MickyFine's 2023 Projects

I'm Micky, 36, and completely fulfill the librarian stereotype as I wear glasses and cardigans and in my spare time I work on various fiber crafts. I do cross-stitch and crochet and have a couple projects currently on the go: a cross-stitch Christmas tree skirt (my second year working on this one) and a crocheted poncho. I usually post update photos on the cross-stitch project when I finish a page (I'll post a current status photo soon though) and all other projects get shared when started and completed.

Welcome back!

>2 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori!

As promised, here's a photo of the current state of the Christmas tree skirt. I am hoping to have this wrapped up so I can use it for Christmas 2023.

>4 MickyFine: It's looking great!

That's really very nice. It's so intricate. Looking forward to seeing it finished.

Wow, the tree skirt looks great, Micky!

>5 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori!

>6 dudes22: Thank you, Betty. It's a lot of detail but it's pretty fun.

>7 PawsforThought: Thank you, Paws!

And I've already added a third project to my rotation for this year. In addition to the tree skirt and my poncho, I also purchased another cross-stitch pattern yesterday. One of my close friends is turning 40 this year (in July) and I've decided to make her a fun Star Wars-themed piece. The pattern is pretty simple, but I'll be doing it on 18-count black aida (my first time at that count and with black fabric) so expect some moaning about my life choices in the next few months. Fabric is on order and I'll hit Michael's to pick up the embroidery floss colours I'll need plus a hoop probably this weekend. Since I'll be at Michael's for that, and I have a gift card hanging out in my wallet, I might also pick up fibre fill for the amigurumi Nativity set (which I am NOT starting until the tree skirt is done).

Sigh. I checked the gauge on my crochet poncho last night as I was finally nearing 4 inches in height (it's 209 stitches wide so it takes a while to get there) and while my gauge swatch was perfect, somehow I now have have an extra stitch and row on the actual project. My only guess is that I switched hook models between my swatch and the actual project (went from an all steel hook to a more comfortable aluminum hook with rubbery, ergonomic handle) and somehow I crochet tighter with the more comfortable hook. So now I have to purchase yet another hook (I'm upgrading my collection to the nicer ergonomic hooks as I encounter projects that need them) AND frog the whole darn thing (an entire skein of yarn's worth). *sob*

ETA: Although because this poncho is basically just a giant rectangle sewn together, maybe I'll stick with the hook I have and just go up a size in the pattern. Still all the frogging *sob* but no swatching and no hook purchases required (as long as I can stay consistent).

>9 MickyFine: I hope you enjoy stitch on black more than I do. If you don't have a size 26 needle, you might want to pick up a package. I'm using a 28 needle on the 36 count overdyed fabric I'm stitching (over two) for one piece because this dyer's base fabric shrinks quite a bit in the process. I have used their fabric previously and learned to go with the needle size for the next size fabric. I've been very comfortable with the 28 on it. Most people I know who stitch on 18 count Aida prefer a size 26 needle to a 24.

>10 MickyFine: been there, Micky. You have my sympathies.

>11 thornton37814: Thanks for the tip, Lori.

>12 lauralkeet: I appreciate the sympathy, Laura. I've been cross-stitching all weekend to avoid the frogging. 😆

>4 MickyFine:: That's a lovely pattern!

>14 tiffin: Thank you!

Hi Mickey! I am 39 and also a librarian stereotype. I never realized we were that close in age!

I have to admit if I was doing your poncho project at this point I would just add a decrease somewhere...

"add a decrease": excellent oxymoron!

>4 MickyFine: That is really lovely! I cannot imagine the effort put into cross stitch. I lose patience after 10 minutes with most hand crafts; but I can quilt for 8 hours straight and never think it odd.

>16 melannen: Well because it's more stitches in a gauge square than what it should be, it would be increasing rather than decreasing that would fix it. But because it's a giant rectangle, there's no good way to do it so frogging it is.

>18 lesmel: Thank you. I find cross-stitch really soothing and can't a sew a straight line on a sewing machine to save my life so I'll leave all the quilting for you. :)

Made a crafting related purchase the other day and am eagerly looking forward to its arrival in... 15-25 days. I bought a Lumos Knitting Light which will be handy for both crochet and cross-stitch, I think. Plus probably reading. Anyone have one of these doodads already?

>20 MickyFine: Don’t have one but I know people in my Facebook group that does. A lot of people seem to recommend head lamps as they serve the same purpose but are generally easier to find (and thus often cheaper).

>21 PawsforThought: I'm a bit of a diva about not squishing my curls so no head lamps for me.

I'll make sure to share the skinny on the lamp when I get it.

>22 MickyFine: As a fellow curly-head, I completely understand.

>20 MickyFine: I've seen them but I don't know anyone who uses them. You'll have to let us know how it works for you.

I finished another page on the Christmas tree skirt on the weekend and am finally getting around to sharing my progress.

The most recent page:


The state of the whole project:

That’s looking great Micky!

Lovely! It will be a shame to put gifts on it to cover it up.

>26 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura.

>27 tiffin: On the other hand, the gifts will protect it from the cats, LOL.

That's really looking nice. You have done a beautiful job!

That's really looking nice. You have done a beautiful job!

That's looking great!

>29 al.vick: Thanks, Alison!

>31 dudes22: Thanks, Betty!

>28 MickyFine:: My old moggy, Iris (left us at 19 years), used to curl up under the Cmas tree, pretty much staying there until the tree came down. You could hear her purring as it went up.

>25 MickyFine: That's coming along nicely. There's always something magical in a project where one suddenly realizes how much work has happened and the project is turning into something.

>33 tiffin: Aww, adorable. We have two cats and both of them like to sit under the tree every once in a while but they'll also use it as a spot to jump out at the other from so the tree skirt can get rucked up a few times over the season until there's gifts there.

>34 lesmel: Very well put!

That tree skirt is looking good! You'll treasure it for years to come!

Thank you, Lori!

The poncho I'm crocheting is using herringbone half double crochet and I'm really loving how it looks.

That is a lovely stitch.

That is really pretty.

The tree skirt is beautiful.
I have never done the herringbone stitch and I do like the look.

Ooh that's pretty. I love looking at stitch patterns. I bought Vogue Knitting The Ultimate Stitch Dictionary mostly for its excellent swatch photography. In a venn diagram of book nerds and knitting nerds, it falls right into that overlapping space.

That looks cool.

So lovely to have a group who share my love for a nice looking stitch. :)

>42 lauralkeet: I order stitch dictionaries for work all the time but I've never picked one up myself. I tend to learn new stitches from YouTube but hadn't thought about the swatch of it all to see what fabric will look like. Maybe I'll have to skim some at work to see if there's one for crochet stitches that I want to add to my personal library.

My Lumos Lumos light arrived earlier this week and I really like it so far. It has three colours of light (a pinkish white, a yellowish one, and a bluish white) all of which can be increased or decreased in brightness. I've used it for both cross-stitch (the black Aida project) and for crochet and found it really handy.

>45 MickyFine: I was wondering what you thought of it — thanks for updating us.

>45 MickyFine: That's the kind you wear around your neck, isn't it? I try to stay away from black fabric. I remember stitching on some years ago and hated it. They say the blackboard color is easier to use than black, but I've not been tempted yet. I just can't imagine using it in higher count stuff that I prefer.

>46 rosalita: Happy to share.

>47 thornton37814: Yes, it's sort of like a malleable, two-headed snake that you hang on your neck.

I'm not a huge fan of the black fabric but the project I'm working on does look super cool using it.

>48 MickyFine: If you describe it that way, I'll never get one! LOL

Finished another page of the tree skirt pattern yesterday. Officially done the top half!

The most recent page:


The big picture:

Wow, it's looking great Micky!

That is great!

>50 MickyFine: The tree skirt is looking wonderful!

Beautiful work.

Thank you, Laura, Betty, Lori, and Leona. I'm really pleased with how it's turning out.

lovely.

I hope you enter it in a Fair. My daughter entered my scarf one time at the Minnesota State Fair and I won second place. I always look at the needlework and quilts. So much talent.

>57 mnleona: We don't really do fairs like that in my neck of the woods. The closest we get in Alberta would be K-Days (Edmonton) and the Stampede (Calgary). That's when you get the midway and exhibitions but there's no competition aspect to the exhibitions. There might be more competitive fairs in some of the smaller rural communities but I have no personal experience on that front.

I got a text from my sister-in-law on Wednesday asking if I had an extra pair of fingerless mitts on hand as niece #2 had lost her pair and "needed her punching gloves to be cool." I didn't but did a bit of searching and found a simple (free) pattern on Ravelry and told her I'd try and whip some up before we see them this coming Sunday. I had a long course at work yesterday morning where crocheting while listening was cool with the instructor and completed one there and then put the other one together in front of the TV last night. Simple pattern plus child-sized things make it much easier to complete a project, I must say.

I got yarn mail yesterday! I ordered these gorgeous colours from the indie dyer, Gingersnap's Antique Lace series:


(Dyer's photo)

I'm planning to make the River Grove Wrap with it:


(Photos by designer Janine Myska)

I'm really excited to play with this yarn but must finish my current crochet project before I start on this one.

but must finish my current crochet project before I start on this one.
Hmmmmm debatable

>61 norabelle414: Well, I already have 2 cross-stitch projects also on the go. 3 projects total is feeling a little overwhelming at this point even though only one of them has a hard deadline.

>60 MickyFine: Oooh that wrap is gorgeous Micky. I can't wait to see it in that yarn, too.

>61 norabelle414: LOL!!

>63 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. I'm really looking forward to seeing how it works up.

>60 MickyFine: Well that's definitely a dangerous website! Thanks (I think!)

>65 SassyLassy: Most welcome!

I finished the crochet poncho last week and I'm finally getting around to posting pictures:




Pattern: Uptown Poncho by CrochetDreamz on Ravelry
Hook: 6 mm
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Pacific

The new crochet project is going pretty well. I've had multiple batches of frogging and redoing due to my own errors and gauge changes but it is working up beautifully. Because each colour block includes a change of stitch, I've taken pictures of each completed section thus far. Be warned, the light is not consistent in any of these photos and none of them are quite true to life.


Single crochet ribbing


Single crochet


Double crochet

>67 MickyFine: The poncho is fabulous!

The poncho looks great, Micky. I love that you post more pics for this group than the 75ers -- including that closeup on the detail. You know your audience LOL.

Very cute poncho!

I like the poncho!

Thank you all for the poncho love. It's quite cozy and will definitely do the job of being a good thing to slip on for short notice video calls when I'm working from home. :)

>70 lauralkeet: I love seeing the difference in stitches and such but I know that's a pretty niche interest. Thankfully this group shares that. :)

Looks fantastic! The yarn colors are stunning.

>74 norabelle414: Thanks! I'm really loving working with the four colours for my project.

Couple more sections finished on the crochet wrap.

More single crochet ribbing, included mostly to show off the fourth colour:


Waffle stitch which involved a lot of front and back post double crochet, which were new stitches for me:

Love the border. Looks very nice.

Waffle stitch looks interesting. I do love textured stitch patterns.

Like the stitches. Can't wait to see the finished product.

>77 mnleona: Thanks, Leona.

>78 lauralkeet: It's a really fun texture, Laura. It's also one of the rare crochet stitches that has a right and wrong side.

>79 dudes22: Thanks, Betty. I'm now over halfway through the project so we'll see if I finish it before my trip in April or if it will have to wait until I come back in May.

The crochet wrap finished blocking yesterday!





Pattern: River Grove Wrap
Designer: Janine Myska
Yarn: Worsted weight 100% superwash merino in Glass Slipper, Antique Lace, Heirloom, and Satin Slip from Gingersnapthat
Hook size: 6 and 6.5 mm

that's beautiful Micky!!

>82 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura!

That's really pretty. It would be great for a plane ride.

>84 dudes22: Thanks, Betty. I'm actually currently debating putting it in my suitcase for a trip I'm leaving on tomorrow.

My yarn store back home started their Local Yarn Store Day sale yesterday (20% off everything) so I bought a sweater quantity of yarn and I'll pick it up when I get back home.

I ordered Garnstudio DROPS Air, which is a blown baby alpaca and merino wool yarn. I read an article on yarnsub.com that had decent things to say about blown yarn but am curious if anyone around here has used it before?

Don't know how I managed to miss your thread, my apologies! Your work is lovely. I tried a little cross-stitch but did not stay with it (I salute your patience), and no crochet. The wrap is handsome.

>87 avaland: Thank you so much. I find cross-stitch pretty soothing but I know the counting and small stitches are definitely not everyone's cup of tea. 😊

Brought a bunch of yarn to make dish cloths while I'm on my trip with intentions of giving them to my mom and my brother's wife for their birthdays in June. After finishing one cloth, I felt like mixing it up and trying a different patten. So I once again borrowed Easy Crochet Dishcloths (my library has it in Hoopla) and picked out a couple new ones to try.

And so, behold the Grandma:



It took me a bit to get the hang of the placement of the stitches to get the ridged effect (it doesn't use the typical front or back loop approach), but it works up pretty easily once I mastered it.

>89 MickyFine: That’s a nice gift to make, I know I’d be very happy if someone handmade dishcloths for me. And that colour is very nice and spring-like!

I haven’t tried Drops Air yet, but I’m familiar with their yarns in general and like them a lot. They’re one of the easiest (and least expensive) yarn producers to find here. I know a lot of people in my FB group has used Air and like it. I look forward to your review of it, and I’d like to try it myself.

>60 MickyFine:: Oooooh that yarn!

All the crocheted dishcloths that my husband's former secretary made for us (he's retired now) are falling to wrack and ruin. I need to hunt down a pattern to make some as they are THE best for washing dishes and wiping counters.

>89 MickyFine: - I'm liking these a lot too. I have a couple that I use all the time and a friend that crochets, so I know I can get more.

>90 PawsforThought: Thanks, Paws. I'll keep you posted on the yarn when I (eventually) get to that project.

>91 tiffin: Thanks, Tui. All the patterns in the book I mentioned live up to the title so you might find something there.

>92 dudes22: Thanks, Betty. Awesome that you have a source for dishcloths.

>68 MickyFine: frogging
One of several vocabulary terms I've learned recently. And I've done a lot of this one. Others are "yarn barf" and "yarn chicken". I like the variety of textures in your shawl.

To add to your lexicon, although it's a knitting term: tink is to undo knitting, stitch by stitch. I won't insult your intelligence by telling you that "tink" is "knit" backwards. Oops. I just did. 😀

Is there such a thing as techorc?

>94 qebo: Frogging crops up for me both in crochet and cross-stitch (thankfully less frequently in the latter).

>95 lauralkeet: LOL. Tinking is much easier to get your mouth around than techorc.

My favorite weird term is "ramen yarn", when you frog something and the yarn retains a little of its knitted/crocheted shape so now it's kinky like ramen noodles.

>97 norabelle414: That's a new one for me but so accurate!

I've never used a crochet dishcloth. Can you put them in the washing machine and dryer?

>99 beehappy: I use cotton yarn for the dishcloths so yup, they're machine friendly. :)

>100 MickyFine: Ah! Good to know.

Finished another dishcloth last night. It's tricksier than other patterns I've done so it might not end up in the regular rotation, but it sure is pretty.


Right side


Close up for stitch appreciation


Wrong side

Pattern: Roof Tile from Easy Crochet Dishcloths
Hook: 3.5 mm
Yarn: Scheepjes Catona (not sure of colour, the band doesn't say)

>102 MickyFine: That's a pretty stitch.

>102 MickyFine: I like the pattern. I try to use different patterns when I crochet a scarf.

>102 MickyFine: Love the stitch and the color!

Thanks all. I've been getting better at pushing myself to try new stitches and types of projects and am pleased that they've turned out well every time. It's making me more confident for tackling my first sweater project, which I'll do after I've finished the last of the gift dishcloths I'm currently working on.

Well, as of this weekend I've officially started my first crochet sweater. I'm making the Sacred Woods sweater from Modern Crochet Sweaters.



The pattern is pretty simple and straightforward, so I'm hoping it'll be a good first sweater project. At the moment I'm still doing the foundation row. It uses a foundation double crochet to start, which is new for me but amazing. Rather than chaining and then going back to double crochet in each stitch, you do the chain stitch and the double crochet At The Same Time!!! I've had to frog a couple times as I sometimes forget to do the chain stitch, but it's a pretty awesome way to start.

That's a really cute pattern, Micky. What color is yours?

It's a bright red:



Red Heart Baby Hugs in Ladybug for the yarn curious.

>109 MickyFine: Wow, that will really pop! I look forward to watching it take shape. Do you crochet it all in one piece or do you need to seam pieces together at the end? I know absolutely nothing about crochet garments!

>107 MickyFine: Another one here who knows nothing about crochet:

Rather than chaining and then going back to double crochet in each stitch, you do the chain stitch and the double crochet At The Same Time!!! Does this process give a hem?

>110 lauralkeet: The way this one is designed, you do a giant rectangle (with a head hole), it gets folded in half and you seam the sides for the torso, then the sleeves are done in the round.

>111 SassyLassy: Not really? It just results in a nicer chain stitch on the bottom. It also makes it much harder for your foundation chain to twist, which is a problem I run into all the time.

>112 MickyFine: Thanks Micky!

>107 MickyFine: foundation double crochet
I watched a tutorial. Clever.

>113 lauralkeet: Happy to share. :)

>114 qebo: I was super impressed by it. I may start a bunch of projects this way in the future. :)

>102 MickyFine:: Thanks for including the pattern source, MF. I've ordered the book because this is something I want to do.

>116 tiffin: Happy to share, Tui. I love this designer and she's Canadian!

We're getting a taste of what you westerners have been going through with smoke from the fires. Amazing that in the whole country, only Saskatchewan and Manitoba are free of it at the moment. Good to support Canadian designers!

>118 tiffin: We're currently free of it in my part of Alberta right now but some is supposed to blow in later today and be around for a day or two (although at significantly better levels than a few weeks ago). Of course the smoke arrives just as the contractor's crew finishes up our new deck. Le sigh...

>107 MickyFine: Looking forward to see the progress of your sweater!

>102 MickyFine:: The book landed in. I'm not an advanced crocheter, so I hope I can decipher the instructions ok. Need to find a source for the cotton yarn too.

Sorry to hear on the news that another big fire has erupted out your way. What a goshawful summer so far.

>121 tiffin: Huzzah! Most of the patterns are pretty easy so if you know basic stitches, you should be well on your way. Your local yarn store may have ideas on cotton yarns. I also know yarncanada.ca has a great selection.

It's been a really dry spring and summer here so far and we've had a few heat waves already so I imagine there's going to be a lot of wildfires in the province this year.

>50 MickyFine: Oh wow! Fabulous, spectacular, I am not worthy, etc., etc. 😁😁 I couldn’t crochet or knit my way out of a paper bag, but I’ll be watching your cross-stitching with great interest! (Also… just figuring out the groups thing, which is why I’m 4 months late with the admiration. 😬)

>123 PlatinumWarlock: Aww thanks! There hasn't been a ton of progress on the tree skirt since then as I've been working on a cross-stitch gift for a friend. But the deadline for the gift approaches (and I think I'll be done in time) so I'll get back to it hopefully in July.

First section of the crochet sweater finished yesterday. At this point it just looks like a scarf:



There's no fancy stitches in this one, but I'll share a closer view of them anyway:

>125 MickyFine: Nice! I love this red... very pretty.

>126 PlatinumWarlock: Thanks, Lavinia!

Finished the first page of the bottom half of the tree skirt last night:



So here's how the whole thing is looking now:

Amazing! that's really coming together, Micky. I love it.

Wow! That's fabulous!

>129 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. I'm really pleased with how it's looking.

>130 dudes22: Thank you, Betty!

>128 MickyFine: Fantastic, Micky! I love watching it come together...

>132 PlatinumWarlock: Thanks, Lavinia!

That skirt is coming along. I need to post some updates on my stitchy thread.

>134 thornton37814: I was just thinking you hadn't posted in a while, Lori.

Wow, you’ve come so far with the tree skirt, Micky!

>136 PawsforThought: Thanks, Paws!

That's lovely, Micky. I do hope we get to see it all finished and under your tree where it will really come into its own!

>138 tiffin: We'll see how the rest of the stitching goes as to whether I'll have it wrapped up before Christmas. Depends on how well I balance this with crochet projects. :P

And I've added another project to the roster. One of the designers I follow on Instagram dropped a new design for a tank top on the weekend and I took advantage of the discount she was offering and bought it. I'm planning to use leftover yarn from the temperature blanket to make it and made a gauge swatch yesterday. Not sure if I'll pause the crochet sweater and work on the tank top exclusively so I have a chance to wear it this summer, or just rotate between them. We'll see what I'm feeling.

The pattern is the Daphne Henley Tank


Photo credit: ilovetinderbox

>140 MickyFine: Ooh, nice! I’ve also been contemplating making a tank top, albeit knitted. Järbo (one of the major yarn producers here) publishes knitting pattern booklets a few times a year and there was a tank top on the cover of one of the Midsummer booklets.

That's a very cute top, Micky! I am wearing a summer knit right now, but I really should make more.

That's cute! Are you using just one color from the temp blanket or will it be multi-colored?

>141 PawsforThought: Ooh nice. Would you knit in cotton or still use a wool-based fibre?

>142 lauralkeet: I'd imagine they'd be lightning fast for you to whip up, given the lack of sleeves. :)

>143 dudes22: For now, I've got enough yarn of a single colour to make a solid one (light pink, for the curious). If I like how the pattern works up, I might do one or two striped ones.

Well, my first gauge swatch didn't match up (le sigh) and I'll have to buy the next hook size down so it'll have to wait until the weekend when I can visit my LYS (they close at 5 on weekdays).

>144 MickyFine: Not sure. Both would have their uses, even if a wool one would probably get more use as I like to use wool tanks for layering in colder times. But I’m thinking if I go with that I’d use a wool-silk combo yarn.

For months I've been talking about the secret cross-stitch project. My friend had her 40th birthday party last weekend and the project was gifted and so it is secret no longer! I was really gratified by how much my friend liked it (her jaw dropped when she opened it *heart*) and I'm so happy with how it turned out.

>146 MickyFine: Oh, this is fantastic!! Well done, Micky! I can see why your friend loved it... what a wonderful gift!

That's wonderful. What a nice gift.

That is so pretty, Micky. Well done!

Thank you, Lavinia, Betty, and Laura!

>146 MickyFine: What a nice gift!

>151 thornton37814: Thank you, Lori.

Finished another page of the cross-stitch tree skirt.



The whole project as it stands:

The pattern for my crochet sweater calls for it to be blocked before it's seamed and the sleeves are added. So here it is staked out on my blocking mats (with bonus appearance from Smee):

Both the cross-stitch and the sweater are coming along nicely! Is there any danger of Smee sitting on the sweater while it's blocking?

>155 lauralkeet: Thankfully, no. He'd rather be next to me than on the sweater at the moment and when I leave it unattended, I close the door to the room it's in so both the cats stay out of it.

>153 MickyFine: Your skirt is coming right along.

The cross stitch is so beautiful. That's my favorite mode of project. I love the inclusion of Smee. I love to see what other people name their cats.

Great work on the tree skirt, Micky. I can’t imagine the patience required to do that.

>153 MickyFine: This is beautiful and I love the colors.

>153 MickyFine: - Your skirt if coming along beautifully. Makes me miss doing cross stitch.

I finished my crochet sweater (my first sweater ever!) last weekend, but it was smoky most of last week so I didn't get a chance to take pictures of it until yesterday. For a first project, I think it turned out well. The sweater feels a bit on the bulky side due to a combo of the worsted weight acrylic yarn and the boxy construction, I think, but it is very warm. While working on the project, I've learned about some of my yarn preferences for garments (both in terms of fibre and weight) as well as thinking about ways to customize so that I like the fit and shape better on my body, which is a stretch for this very by the book learner. I'm pleased to have this project under my belt and looking forward to making more sweaters, which is good because I've bought a bunch of patterns this summer. 😝







Pattern: Sacred Woods from the book Modern Crochet Sweaters
Designer: Janine Myska
Hook: 6 mm
Yarn: Red Heart Babyhugs in Ladybug

>162 MickyFine: I've learned about some of my yarn preferences for garments (both in terms of fibre and weight) as well as thinking about ways to customize so that I like the fit and shape better on my body, which is a stretch for this very by the book learner.

Really important things to learn. I think this pattern really suits you, and I love the red.

This knitter believes it all come down to tension, tension, tension, once you have figured out the yarn preferences. I don't crochet (don't know how) but I'm sure it applies there too (how could it not?!)

So good to see the pattern and designer credited.

Hope the smoke dissipates soon.

What a beautiful sweater, Micky! Congratulations on a successful first garment.

>162 MickyFine: my first sweater ever!
Congratulations! And what a great color! It looks comfortable too.
I've learned about
This is what I'm finding, that I can't just figure it all out in advance, I have to actually do something then adjust the next time. You're inspiring me to try a sweater...

>162 MickyFine: - That looks great!

>162 MickyFine: Very nice, and an impressive success for a first sweater!

>163 SassyLassy: Thanks so much.

For crochet, it's more about matching gauge than tension but they're basically the same.

Thankfully we've been smoke free since Thursday of last week so we're able to enjoy what might be the last really warm spell of the year.

>164 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura.

>165 qebo: I highly recommend Modern Crochet Sweaters as a collection to browse. Most of the designs are very beginner friendly.

>166 dudes22: Thank you, Betty.

>167 KeithChaffee: Thanks, Keith!

Great work on the seater, Micky! The colour really suits you, too.

>168 MickyFine: Knitters tend to use "tension" and "gauge" interchangeably depending on which country they're in, or the pattern is from. However, your response made me realize that strictly speaking they are in fact two different things. I will be more careful with my language now!

>168 MickyFine: I have it! I probably got it when you first mentioned it. I like that it has diagrams of the shapes.

>169 PawsforThought: Thanks, Paws!

>170 SassyLassy: One of the crochet designers I follow on Instagram is a big advocate for gauge swatching and regularly checking if you're matching gauge while working on a project. I've definitely paid attention to it on this project and it worked out well.

>171 qebo: Oh nice! I agree it's a gorgeously designed book.

>172 MickyFine: a big advocate for gauge swatching and regularly checking if you're matching gauge while working on a project.
Me too, especially for garments. With sweaters, depending on construction, you might also be able to try on as you go. It's so much better than getting to the end and realizing things have been off from the start.

>173 lauralkeet: That would be heartbreaking. The next sweater in the queue is bottom up and done in pieces, so I'll be checking gauge a lot. Crossing my fingers I won't have to frog much as the yarn I'm using for that project is miserable for frogging (I discovered after trying to reuse some yarn from a gauge swatch that was really big before blocking).

>162 MickyFine: That's beautiful, Micky! I love the red. Well done!!

>175 PlatinumWarlock: Thank you, Lavinia!

For our fifth wedding anniversary (wood anniversary), my husband got me a beautiful yarn swift. I've already given it a spin this afternoon with the yarn I bought last year in Newfoundland.

>177 MickyFine: ooh, very nice! I was just over on your 75 thread where you mentioned this lovely item. I love mine. Do you have a ball winder? It's a nice companion to the swift. Because you always need another gadget ...

>177 MickyFine: - That's great! What a good hubby!

>178 lauralkeet: I've eyed a ball winder but I prefer my yarn in balls over cakes (at least right now) so just the swift is good for me. 😊

>179 dudes22: He's very good at listening to hints for presents, lol.

>180 MickyFine: Oh, I see. That makes sense!

What a great present for wood. I love old domestic wooden objects.

>177 MickyFine: >178 lauralkeet: I have both a swift and a wool winder. Which and whether I use them or not seems to depend on the yarn. I also have two sizes of niddy noddies, useful for skeining before you get to the swift process. Neither of mine has the string shown below.


image from wikipedia

>182 SassyLassy: OK a) niddy noddy is a delightful term b) what does it do?

>183 MickyFine: I do love the name. A niddy noddy is used to wind yarn from the bobbin onto which it was spun, into a skein. The larger ones are for a full size skein (think Briggs and Little), the smaller ones are for samples or small skeins.
Here is a video by a woman wearing a very chunky handknit cardigan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Lpv5eURlZY

>184 SassyLassy: Very cool!

What great gadgets! Just watched the niddy noddy video. I'll never use one but I sure like knowing what it is!

>184 SassyLassy: That was a fun video! I thought she explained it very well, although I found myself wondering how long it takes to develop the muscle memory to use one coherently! :) (Also, I don't knit or weave, so I'll never use one, but it was still cool!)

>187 PlatinumWarlock: I found myself wondering how long it takes to develop the muscle memory to use one coherently! :)

My experience with them is that you can't stop to think - that way lies disaster. Just get yourself into a rhythm with a little verse that works and turn yourself loose!

For my birthday today, we made a trip to the local yarn store and I came home with yarn for three sweaters. 😊

First up is a basic black for a cardigan:


Next up is a speckled yarn for a sweater


And finally yarn for a colour work sweater (the darker blue isn't quite so deep as it looks in this photo):


Now to finish the current scarf project so I can tackle all these other projects. 😆

>189 MickyFine: Nothing like stocking up for winter!
Who makes the speckled yarn? I am looking for some for a project.

>190 SassyLassy: The dyer is called Hedgehog Fibres and based on the label, they're based out of Ireland.

It took nearly two months but I finished my crochet infinity scarf.





Pattern: Clover Fan Infinity Scarf
Designer: Gootie
Hooks: 3.5 and 4.0 mm
Yarn: Best Kind BFL Sock yarn in Wild Partridgeberries from Windswept Fibres and Design (picked up from Wool Trends while I was in St. John's, NL last year)

What a great color - it looks so good with your coloring. And a very interesting stitch.

>193 dudes22: Thank you so much, Betty.

>192 MickyFine: Very cute!

The scarf looks amazing and the color really suits you, Micky.

>195 norabelle414: Aww, thanks!

>196 lauralkeet: Thanks so much, Laura!

>192 MickyFine: I like your pattern and the color.

>198 mnleona: Thank you!

I found out mid-last week that there were plans for a gift game at our upcoming family Christmas celebration (probably one of those "pass to the left, right, etc." games with a dash of white elephant). Rather than buy something, I decided to whip up a toque using leftover yarn from my stash. Happily, I had an easy pattern and my game of yarn chicken worked out. I had to frog some gauge swatches I made for my sweater to have enough, but I did not run out completely. Let me present, the festive toque:



Pattern: California Coast Beanie by Lena Skvagerson (I snagged it from an issue of Crochet World I borrowed from the library)
Hook: 5 mm
Yarn: Red Heart Babyhugs in Ladybug and Vanna's Choice in White (both worsted weights)

The pattern is super easy so I might use it in the future when I want to clear out some of the leftovers in my stash to make toques for donation (living in a (typically) cold clime, there's always charities looking for winter wear).

Brilliant move, Micky!

Looks great! I love that pattern.

Thank you, both!

I finished another page of the tree skirt pattern on Boxing Day. Only one more page to go!


The most recent page


The whole project

WOW!

>204 MickyFine: AMAZING. Beautiful work, Micky, not to mention commitment!

>204 MickyFine: That's coming out beautifully. I scrolled back up to the top and looked at all the posts on it. It was fun watching the development. The pattern is really nicely proportioned too.

>204 MickyFine: It's going to be a beautiful addition to your tree! It's already quite lovely!

I'm curious about how you'll finish it into a tree skirt.

>205 dudes22: Thanks, Betty.

>206 lauralkeet: Aww, thank you, Laura.

>207 SassyLassy: Thank you so much.

>208 thornton37814: Thank you, Lori!

>209 dudes22: With many consultations with my mother, who is much handier at the whole sewing thing. :)

Well, in 2023 I finished one cross-stitch project (the floral Death Star) and made a bunch of progress on the cross-stitch tree skirt. I crocheted a poncho, a wrap, my first ever sweater, a scarf, a toque, and 9 3/4 dishcloths (6 as gifts, the rest for me). And I acquired many patterns and several sweaters' worth of yarn for the stash. Not a bad crafting year.

You can follow my 2024 crafting adventures here.