New year, new projects
by on Jan 22, 2014

Every year, I cast on for a new project for the new year.  This year, I opted for my favorite type of pattern – a plain cardigan with some neat details.  So I went with Andi Satterlund‘s Armande from Knitty.

armande

I just love the pockets & collar!  I happened to have more than enough Wool of the Andes Superwash (my new favorite yarn) in Garnet Heather and it seemed like a perfect choice.  So I dutifully cast on January 1st.

IMAG0251

So 3 weeks in…this is only as far as I have gotten.  It’s pretty sad.  I do love the pattern – the pocket technique isn’t one I have tried before which it makes it really fun to work on.  And of course I love the yarn.

There’s a couple of reasons I haven’t been working on it. For one thing, most of my knitting/crocheting time has been spend working on patterns for our fun 52 Weeks of Dishcloths project.  Another is a lot of my knitting has been done while I’ve been sitting in movie theaters – every January/February I try to see as many of the Oscar nominated movies and this year I have a lot to catch up on.  Since this cardigan isn’t the best for knitting in darkened theaters, I’ve started yet another Sockhead hat in Chroma.  So hopefully by the time the Oscars roll around, I’ll have a completed hat!

The main reason I haven’t been working on my cardigan is that late last year, I rediscovered a love of cross stitch. It’s so funny, my family was big into it when I was a preteen but I hadn’t picked it back up again until several of my friends started posting pictures of their projects.  So I decided join a yearlong project by a favorite designer and I’ve spent most of my weekends & evenings working on that.

IMAG0252

I’m really enjoying it  – and it’s so funny how popular it has become again, at least in my circle of friends! If it’s something you’re interested in as well, a couple shops I love are Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery (who is doing the year long project) and Wee Little Stitches – in fact, the ladies behind both of those companies are also knitters, which makes it even more fun.

So did you cast on for a project on New Years?  I hope yours further along than mine!

4 Comments
Tags: Works in Progress

4 comments

  1. Jeanne B. / January 23, 2014

    Counted cross-stitch is where it all began with my own fiber obsession. I still have plenty of unfinished, highly-ambitious projects (along with ALL the floss) tucked away in my fiber closet.

    I’ve since progressed to knitting, weaving, and dyeing (yarn/fabric) with quilting on the horizon, but maybe it’s time to blow the dust off the cross-stitch and finish some of them again.
  2. Addey / January 23, 2014

    I started crocheting a square-a-week (or more) mood blanket. I’m right on track, 3 weeks in and 3 squares done. Need to figure out this weeks soon… another snowy/cold one for sure!
  3. Dorothy / January 23, 2014

    Beautiful cardigan! I can’t wait to see it finished. Thanks for sharing the cross-stitch sampler; as if I need any MORE projects in my queue! I might buy it and save it for later in any case…
  4. Rachel Massaro / January 22, 2014

    I love the projects that you are working on!! It seems like you have slot of fun things that on your needles! I definitely started a new project for the new year! It’s a chevron blanket for my friends wedding shower 🙂