PawsforThought's 2023 projects

Hello friends,

2022 didn’t really turn out the way I thought it would (does any year?) and I simply didn’t have time for much knitting, sewing or other crafting. Hopefully, that will change in 2023 but I think I’ll just take it as it comes and see what happens. I’ll still have my to-do lists, but there’s no pressure to finish anything in a particular time-frame.

As always, a lot of my work is utilitarian rather than decorative and I’m sure there will be plenty of mending and darning this year, too.

Knitting and sewing are my two main channels but I’ll occasionally dip into crocheting, embroidery and other textile and yarn crafts.

Previous projects

Some finished projects from last year.

Project list

My project list never changes dramatically, mostly because I don’t get around to actually doing the things I’ve planned. This time I’ve divided the list up into three parts. There’s the knitting list, the “others” list, and a list of darning/mending/fixing.

Knitting:
• Red cashmere wrist-warmers ✔
• Red wool mamluks/shorts (started)
• Blue wool mamluks/shorts
• Off-white wool pillow cover with cables ✔
• Beige wool pillow cover with cables (started)
• Brown wool pillow cover with cables
• Red and pink raglan wool sweater in brioche
• White and turquoise cotton washcloths
• Felted blue low slippers
• Felted red low slippers ✔
• White wool bottle cover ✔
• Green wool bottle cover (started)
• Beige wool slipover

Other forms of textile and yarn work
• Larger heating pad for the neck in blue linen (started)
• Smaller heating pad in blue linen (started)
• Notions bags ✔
• Beeswax wraps from old sheets ♺ ✔
• Waxed red canvas lunch bag
• Hot water bottle cover from a felted cardigan ♺ ✔
• Off-white crocheted and felted trivet ✔
• Yellow crocheted wool socks (started)

Darning, mending and fixing
• Elbow patches on blue long cardigan
• Fixing hole on long beige cardigan
• Fixing hole on pink cardigan
• Elbow patches on beige cardigan
• Elbow patches on dark grey cardigan
• Mending belt hoop on corduroy trousers
• Mending belt hoop on black jeans
• Darning grey woolly socks ✔
• Darning apricot woolly socks (started)
• Mending winter coat and replacing buttons/toggles (started)
• Elbow patches on anorak
• Darning red/grey woolly socks (started)

Crafting books

I would like to expand my library of needlework and crafting books as well as pattern leaflets, so here there will be space to show my purchases through the year.

Sounds like a great plan for 2023!

I haven’t done any crafting so far as I’ve been focused on recuperating from my upper respiratory infection (coughing so much I’m now on prescription cough medication and bronchodilators).
But I realised that I’ve forgot to show my latest addition to the crafting part of the bookshelf. My wonderful mum got me this book for Christmas. It’s a Swedish book, the title of which translates as “Knitting from coast to coast” and contains patterns for a range of different knitwear inspired by different coastal places (and islands) in Sweden and Scotland. It looks really good and I like most of the patterns.

The patterns on the cover certainly look interesting.

Yeah, they’re quite simple, which I’m generally a fan of (without being plain). I really like the texture of the brownish-yellow sweater on the left.

>6 PawsforThought: That looks gorgeous. Just checked Book Depository and it is currently unavailable. I'll check elsewhere.

>9 SassyLassy: I don’t think it’s available in any languages except Swedish, at the moment. From what I can see on BookDepository, her other books are only available in Swedish and Finnish.

>10 PawsforThought: It might be worth it anyway. With a bit of dictionary work, knitting instructions shouldn't be too difficult to work out, given many techniques are the same (cast on at the beginning and so on). I think I mentioned before that I once saw a knitting dictionary that translated most of the Scandinavian and European languages into English. I've always regretted that I didn't buy it.
Maybe the language info can now be found somewhere online. I'll look.

>11 SassyLassy: I know that Drops has a knitting dictionary on their website that a lot of people use. And I’ll be happy to try and help with any translations if needed.

>12 PawsforThought: That's wonderful - thanks!

>13 SassyLassy: No problem! Languages are the great love of my life (I’ve actually worked as a translator).

Well, I managed to finish a little project. I’ve had this idea percolating since I made the Japanese project bags last year, but didn’t think I had zippers the right size (and colour). But I found some that worked and managed to eek out some time to sew. So now my project bags have matching notions bags.
I’m quite pleased, as I’m not that used to sewing zippers.

And of course this has given me a whole heap of ideas for other project in the future.

Those would make cute gifts for when you need something small. I could see using them for sewing supplies or maybe even makeup when traveling.

>16 dudes22: They’re based on a bag I have that I think is supposed to be a pencil case but that I use to corral pain killers, nasal spray, lozenges and other medications in my handbag.
For some reason, I hadn’t thought of using them for sewing until I was sitting at the sewing machine, but of course they’d be good for that, too. But mostly I’m glad I’ll be able to keep track of all the cable needles, stitch markers and other tchotchkes that come with knitting on-the-go.

>15 PawsforThought: Very nice! Those will come in quite handy. I love bags for both projects and notions but might have a few more than absolutely necessary. I just can't resist them.

>15 PawsforThought: Lovely and I have to say that ginkgo leaves are one of my favourite motifs in just about any medium, not to mention in the garden.

>19 SassyLassy: Thanks. I’m very fond of ginkgo leaves, too. They don’t grow in this climate so I have to settle for fabrics.

>15 PawsforThought: Love your fabric choices, Paws! That size of bag has endless uses, so it's a great choice to keep a few on hand for last-minute gifts and so on.

>2 PawsforThought: Are those Japanese knot bags? Were they easy to make? I want to try that style this year!

>15 PawsforThought: Those bags are really cute!

>21 rosalita: Thanks!

>22 lesmel: & >23 lesmel: Thanks! Yes, they’re Japanese knot bags. I found them easy to make. I used this description when I made them (I didn’t use any interfacing, there was no need IMO).

>3 PawsforThought: Ooh, waxed textile projects! I hadn't thought of that. I just retired a beloved but incredibly threadbare set of sheets...

>25 justchris: Yeah, I tried one but used too much wax and it didn't turn out well. I meant to try again but it's currently in the "someday" pile. I'll get around to it. I am also using a beloved set of sheets.

Wax and fabric are a scary combination. Last winter I maintenance waxed a jacket, and it was "interesting" looking to say the least. It improved with wear, but I had to be careful where I wore it for the first while.

I can really see how it would be fun with textiles though.

Someone gave me some beeswax sheets for covering food for Christmas. I'll have to take a look at whether there is some kind of cloth in them also. I haven't tried them yet.

>27 SassyLassy: Yeah, it does look a bit weird when you've just waxed a jacket or similar.

>28 dudes22: They should - that's what beeswax food covers are - cotton sheets soaked with wax.

This discussion has inspired me to dig that project our of "hiding" so I spent some time last night before bed doing beeswax sheets. Turned out fine, I think. I'll try to get some photos up. Threw some more cotton into the washing machine and will be making more sheets during the weekend.

>15 PawsforThought: Excellent work! And yes, zippers are a bugger!

>28 dudes22: I have beeswax wraps that I use in the kitchen all the time and I love them. The biggest things to know is to wash them in cool water, not put them in the freezer, and make sure food is cooled before covering with them. Otherwise, use them like you would plastic wrap. :)

>31 MickyFine: I’ve heard you shouldn’t use them with raw meat since that would require using hot water to clean.

>31 MickyFine: - >32 PawsforThought: - Thanks for those tips.

Finally some photos of the beeswax wraps I made a couple of weeks ago. There are 14 in total - mostly 20x20 or 25x25 cm.
As you can see, the colour bled a bit, despite the duvet cover the fabric comes from being over 15 years old and having been washed countless times. Oh, well, it’s not a big deal.
I’m quite pleased with the results.

>34 PawsforThought:: Those are the best things for wrapping the end of a cucumber or zucchini.

>35 tiffin: I don’t think I’ve ever bothered to wrap the end of a cucumber (and I usually use the whole zucchini if I use one) so I’ll have to trust you on that.

>34 PawsforThought: what a brilliant project, and an excellent way to "upcycle" fabric. Did you use any online tutorials or sources for the method?

>37 lauralkeet: I just searched online for “diy beeswax wraps” and compared a few different websites to get an idea of the process. It’s very simple: cut (clean) fabric into appropriately sized pieces, place one piece on a baking sheet liner, spread some beeswax over (either shredded or small pellets), another liner on top and iron on medium heat (no steam). Et voilà!
You can also do it in an oven but that seemed more cumbersome to me.
The hard part is knowing how much beeswax to use, but it you use too little you can just add more and when I’d used too much I just placed another piece of fabric on top and let that soak up the excess.

Thanks Paws!

>15 PawsforThought: I'm not sure how I missed this earlier, but I love the notions pouches. I'm hoping to learn to sew with a machine well enough to learn how to make a project bag (and notion bag).

I’ve started on a project I’ve been meaning to get to for about two years.
My winter coat has had a long and healthy life and is still in very good shape overall, but there are quite a few small things that need to be fixed. Broken seams, holes in the lining and the leather that hold the toggles look dreadful. So I’ve bought new toggles and started replacing them. I’ve only done the very first step (gluing them to the coat) but it already looks better than the old ones.
Next up I’ll make holes around the edge of the leather pieces and sew them properly, but probably not until the end of the week or next week as I have a work trip. When I’ve done the toggles I’ll deal with the broken seams and finally the lining will be patched. And when I’m done it’ll be too hot for a winter coat.

Pic taken mid-toggle replacement. They look uneven in the photo but aren’t in real life.

What an interesting project! The new toggles look really nice.

>42 lauralkeet: Thanks Laura! I really like this coat and it's very good quality (I've had it for over 15 years and aside from the toggles you can't really tell that it's old at all). I'm hoping to get another couple of decades out of it with some TLC.

How good that you are restoring your much loved coat rather than shucking it off for landfill.

Good job!

Sorry I’ve been so absent lately.

I’ve been on a bit of a 40’s “kick” lately, which has of course led me down the path of clothes, sewing, knitting and other textile and yarn works during the forties, and especially the war years. Does anyone of you have any vintage items, patterns or otherwise? I’d love to see pictures.

Finally got some proper knitting time in today. We went to our summer house to turn the water on after winter and do some cleaning, and since I wasn’t driving I decided to make use of the time (one hour each way) to get some knitting in. Managed nearly eight rows on the pillow case I started on ages ago. I’m getting closer to the end on that (20-25 rows) and I’m getting pretty excited to see the end of it. It’s a fun project with a pattern that’s not hard once you get into it, but I’d like to do something else soon. I do have more projects started that I need to finish. I’ll take at least one of them with me on my work trip in two weeks - 5*2 hours on the train should make for some good knitting time.

I’ve finished the knitting for a project I’ve been working on forever (feels like forever, at least). The pillow cover with cables á la an Aran sweater. I just need to bind off (need to find a stretchy bind off method), fasten all the yarn ends and try to hide the obvious mistake I made with a cable at the beginning but didn’t realise until I’d gone too far to have the energy to frog it all. I pulled the whole thing (needles still attached) over a pillow to see what it looks like and I’m quite pleased. There’s definitely room for improvement but it’s the most complicated (and big) project I’ve ever made so I’m happy with it. And I think most of the unevenness will go away with some blocking.
I’ll post a pic soon.

>48 PawsforThought: - I'm looking forward to seeing it. Even though I don't knit anymore, I can remember being too far to rip everything out.

>49 dudes22: It’ll be sometime next week. I want to finish everything first, and it’s evening here now so I have to prepare for work tomorrow, but I’ll post as soon as I can.
I’m gonna take another project (wrist warmers so more portable) with me on a work trip on Wednesday. And when that’s finished I can start on the Christmas present I promised my sister-in-law (she asked for a hat).
I think my summer theme is going to be mending and darning that’s been piling up. Each project is pretty small so won’t take long to finish.

>48 PawsforThought: I love Aran pillows (and sweaters, and scarves).

One technique you could use to bind off is to use a larger needle. That way it won't be too stretchy, but just enough to cope. If the cables are more than 4 stitches wide, it's also a good idea to knit 2tog in the centre of each cable, so that they don't expand. That way the cable maintains its integrity.

Good luck, and looking forward to the picture!

>51 SassyLassy: Thanks for the tips. I think I want as stretchy a bind off as possible, to make sure I can fit it over a slightly larger pillow.
There are two rows of just knits at the very top (end) the first row with a number of decreases so I hope that will be enough to hold the cables in place (they are three stitches for each single cable).

Paws, have you ever used Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off? I haven't tried it myself, but from what I've read it lives up to its name. Google it and you'll find several tutorials, some in video format and some written instructions with photos, so you can choose which format works for you.

>53 lauralkeet: No, I've never tried it but I've heard (read) people talking about it. I think I'll try it out and see how I feel about it.

The pillow case is finished and blocked. Well, I still haven’t sewn it together but I think I will wait to do that until I find a pillow to stuff it with.
I manged to mostly hide the mistake I made on one of the cables, and I don’t think people will see it unless they’re really looking closely.
I did do “Jeny’s surprisingly stretchy bind off” that Laura mentioned. It’s an easy technique that I rather enjoyed doing, but I decided to frog one of the previous rows of all knit stitches because of the extra bulk it added. And I think if I was making something that wasn’t going to be sewn together, I’d look for another bind off technique because this one folds over in a way I would want on, say, a sweater.

I don’t think I’ll be doing any more big cabled projects for a while.

That looks beautiful, Paws. Well done you!
p.s. I don't see the mistake. Don't tell me where it is -- I just want you to know it's not obvious.

Thanks, Laura! If your expert eye can’t see the mistake, then I’m sure most people won’t be able to catch it.

>55 PawsforThought:: My, that's handsome!

>55 PawsforThought: - I love this! Way back when I did more knitting, I made a baby bunting for my future nephew that was similar to this with cables and that cream color. Unfortunately, it got lent to a friend by my sister and never returned. I can't find the mistake either but I didn't look very hard either.

>58 tiffin: Thanks, Tui!

>59 dudes22: Thanks Betty! I started on a baby blanket for my nephew in the same colour (though less intricate than this pattern) but never got very far. I'm repurpusing the yarn for wash cloths (100% cotton). Sorry to hear the blanket you make wasn't returned.

It is very pretty and special. My daughter tells me I am too critical of my work and I see the mistakes others do not. How long did it take you to make?

>61 mnleona: I'm not sure because there have been many stops and starts and it's been lying idle for long periods of time. But it seems like I managed about 8-10 rows per day when I was knitting and all in all it's about 100 rows so if I'd been knitting constantly it might have taken me 15 days? Plus time for attaching all the loose threads, etc. The pattern is not very difficult, once you get into the rhythm of it (and the back is just seed stitch so that's quickly done.

I am definitely a perfectionist but I'm trying not to be. Though I have genetics to blame - my grandma would frog an entire sweater if she fond one stitch that was not right.

Beautiful pillow case, Paws. The pattern and colour remind me a bit of Chris Evans' sweater in Knives Out.

>63 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky. It’s no wonder that’s what it made you think of - he’s wearing an Aran sweater and this is an Aran style pillow case.

>53 lauralkeet: OMG, this is awesome… “Jeny” of JSSBO is a dear friend of mine and she is going to LOVE that I found her mentioned here! (As a non-knitter, I barely even understand what you’re talking about, but I love that her technique is getting around!)

>65 PlatinumWarlock: No way! That's amazing.

>65 PlatinumWarlock: Oh, really? Wow, the world is a small place. It’s a very popular technique, and talked about as a “classic” in all the knitting spaces I know of.

>65 PlatinumWarlock:, >66 lauralkeet: 💜

As of yesterday, I’m on summer vacation for the next six weeks. My plan for the summer (aside from reading and hopefully getting away for a short trip abroad) is to focus on sewing, knitting and mending. First up is finishing the pair of wrist-warmers I made great headway with on a recent work trip and now only have the finishing edge and the thumb sections left on. I had hoped to finish that during my commutes the last week but a summertime change of schedule for the trains and busses meant I had to get up and hour earlier to be able to get to work and I mostly spent those commutes dozing.

Well - I hope you have a good 6 weeks off and get to accomplish lots of goals. I'll be looking forward to seeing the projects you finish.

The wrist-warmers are done (well, except for securing the yarn ends). It’s way too hot to wear 100% cashmere right now - we’re in the middle of a heat wave - so my hands in the photo are red and sweaty.
Photo taken with my patented “phone on garden chair” method.



This yarn has been amazing to work with, but isn’t made any more so this was probably the last time I got to enjoy it.

Love the color!

>72 dudes22: Thanks! I like it a lot, too - it’s the same colour as a cardigan I bought recently (long after I’d bought the yarn for these).

Those look great, Paws. Your photography technique is also impressive.

>71 PawsforThought: Those are gorgeous, Paws! Nicely done!

>71 PawsforThought: Beautiful work, Paws!

Thank you all. I had originally planned for a moderately complicated cable pattern for these, but the dark colour of the yarn made it difficult to see the cables so I just made them plain. Sometimes simple is better.

I’ve now dug out my old shorts/mamluks project and will try to make some headway with that, alongside to small projects (slippers and a trivet). That should hopefully keep me occupied for a couple of days.

>71 PawsforThought:. Very nice!

>78 avaland: Thank you!

I’m back home for a couple of days after spending a week plus in the summer house with the family. Going back soon, but I needed a couple of day’s break.
I brought some crafts with me - the red mamluks, a(nother) crocheted trivet and a pair of slippers. The plan was to mostly work on the mamluks but have the other stuff around for when I needed a break. Didn’t do any work on the mamluks, but made half a slipper and nearly finished the trivet - would have finished but ran out of yarn when I had about 2% of the work left. I had more yarn at home so finished when I came back yesterday. Now that’s waiting for a go in the washing machine to be felted.

I had some luck in the second hand shops we visited - a small ziploc bag of real mother-of-pearl buttons for next to nothing and a blue duvet cover I liked the pattern on and that will be made into shopping bags.

Dropping in to say "hello" as I play "catch up" on the threads.

Right, I've finished both of the slippers now and they are waiting to be felted. I started doing that by hand by gave up the idea. I will either throw them in the washing machine for felting or used a bamboo mat for help. It will have to wait though, as I'm heading off for a week's holiday in Tallinn and Riga. This is a holiday I meant to go on in 2020 but the world had other plans so it's been postponed until now. Finally!
I'm very excited as both Estonia and Latvia have great yarn and textile craft histories and cultures. I have been very careful with my packing to ensure that I will be able to bring plenty of souvenirs home if I want. Tallinn supposedly has a fabric and yarn shop with three floors!
I had originally planned to bring a crochet project with me (crochet needle seems less likely to be taken away at security checks than knitting needles) but I decided not to. I have enough to keep busy with (two small, but text-filled physical books, online books for hotel where there is wifi, crosswords and podcasts) and I'd rather save the room in my bag for new yarn.

I might check in during the week if I have some downtime, otherwise I'll see you in about a week.

Enjoy your holiday, Paws! I'll be interested to hear about any fiber/craft discoveries.

Hope you have a good time and lots of pictures to show us when you get back.

Have a good time!

I have returned (though it was a close call because both flights home were delayed). I’m tired and need to do some grocery shopping, but I promise to share pictures of yarn and other souvenirs soon.

I had planned to finish some of the projects I started before jetting abroad, but as the water went out in the whole area (big water leak) about two hours after I came home and the plans for those projects involved felting in the washing machine, I’ve put it on hold for now. The water has finally come back (took 20 hours, though) but as they are still working on some issues it’s still a bit precarious so might come and go for a few more hours, at least.
I did at least get some work done. While watching old episodes of Time Team and The Supervet I managed to fix several of the issues with my old winter coat, which I’ve mentioned before. The toggles are now attached, a process which took a toll on my poor fingertips, and I’ve fixed a few broken seams. The plan is to fix at least three more broken seams and re-do two decorative seams. The lining also needs work, but I have to buy some fabric for that as it’s not just broken seams but actual holes.
And just now I started casting on for another pillow case with cables. What is wrong with me?

Sounds like a reasonable number of projects to me, lol.

>87 MickyFine: I haven’t even started the hat I promised my sister-in-law I’d make for her - it was my Christmas present to her last year. But I did say I couldn’t promise a date when it’s be finished, other than before next Christmas.

>87 MickyFine: I agree! Welcome back, Paws.

A finished project! Not one of those mentioned above but one that’s been lying idle for several years so it’s nice to have it done and dusted.
A hot water bottle cover made from an old favourite cardigan that I couldn’t make myself throw out after it was accidentally washed, and felted, in the machine. The hot water bottle is hideous so I feel like this is a nice upgrade. The photo doesn’t show the correct colours- it’s a dark chocolate brown.

What a brilliant way to repurpose a laundry mishap. I enjoy reading about your recycling/upcycling and mending. It's made me more mindful about my own consumption.

Thanks Laura! It is something I am working hard with and want to do even more. I feel bad every time I throw something away that could still have some use so it feels good when you can think of a way to repurpose it. I still have some pieces of the cardigan left (the arms plus small strips from the sides) so I’m trying to figure out what I can do with those.

That's such an elegant hot water bottle and how inventive of you to think of using it that way.

>90 PawsforThought: I've never seen a prettier hot water bottle.

Thanks everyone for the kind words. I will admit to being a sucker for the finer things in life (when I am able to lay my hands on them) so having a hot water bottle in lambs wool, pearls and satin (sadly not real silk, but whatever) does make me a bit giddy.
And I think I’ll feel a tiny bit better about being poorly when I use this.

I finished one of my projects the other day - another crocheted and felted trivet. This will be the last one of these for a while, although I am planning on making a seat warmer. I need to get hold of some yarn for that, thought.
Photos of before and after felting below. It is a bit bubbly as the wool felted unevenly (my crocheting isn’t the most even either) but it doesn’t matter. I’m fairly sure it’ll flatten out a bit after enough cast iron pots have landed on it.

I find the difference in the textures quite interesting. ANd I like the pattern a lot too.

>90 PawsforThought: That is sooo cute!

I'm fascinated by how much the felting process changes the look of it. Beautiful in both forms, Paws!

Thanks everyone! I’m quite fascinated by the difference in textures, too, and I quite like how the felted version reminds be of snowballs.

Another project finished! A pair of knitted and felted slippers - just the kind I’m used to from childhood. I did most of this at the start of the summer but didn’t have time to felt them before I left on vacation so they’ve been lying around and waiting for me to get around to it. And yesterday I threw them in with a load of laundry. Very uncertain about what would happen but they turned out exactly as planned. I’m pleased, and will now move on to making more of these.

I love the colour, Paws. They look very cozy.

Hi Micky! The colour in the second photo is the most true to life, they’re sort of boarding between red and purple. Not a colour I would usually pick but I quite like it.
I think they will be cosy when autumn and winter comes around and the floors start to feel cold.

I am so impressed with those slippers! They look great and very, very comfy. So of course now I have questions!

I attended a week-long felting workshop a few years ago where we worked with different materials and methods. We made slippers using roving and a welt felting method. It took forever to shrink and shape the slippers, and they weren't nearly as nice-looking as yours.

Did your slippers go through both a washing machine and dryer, or was the washing sufficient?

>104 lauralkeet: Thanks Laura! We don’t have a dryer - these went through a regular 40 degree C wash cycle with some clothes (not a full machine, about half full).
I know some people who are wary of how much a yarn will felt soak the item in water and then do short intervals in the dryer until they’re happy with the felting.
My last attempt at felting slippers didn’t go this well as they didn’t felt nearly enough. I saw many complaints about the pattern so I think that was the issue (simply too big).
This is the pattern I used: https://www.garnstudio.com/pattern.php?id=8311&cid=17

Thanks Paws! Using a dryer for short intervals seems sensible (if you have a dryer). I accidentally turned a little girl's sweater into a teddy bear sweater once, thanks to an accidental trip through both washer and dryer.

>106 lauralkeet: I don’t think you’re alone in having done that. I’ve mostly managed to avoid it so far but know of quite a few people who’ve had to give sweaters to toddlers after having accidentally felted too hard.

I realised that I’ve completely forgotten to update you about my souvenir shopping from Estonia and Latvia, so I am immediately rectifying that. Below is a picture of my haul. The white fabric is a plain cotton weave (though quite stiff so feels almost like a linen-cotton blend) that I bought for nearly both at one of the massive fabric shops in Tallinn. I thought it’d be fun to visit and looking around but they’re so big it’s difficult to find anything and I didn’t stay very long at all. Too overwhelming. I’d like to use the fabric for some kind of summery shirt/blouse or similar but have no real plans. It’s three pieces about half a meter each.
Then there’s a linen runner and a few juniper buttons. I have no plans for the buttons.
The white yarn is a cashmere-wool blend that feels divine to touch. I bought it at a lovely yarn shop in Riga. The plan is to make a sort of bed jacket/bolero/cardigan thing out of it.
And the yarn in the amazing pink-purple colour scheme is from one of the handcraft shops in Tallinn. I couldn’t resist so bought one skein. Then came back the next day to buy another one because I knew I’d regret it otherwise. It’ll probably become a sweater some day.

Excellent haul, Paws. That pink-purple yarn is gorgeous and I think you were wise to get another skein. It would be a tragedy if you found you didn't have enough to make something worthy of such beautiful yarn.

That's a great haul. It's always hard to know how much to buy on vacation. I love the pink/purple yarn. It's been a long time since I did any knitting so I'm surprised that 2 skeins would be enough for a sweater. (or is your sweater different from the US?)

>110 dudes22: They are very big skeins, almost 250 grams each (standard is 50, occasionally 100). Probably still wouldn’t be enough on it’s own, but mixed with something else. I’m considering broken seed stitch.

I finished another small project!
I’ve been meaning to make this for a few years now, and suddenly last week I just had to start it. The pattern calls it a “wine bottle cover”, but being Swedish I could tell that it was a glögg bottle sweater. An Aran style sweater at that. I’m really looking forward to having this decorating on a bottle of glögg on the kitchen counter come Christmas time.
I’m planning to make another bottle sweater in green, but that will take some more time and effort as I’ll be adjusting a pattern rather than just following slavishly. And I think I’m going to use the turtle neck finish like on this one.

I love that! And you've been on a roll lately with lots of great projects.

>113 dudes22: I'm pretty pleased with it. Yes, it has been going quite well lately, thought most of my projects have been small so that helps. I have to unravel something I was nearly finished with so that will set me back a bit but I don't mind - it's been fun to work on.

nice!

>115 al.vick: Thank you!

I finished the second bottle sweater. I had originally intended to do a version where the cables form Christmas trees, but it required several adjustments and I wasn’t sure if it would turn out well. So instead I made my own pattern that is essentially a simpler version of the first sweater, and it turned out so well! I’m really pleased with this one.

This has been my commute knitting for the past few days. Now I need to find something else that is small-ish, fun and interesting but still easy enough to do on the move.

Those are really so cute! And they'd make a cute gift for a party.

Nicely done, Paws!

Thanks Laura and Betty!

I’ve started over on my second pillow cover. I had just about finished it when I realised it was decidedly smaller than it was supposed to be and as I wanted it a specific size I frogged it all. Tried again with a larger size needle but it didn’t look good so went back to the original size and am just trying to not pull the yarn taut so often. Seems to be working so far. I started this new version on Friday to make sure I’d made a little bit of headway before yesterday as I am travelling for work and knew I wanted to knit on the train. I got so much done on the train! I’m nearly halfway through it. If I’m lucky it might be finished before the end of the week.
I really don’t mind doing it over because it’s a fun and fairly easy pattern.

I am behind in reading the messages. The slippers are really nice. Love the bottle cover.

>121 mnleona: Thanks. I'm really loving the slippers. Since I wore them while they were still wet they're completely molded to my (wonky) feet, which makes them extra comfy. I wore them all night yesterday in my hotel room - hotel room footwear was a usage I hadn't predicted but it occurred to me as I was packing.

My second pillow case is on the back burner for a bit since I tried to re-knit it but it still came out to small. So I need to frog it again and adjust the pattern a bit to make it the right size. That's fine, but I needed something else in between.
I'm on a work trip this week and needed a project to bring with me or I'd go mad on the train to and fro. I had a project in mind but realised the night before I was to leave that I didn't have the right needles so scoured through my yarn and planned projects and found a replacement project to work on. So now I'm working on a slipover. It's two yarns, one of which is very "sticky" (near impossible to frog if it comes to that) and a colour combination I couldn't see in real life before buying. But I think it's turning out well.
It's supposed to be knit in two pieces and sewn together, but I think I'm going to knit it in the round after I've finished the bottom (there are big slits on each side) and until I reach the armpits (it's bottom up).

>123 PawsforThought: Good plan about knitting it in the round once you can - I do that whenever possible, and am always happy I did.

I made good headway with the slipover on my work trip last week, and as I was feeling rather tired (travel plus common cold) during the weekend I spent most of the time knitting so made even more headway. I've now made the entire bottom up to the armpits and have started knitting the upper back. I do wish I'd bought another skein on the fluffy alpaca/silk yarn (that is replacing the mohair) because I think I'd like to have matching wrist warmers (yes, even more wrist warmers) but I don' think there will be enough yarn. I'll just have to buy more, I guess.

This morning I started on another pillow case. No, I have not finished the one that's been giving me problems. In fact, last night I frogged it again. I need to think about exactly how to adjust the pattern to make it the right size. I need some time. So now I've moved on to the last of my planned pillow cases (for now) and started working on my commute this morning. I didn't want to bring the slipover because there are too many skeins of yarn and too many knitting needles involved. So pillow case it is.

>124 SassyLassy: Yeah, I wouldn't knit back-and-forth if I could avoid it. For the slipover I could knit about one third of the thing in the round so made a couple of small adjustments to be able to do that. So much easier - and faster.

>125 PawsforThought: You can never have enough wrist warmers.

I just made a wonderful discovery about a pair of mine. A really good friend had given me a pattern for wrist warmers and some yarn. They were my best pair ever for warmth and I made another pair in the same yarn, different colour. One winter day in February 2022 I lost one. I went to everywhere I had been that day and even looked through a snow bank. This past week I found it. I had never told my friend about losing it (she lives in another province), and I had not had the heart to part with the single. Things do work out after all.

>126 SassyLassy: Oh, how wonderful that you found it! It's so incredibly annoying when one of a pair of something goes missing - and especially when it's something treasured like the ones you made. For me, I usually find things right after I've complained to my mother that it's gone missing, I've looked everywhere and it's gone forever. I think it might be the universe feeling threatened by the idea of my mother going to look for something (she's is unbeatable when it comes to finding lost things).

I love your glögg bottle covers, Paws. The hardanger runner in 108 is lovely--a really artistic woman I worked with made an incredible hardanger collar for her wedding dress so I have a good sense of what's involved in doing that work. It took her months.

>128 tiffin: Thank you!
I had to look up hard anger in relation to textiles as I wasn’t familiar (in my world Hardanger is a town in Norway). It seems to be the same as hemstitch? Or related at least?

This week has been exhausting as I’ve had the mother of all colds. So I rewarded myself by getting of work early today (I had a physiotherapy appointment anyway so there wasn’t much point in going back to work after) and spending time and the last of my energy supply at the Sewing and textile craft fair that’s held this weekend. Managed not to spend much, thankfully. A few photos below. Very nice way to end the week.

OOOOOhhhhh, those rainbow ones! Are those mittens or socks??

>131 lesmel: Those are socks!
I took that photo to show my friend and colleague the Totoro mittens in the middle row.

My little haul from the sewing and craft fair. Prices have risen so much lately that I was reluctant to buy much.
Yes, even more sock yarn. But this is thinner than what I have already so it's completely different, right? And I love the colours of the yarn in the middle.
And the little leather kit is a DIY magnetic bracelet to keep track of needles, etc. (instead of keeping them in your mouth, like I usually do). I've been meaning to buy one anyway, and there were in nice leather and from a local company so seemed like a good purchase. I spent yesterday morning embroidering and putting it together.

And textile related but not actual textiles…
I tried to grow some flax this year (there’s a yearly campaign called 1m2 flax) but the weather has been anything but optimal. And I should have had more seeds. But I pulled the flax up this morning and here it is. Now it’s going to dry and then I’ll see if I can process it and get linen fibers out of it.

>134 PawsforThought: This fascinates me. I'm so curious to hear about your experience with this.

very interesting!

The process of turning flax into linen has fascinated me for years, and I’m really excited about getting to try it for myself (even if my harvested crop is not what I’d like it to be).

In other news, my slipover is now paused because I realised that I hadn’t been thinking when I replaced one yarn for another (no mohair for me, thankyouverymuch) and thus the yarn I replaced with has fewer meters per skein than the original. I’m not sure there’ll be enough to finish with what I have now so I’ve put in an order for one more skein and will start working on it again when it arrives. I’ve finished the body and all that’s left is the ribbing around the neck and sleeve holes. I figure, if there’s a noticeable difference in colour between the new skein and the old ones, it’ll look best if those sections are different rather than changing yarns in the middle of it.

So now I’ll either return to pillow case #3 (#2 is still on pause) or I’ll start on some socks.
I also need to start working on SIL’s hat so it’s done before Christmas (I did promise).

I got (finally) got the extra ball of yarn for my slipcover on Thursday so I’ve been working on that and today I finished the knitting. I’m really pleased with the result. I still have to secure all the yarn ends and I think I’m gonna do some light blocking but otherwise it’s done.

I do of course have multiple other projects started, including another slipcover that I’m working on on the commute. And I still haven’t started on my SIL’s hat. I have to get going on that ASAP.

I wore my new slipover to work the other day and managed to take a photo (though in terrible lighting as it's so dark here now). It's a wool/alpaca mix and it's so warm! It feels like being hugged al day, which is very nice. I have to start wearing slipovers and vests more often.

I'm working on a pair of wrist warmers to match, made form the leftover yarn. I've had to unravel them a few times as it's an improvised pattern and it hasn't turned out how I meant, but now I'm on the right track - only have about 1/4 left altogether.

I love your slipover, Paws. It looks very soft and the warmth would be most welcome as we head into the winter months.

Very nice and comfy looking.

Thanks Laura and Betty. The photo makes it look greyer than it is in real life, it’s bluer than that.

The shoulders came out wider than I’d anticipated so instead of picking up for the ribbing around the arm holes at the edge I picked up over two centimetres from the edge. They’re still a little wide but I can deal with it.

>143 PawsforThought: The shoulders came out wider than I’d anticipated ... That just makes it all the warmer. Just what we all need for winter! I like the slight variegated effect in the yarn too.

>144 SassyLassy: It’s an issue if you want to be able to wear it under a blazer, which I’d like to do.

>145 PawsforThought: That is indeed a problem, and we all need those layers at this time of year.

Sorry I’ve been so absent. I’ve been swamped with work and had a cold for weeks. Hardly any crafting done as a result. However, about a month ago I managed to finish a pair of wristwarmers with the leftover yarn from the slipover in >140 PawsforThought:.



The colour of the yarn is much more true to life in this photo than in the one of the slipover (it’s slightly more vivid in the photo).

Those look very nice.

Those look lovely, Paws! Hope you're feeling better.