A pair of socks and a poncho-cowly-thing: Update on my year of projects

I decided to join the A Year of Projects Blog-Along on Ravelry >> - you can find details here >>

So here is my update on what I achieved this week.

A pair of socks, a tube thing and more WIPs on the go

Well, this was a very good week! I finished 2 projects, started 2 and frogged two WIPs which had been in sleeping for 1 or even 2 years!

Finished Object 1: A pair of Schicke Stinos

Finished: A pair of Schicke Stinos from Buttinette Farbenglück package

My Schicke Stinos >> have been ready for nearly a week now. I knit on them only last weekend, so they got done quite quickly.

I really like the colours and they were quite fun to knit!

Use what I have: Another pair from sportweight sockyarn

Part of my goals was to use the yarn I have instead of buying new stuff. Well, this yarn has been sitting in my stash for about a year. I tried to sell it as I am not really keen on socks from thicker yarn, i.e. sport weight in this case.

However, nobody wanted it so far and so I decided I could as well cast on a pair of thicker socks from these for a gift. I personally do not really like thick socks as I wear my handknitted socks in shoes normally and that would be too thick.
So, I started another pair of Minecraft socks >> .

As you can see, I already turned the heel on the first sock. I did not use the "full" pattern for those, but just alternated rows of k2, p2 with 2 rows of stockinette and then do p2, k2. But I really do not like how that pattern looks, so I will not contiue doing it on the foot. I wish I would have made them plain vanilla, but well - as it is sport weight, those will hopefully be done quite quickly.

Finished Object No. 2: The Tube Thingie - I am in LOOOVE!

I only casted this >> on to use up that Drops Air I had left from several projects.

I was definitely NOT exspecting that this would look be so wonderful and that I would like it so much - but I DO!

I especially like the drape it creates around the neck. The yarn is perfect for capelet/poncho-projects, it is light as a feather and  very warm.

As all the Alpaca yarn from Drops is on sale by the end of this year, I am really tempted to stock up on some of those great, fluffy balls....

But I have been brave and strong so far and instead, I went stash diving again.

I came up with some Drops Nord and Drops Flora, part of which was still engaged with other projects...

Oh, by the way: Can you tell I played around with a new app I have on my smartphone to "pimp" my fotos? Well, I guess you can! ;-)

It is called "Snapseed" >> and I can really recommend it! It is easy to for example add text to your photos or to add a fancy filter... 

Yes, I know - I might have overdone it a little... ;-))

I am using it on an Android phone, but I am sure there is an aquvivalent for the iphone.

2 Projects to the frog pond: A brioche scarf and that fair isle thing

So, as I am totally in love with that tube thing, I wanted to cast on a second one at once. And I was brave - no new yarn, use what I have!

Well, in my WIPs, there was a tiny bit of a brioche scarf >> which I casted on 2 years ago to first try out Drops Flora.

Sorry for the blurry photo: Brioche from Drops Flora

I quite liked how the colours looked together, but I could not see myself finishing this thing from a fingering weight yarn. It has been neglected for 2 years for a reason, I guess....

The second WIP I frogged was this fair isle cowl/scarf >> I started it to train my fair isle skills, but I did not really like the colour combination and also my tension was very loose inbetween - I still need a lot of training...

Not very pretty: My Fair Isle training piece from Drops Nord

Schlauchdingens 2.0: Will add stitch patterns as I go

So, now I have enough yarn to start of with my second version of that Schlauchdingens >>

Schlauchdingens No. 2 from Drops Flora and Drops Nord

Tube Thing from Drops Flora & Drops Nord

I started with the grey Drops Flora and then blended in the mustard coloured Nord. 

At the moment, I do not plan to place the yellow and the blue directly next to each other, as I did not like the look in the fair isle thingie too much.

I will add in stitch patterns as I go, whatever comes to mind.

I added a simple stripe of seed stitch and a simple yo, k2tg lace pattern in the grey part and faded in the yellow with some rows of broken seedstitch (which I love to use to fade in colours - see here >>)

I really love how it is coming along so far! 

I plan to make the neck part a little longer and narrower, to add some drape on my neck and also to avoid having a gap between my neck and the cowl which will let the cold air in.

Further plans: A Knit Along for that Star Pillow

You remember that star pillow >> I was talking about last week >> ? 

I decided that this will definitely be my Advent knitting project! And I would love to host my very first Knit Along! Would you like to join me?

I will cast on on December 1 and will finish on Dec. 24. I will probably devide the pattern by weeks, so I will need the front "body" in week 1, the back "body" in week 2, 3 "zags" in week 3 and 2 "zags" in week 4 (as it is not a full week).

It would really keep me motivated if some of the dear blog readers would join in!

Just add a link to your projects in the comments here on the blog. 

Or, if you prefer to use Instagram, use the hashtag #starpillowkal2018

So, now to you: How was your week?
What have you been working on?
And do you want to join me in the #starpillowkal2018?
Please let me know in the comments below!

Linked to Maschenfein - auf den Nadeln November >>

Linked to Liebste Maschen November >>