Creativity check, spring 2025

Here we are in late April and I'm realizing that I haven't shared a summary of my recent knitting, crochet, and sewing projects and process. However, since my last general "making" post – my Creative plans for 2025 – I have shared individually about several finished projects. I'll mention those briefly, along with links to the individual blog posts, and I also will write about my current projects and a few other finished items.

Knitting, finished

After a flurry of late-pregnancy casting on (nesting, I suppose?) and months of being in the middle of several projects, I had a flurry of finishes, finally! I completed two larger projects: an Isle sweater for Nicholas, and an Ollie's Classic Crew sweater for Finn. I also completed a two-color brioche cowl, using some very special yarn.

DK vanilla socks

I realized I never shared about these, despite finishing them back in early February. I was eager for some quick gratification after all my larger projects, so I cast on with some fun, hand dyed DK weight yarn that I received for Christmas in 2023, I believe. They were fast and fun, and so cozy! I'm wearing them as I type this, in fact. More details can be found on my ravelry project page.

Oatmeal Musselburgh hat

And I just recently bound off another longer-term project. I cast on this hat back in November, doing the first rounds of crown increases and getting it to a point where it could be mindless, vanilla knitting for me in a postpartum season. It was a project I set aside in favor of a few other projects, but I made it my "Sunday project," as something I worked on in the car to and from church or when we visited my father-in-law. And my progress was slow, but steady. Eventually, I bumped it into a more primary project spot and finally, after 4.5 months, it is done. This is my fifth time knitting this pattern, and my first time using a finer weight yarn. I can't say that I am eager to knit another hat that measures 27" end to end (post-blocking) with fingering weight yarn on US 2 needles. But the hat – the hat is perfect. I knit extra length to accommodate a very thick folded brim (about 3.25"). There are more details on my Ravelry project page. The yarn, Knitting for Olive Merino, is absolutely lovely. And it comes in 85(!) colors. I used nearly all of 2 balls in the Oatmeal colorway, making for a fairly economical hat that I should have for a very long time. Setting it aside for the fall!

Olive and charcoal socks

It was my SIL, Katelyn's birthday recently, and I knit her a pair of socks! She chose the colors and I modeled the fit after a pair of self-striping socks I made around Christmas. I am really enjoying a contrast heel and toe (with the cuff knit in the main color). The yarn is from Nanette Wake (her Merino Fingering 85/15 blend in the colors "Olive drab" and "Mouse." I opted for a 2x1 ribbing for these, just for something different. And there are more details about all my basic vanilla sock numbers on my Ravelry project page.

Mixed rib hat, VI

I also just completed a hat a couple of days ago that will be a gift. This is my sixth time knitting this free pattern, I'm just so pleased with all of the Mixed Rib hats I've made. The pairing of the rib with the yarn, not to mention the fit of the finished hat, which is also great. I knit one for Nicholas for Christmas and I borrowed it so much. This time, I knit with the colorway "Clove brown." As usual, more details can be found on my Ravelry project page.

Crochet, finished

I mentioned it in a recent blog post, but I completed a set of six coasters and 3 dish cloths in a sage green cotton yarn for Katelyn and her soon-to-be-husband, Devin. I used free YouTube tutorials for both. The dishcloth tutorial is from Amanda Crochets, and the circle coaster tutorial is from Crochet and Tea. I just bought a cone of KnitPicks dishie in the color Inlet, since I planned on using so much.

Knitting, works in progress

I typically like to have two projects "on the go," for some variety and so I always have a project that's suitable for a given movement when I could knit a few rows.

Sonder sweater – I cast this sweater on just about a month ago, and it's going well. The yoke (and all the colorwork) is done, and I've split for sleeves. I plan to finish my current skein of the blue yarn, and then go back and pick up the neck ribbing (modified from the pattern). This will predominantly be a "vanilla" project now – lots and lots of stockinette! More details on my ravelry project page.
Grey garter rib socks – I needed another small, portable project, so I cast on another pair of gift socks. This yarn is a random gradient, so the socks won't match, but they should look like a pair, regardless. I'm knitting this pair concurrently on 9" circulars.

Upcoming knit and crochet projects

Textured socks in a skein of Amble, perhaps one of the patterns in the Hello Sailor sock pattern collection or the Mousse et lichen socks.
A pair of socks for Nicholas, perhaps the Comfort Core socks
A pale yellow sweater, using some beautiful 4-ply yarn from A Knitter's Homestead. I'm considering the Lightweight Raglan Pullover from Purl Soho , Solenn, or the Need More sweater. I would love to modify whatever pattern I choose to have a subtle rolled neck.
Finest Kind sweater is a new release and it's everything I love about a cozy, handknit sweater. I would need to purchase yarn for this, so it won't realistically happen anytime soon. If I did get yarn, I'd likely go with Harrisville Designs Highland which comes in cones, making it slightly more affordable. I love the oatmeal color, but I suppose that isn't a surprise to anyone.
A scrappy granny stripe shawl – I've mentioned this project idea previously, but it would be wonderful to use up DK or worsted weight leftovers (or sock weight, held double) in squishy neutral colors, with bits of color sprinkled in. I would likely use this pattern, or something similar.
I have also been eyeing some slipover patterns, namely the Side Bow Slipover or Vest the Delight. Both are so beautiful!

Sewing, finished

I have done a fair bit of utilitarian sewing. I added ties to the duvets and loops to the duvet covers in the boy's room to avoid things shifting around. And I hemmed a pair of jeans that I bought online. Turns out, they are a new favorite pair of jeans, after I cut off about four inches. Although these types of projects aren't very photogenic or exciting to share, they serve as a great reminder to me just how practical it is to be able to have basic sewing skills.

Beyond that, I actually sewed a skirt! But that deserves its own post. I also finished a quilted pillow cover that I was so pleased about (it also has its own post). And after Cooper asked if we could buy a tomato style pin cushions from JoAnn and I said, "No, but we can make one," we came home and sewed some of our own using fabric that Cooper chose! They turned out so fun. I used a free tutorial that was easy to follow, since I wanted to make them quickly. After we finished Cooper's, he asked if we could make one for Finn to have when he woke up from his nap, which warmed my heart. I doubt that either will ever actually be used as pincushions, and that's alright with me!

Upcoming sewing

After doing a little sewing as of late, I am feeling much more inspired to sew with fabric in my stash.

I'd love to make another skirt like that one I'll share soon out of some beautiful grey-blue subtle ikat fabric. I used this tutorial for How to sew a skirt with an elastic waistband by Bethany Lynn Makes.
I may also want to sew another project bag (maybe the 'Lil Bucky bag) with some fabric I picked up from JoAnn during the first days of their closing sale.
And I've been eyeing the Betty Dress or the Betty Dress Halter Top version by Rooney Clothing.

That's enough to keep me occupied for quite awhile, I'll say!