished. The blanket itself is fun because I love watching the color patterns unfold. The border of course will be more tedious, but the reward will be in the joy of curling up under it on chilly evenings.
Also on the schedule for this year is to finish a modular, log-cabin style blanket I started knitting out of Plymouth's Baby Alpaca Grande, I do think I will take a short break between blankets, finishing something smaller. I have another sleeveless cotton sweater on the needles, although I am not devoting much time to it at the moment. The cotton sweater is my portable project, but the blanket remains my main focus and the center of all my crafty energies at the moment. Expect that knitting updates may be few and far between at least for the first quarter of the year.