Okay, so first off we're not going to even talk about the fact that I started 2020 strong with blogging and then suddenly stopped. We all know what happened.
But if there's one constant in this inconsistent blog of mine, it's the annual airing of the WIP pile for February is for Finishing. We're not going to let the fact that today being February 1st somehow came as a complete and total surprise to me stop us from making our list and thinking about how we're going to work on finishing up some WIPs this month.
(Seriously though, one of my besties said "Happy February is for Finishing!" this afternoon and I just blinked in shock. February? Again? Already? Mind you, I knew yesterday was January 31. That knowledge just didn't come with any attendant "and that means tomorrow is February 1" understanding.)
This year's list is pretty reasonable by chez woolly standards. Neither the longest (25+) nor the shortest (4, back in 2019. That was a year), but nicely reasonable at 7 works in progress.
As is the custom, I'll list them oldest to newest. And dear reader, please brace yourself. Longtime friends of the show will be shocked to learn that the Hogwarts Studies Blanket is no longer on the list. That's right, I finished it last summer (and to my shame, I didn't blog about it. Maybe later).
Oh hey - links go to Ravelry, so please click with caution, if you're one of the people affected by the changes to the site.
1. Weekender Blanket, started May 20, 2018. This is a modular JAYG hexagon blanket, crocheted out of Stylecraft DK in the "cottage pack" put together by Lucy from Attic24. I'm not in any particular hurry to finish this, just adding to it as I get the urge.
2. Scrappy Granny, started April 1, 2019. This project is in deep hibernation - I don't think I picked it up even once in 2020. At some point I need to decide if I'm really making this blanket or not. I don't want to hold 2020 against it though, so it gets a stay of execution until I can decide if I want to go back to it.
3. the art of creating comfort, started November 3, 2019. I'm also using Stylecraft DK for this blanket. This is the "woodland pack," but with a couple of extra colors introduced. I put a lot of work into this over the last year, and it's close enough that I could conceivably finish it this month. I've completely joined all 90 squares, and am working on the border now.
I don't have a proper picture of where I am on this one, but here's a teaser shot:
These are the only projects that were on last year's list, so when you find out I've started yet another blanket (SPOILER!) I'll thank you to remember that I've finished one and am about to finish another. Also, I do what I want.
4. seasick crocodile, started November 26, 2020. I have a tradition of starting a new pair of holiday socks on Thanksgiving day, while I'm taking a break during cooking. I have spent a lot of time this past year doing my best to keep up with observing traditions, and just doing my best. In a normal year I would have finished up the Thanksgiving day socks sometime between Christmas and New Years. But this year I forgot I had a pair of Advent socks that I wanted to knit (I should have gotten the cuff started for those on Thanksgiving instead, but whatever) and what with one thing and another the normal tradition didn't get quite get pulled off. And if that ain't a metaphor for 2020, I don't know what is.
Eventually I'll finish them (maybe even this month, who knows?) and they'll be delightful.
5. first blank page, started January 1, 2021. I got my two besties to dig around in my Ravelry stash and to pick a new pair of socks for me to knit. Jess picked a skein of variegated with gold stellina called Glitter Gel Pen, in the Jelly Bean colorway. The dyer, With Pointed Sticks no longer seems to have an Etsy shop, so they may be out of business. In any case, we all agreed that glittery gel pens are exactly what's called for on January 1, a day typically given over to playing with and setting up new planners.
I chose Hermione's Everyday Socks (one of my favorite patterns) with a Fish Lips Kish Heel. I'm about 60-65% on these, with one sock done and an other started and on the leg. The color of this yarn is much prettier than this picture would have you believe. I couldn't get the light to cooperate with my camera.
6. a vibrant inner life, started January 1, 2021. This was my other January 1 cast on. It's the Venation Shawl by Ambah O'Brien out of a set of 10 20g mini skeins. The set is based on Strawberry Shortcake, so it was basically a moral imperative to get it. (The yarn does not smell, it was the first thing I checked.)
Forgive the nighttime photo, I'll do a better job of capturing the gorgeous color when I do the FO shots. The plan is definitely for this to get done in February. I'm around 65% done with this one as well.
7. Aria, started January 9, 2021. I told you I started another blanket. This is Aria, by Lucy at Attic24, using her kit from the Wool Warehouse. The blanket will have 144 granny squares in a 12x12 grid, finished off with a few rounds of border. I'm barely started, with 7 or 8 squares done. Pictured here at 6 squares:
The final blanket is a burst of color, with reds and oranges in the center, radiating out to greens, blues and purples. I love it, and I'm loving working on it.
The Plan
So now that I've done the accounting, here's what I plan to finish in February:
- first blank page socks
- a vibrant inner life (Venation shawl)
- art of creating comfort (granny square afghan)
- seasick crocodile socks
