Creative plans for 2026

Now that it's mid-March, I've had a chance to sit down and brainstorm what I'd like to make in the remainder of the year. I have taken a long, hard look at my yarn and fabric collection, and I'll say this: I need to work with materials I already own. And! I am so excited to sew and knit with fabric and yarn, respectively, that I have on hand.

I just recently published a blog post about my current projects and a few recently completed items – mitts and felted slippers, and lots of smaller projects, plus a sweater. So I won't mention those here, but I am working on those at the moment!

When I pulled out my yarn the other day, I made one category of yarn that I have concrete (or semi-concrete) plans for, one pile I am excited to knit with, but specific plans aren't formed yet, and one pile of yarn I am less excited about. The third pile is small, but not nonexistent.

I photographed the first pile, sorted those yarns into categories: sweater's quantities, accessories, socks, and gifts/other. I'll share those below!

Accessories

For this category, the photo features yarn with mostly concrete plans.

Patterns on deck for these yarns:

• A DRK Everyday cowl (solid color version) with the light blue Erika Knight yarn
• Ole mittens and maybe a Weekend headband (no matter what, I want this yarn to be a set of two different items: mittens and a headband, a cowl and a hat, etc.)
• A Jaunty shawl by Andrea Mowry in the charcoal Lamb's Pride
• an improvised "family cowl" in the Woolfolk yarn (like this one I made a few years ago). I may alternate colors every other row, or hold the yarns double for a slightly different result
• A Purl Soho Mixed rib hat for me, made in Purl Soho Yonder that Finn chose for me for Christmas

Other accessory patterns I would love to knit this year, but don't have yarn and pattern pairings finalized at the moment:

• a small scarf, like the Stay Toasty Scarf, the Double Espresso Scarf, the Alex scarf, or the Rikke Scarf.
• Some baby knits for friends and family members who are expecting additions to their families this year!

Sweaters

There is always a long list of sweaters I'd love to make, but I am also very excited to use these sweaters quantities that I already have in stash.

Patterns on deck for these yarns:

• For the Purl Soho Good Wool (frogged from my far-too-large Sonder attempt), I am most strongly considering Hardanger by Rachel Illsley, Vintereng by Ellen Haugen Bergsrønning, Scotch Pine by Alicia Plummer, or the Azor sweater by Orlane Sucche.
• For the Cestari yarn, I am planning to knit a striped version of either The Nineties by Alicia Plummer or the Step by Step Sweater by Florence Miller. The striping and subsequent yarn management make this one slightly less mindless, but I know I can do it!

Other sweater plans for this year that I haven't (yet) purchased yarn for:

• A Finest Kind sweater by Alicia Plummer for Nicholas in Harrisville Designs Highland (cone) in the charcoal color. I just need to order yarn for this, but it may be a project for the fall.

Socks

I have well, a lot, of sock yarn, so this is a subset of that, some of which I've had in stash for a few years.

I am excited to knit with some special self-striping yarn this year, a few special indie-dyed skeins and sock sets, gradient yarns, and The Fibre Company Amble (very sadly being discontinued). I don't have specific patterns in mind just yet, but sock projects tend to be impromptu cast ons for me, and I like having these grouped together, so I can easily grab one when the mood strikes.

Miscellaneous projects

I have a significant collection of Lettlopi that my family bought for me when they visited Iceland some years ago. I have knit a colorwork yoke sweater with some of it, and some hot water bottle covers, but I'd love to use several of the remaining colors together in a larger project. I am thinking a crochet throw, in the block stitch, perhaps? I could supplement these colors with mid-tone neutral to anchor the colors together.

I also have a collection of mostly neutral scraps set aside to make a Half Granny Square shawl as something to throw around my shoulders on cozy mornings at home.

Sewing

Okay! I have actually been feeling very inspired by some sewing projects as of late, so I'll link some below. Again, I want to prioritize using materials I already own.

Garments and general plans:

• Adjust the armhole depth on my Orchards dress. I love this dress, but I don't reach for it because the arm holes feel tight, and that is something I could fix (and I've already begun that process)
• Sew another self-drafted skirt in a grey ikat fabric using this free tutorial
• Zamora skirt in a soft green cotton/linen fabric
• Another Orchards dress (in linen or gingham, because I love it) using Sleeve C from the expansion pattern in a black linen/rayon fabric or the Syd tie top and dress ( the dress version with or without sleeves)

Other garment patterns I have been admiring, but which I would consider these to be my "long list," and I won't necessarily get to them:

• Laurence top by Vivian Shao Chen (I love the sleeveless version)
• Helen's Closet Ashton top
• Betty Dress by Rooney clothing

Home goods and miscellaneous

• Some baby projects for friends and family expecting this year
• a throw size quilt using a charm pack I have, plus some other yardage I bought during the JoAnn closing sale.
• a springy project bag, maybe in a bucket style?
• a more structured tote

As for these sewing plans, I tend to link far more than I could ever actually get to, since I find it much trickier to squeeze sewing into my days. I do like having all the inspiration and links in the same place, in the event that I am able to accomplish a few of them. And maybe they'll inspire someone reading this, as well!