MickyFine's 2024 Projects

I'm Micky, 37, and I 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 am currently focusing all my attention on wrapping up my cross-stitch Christmas tree skirt (I'm on the last page of the pattern). Once I wrap that up, there's a long list of crochet projects in the queue with yarn just waiting to be used. I might mix in some cross-stitch in there as well. We'll see where the crafting mood takes me.

Looking forward to seeing where you go. Every time I see someone in one of the new crochet designs, I think of your work.

>2 SassyLassy: I'm looking forward to it too. 😊

Add me to the 'watchers' :-)

Happy New year and happy crafting!

Hi Micky! I look forward to seeing your tree skirt finished and whatever you decide to do crochet-wise.

>5 lesmel: Thank you!

>6 PawsforThought: Thanks, Paws. Tree skirt is shaping up nicely.

As of 8:53 p.m. on January 11, I have completed the stitching on the tree skirt!



Final steps will be to cut the fabric and sew on trim for the edges but that won't be happening until next weekend at the earliest when I'll be willing to leave my house and get my mom's assistance with the sewing. We're currently dealing with a polar vortex and temperatures are in the "I will not step a toe outside range" aka -40C/F, so I won't be make that excursion this weekend.

Reposting my review from over in the 75ers group as there might be some folks around here who might find this book of interest.



The Hooktionary - Brenda K.B. Anderson

A beautiful reference collection of tapestry (or colourwork) crochet stitches. Anderson provides really helpful information in her introductory section, discussing the types of stitches that can be used with her patterns and the different effects your choice will have on how the work will look. All of the patterns are designed to be done in the round but there are instructions provided on steeking your work if you want something flat. The colourwork patterns are divided into sections based on the crochet stitch that works best for them (extended single crochet, front post double crochet, etc) and there are tons of patterns to choose from including adorable narwhals, cassette tapes, and plaid. The final section includes patterns for a toque, mitts, scarf, sweater, and cardigan, using colourwork motifs in them. Anderson also provides directions on how to swap out different colourwork motifs into the patterns (if a jackalope cardigan isn't quite your jam). A gorgeous book that I'll be acquiring for my personal collection.

With the tree skirt (almost) done, I have moved on to my first crochet project of the year. Technically, I started this last year as I did some gauge swatching in November and did a few rows of the front hem during my family's Christmas gathering (the cross-stitch project was not conveniently portable).

I'm making the Distant Fog Sweater Dress from Modern Crochet Sweaters.


Photo credit: Janine Myska

I'm using DROPS Air in Pink. It's a blown yarn made with baby alpaca and merino wool and it's deliciously soft.



I completed the front hem this morning and I'm already loving the drape of the fabric. This one is made bottom up, with a front and back panels and sleeves that are then attached. It's working up pretty quickly so far, so I'm hoping to get to wear it once or twice before winter is through.

>8 MickyFine: - I'm very much interested in seeing this completed. It's so beautiful

>9 MickyFine: - Although not a crocheter, that looks like an interesting book. I'm going to mention it to a friend of mine.

>10 MickyFine: - Unfortunately, I can't see the pictures. I'm guessing that the picture link isn't an "https" which is why. But maybe not - I'm not that computer savvy and I've seen all the rest of your pictures.

The tree skirt is absolutely amazing, Micky! Beautiful work.

The sweater pattern is really pretty too (I can see the pics), and I bet it will work up very nicely in that yarn.

Great work on the tree skirt, Micky! Looking forward to seeing the finished product when the temperatures drop. Having experienced my own polar vortex two weeks ago, I completely understand you not wanting to leave the house.

The sweater looks lovely, and so comfy! I love Drops Air, it’s a wonderfully cozy yarn. I have a bunch that’s intended to be a matching hat and scarf.

>9 MickyFine: The Hooktionary
This looks appealing but I got sooo many crochet books last year and my skills and time can't keep up. I'm sure if I click through to Amazon it'll recommend another dozen books.

>10 MickyFine: Distant Fog Sweater
Looking forward to seeing this in pink.

>9 MickyFine: Steeks - yikes! I didn't know they had them in crochet too, but it makes perfect sense.

>8 MickyFine: Been wondering how you were doing as I watch the polar vortex. I would be in the "I will not step a toe outside range" camp too!

Your (almost) finished tree skirt is truly lovely.

>11 dudes22: Thanks, Betty. The picture links are https so I'm not sure why you're not seeing them.

>12 lauralkeet: Thanks on both counts, Laura!

>13 PawsforThought: Thanks for the compliments on the tree skirt, Paws. I'm really enjoying working with the DROPS Air. My favourite feature, is that because it's a blown yarn, it doesn't split, which is often a challenge with ply yarns and the twisting required in crochet.

>14 qebo: You could always borrow The Hooktionary from the library like I did, initially if you want to avoid the dreaded temptations on Amazon. :)

>15 SassyLassy: I will admit, steeks look intimidating in either fiber craft so I'm not sure I'll be attempting them any time soon.

The truly cold temperatures are supposed to start abating by mid-week so voluntary trips outdoors are more likely next weekend.

>8 MickyFine: The tree skirt turned out so lovely!

>17 thornton37814: Thanks so much, Lori!

>8 MickyFine: Oh, Micky! The tree skirt is fabulous! Well done, you!!

>19 PlatinumWarlock: Thank you, Lavinia!

Crochet has slowed a bit in the past week (although I did finish a dishcloth during a meeting on Thursday) as I've been sorting through some new arrivals. My aunt is downsizing her crafting stash and sent me a box FULL of DMC embroidery floss. So some of what would normally be crafting time has been spent sorting and winding onto bobbins (my preferred storage method). I may have also spent a chunk of this afternoon scrolling through Etsy earmarking patterns.

>21 MickyFine: I used to wind onto bobbins, and I do admit they are easier to store that way. I use Floss Away bags now.

>22 thornton37814: I had to google those as I'd never heard of them. I do love the order of the bobbins. And I have a clear plastic case they go in so it's really satisfying to see them all lined up.

The browsing I mentioned in >21 MickyFine: led to purchasing *goes to double-check* 14 patterns (plus one free bonus). I won't be lacking choice for choices for my next project, lol.

Finished the front panel of my sweater on Saturday evening. Photo is pre-blocking so it's a little longer now.

That looks like it's coming along nicely! I like the color too.

>25 MickyFine: That's very nice indeed, Micky!
Does the kitty approve? 😃

>26 dudes22: Thanks, Betty!

>27 lauralkeet: He is mostly annoyed that he's not allowed to play with the ends I tucked away in this photo. 🤣

>28 MickyFine: Yesterday my daughter sent me a photo of her kitty sitting comfortably on a sweater she was blocking. At least yours has the respect to keep his distance!

>29 lauralkeet: He definitely got a few nudges from me as he did attempt to sit on it while I was taking the photo. Happily for blocking, I didn't need to do any pinning, so I could just put it on a hanging sweater drying rack, well out of reach of any felines.

Your supervisor looks like he wants the attention you've been giving the sweater.

>31 thornton37814: Always. He wants all the attention always and will grumpily settle for being nearby when projects make my lap inaccessible.

Can't wait to see the finished sweater!

>33 mabith: Thanks!

I'm nearly finished the back panel but I probably won't share a picture of it as it'll just be a boring pink rectangle. Now to make it through sewing together and sleeve island.

I finished the sweater on Monday! We still had wintery weather today so I got to wear it before it spends the spring and summer in a drawer.

I really love the drape of the fabric in this one and it's wonderfully cozy. Huzzah for my second sweater ever!



Pattern: Distant Fog Sweater Dress
Designer: Janine Myska
Yarn: Drops Air in Pink
Hook: 3.75 mm

Lovely work! It does look extremely cozy. Though of course now I'm just trying to recognize books by spines...

Very nice! And a great color on you too.

Way to go Micky! Your sweater looks so nice. What's next? Have you thought about crocheting something for spring/summer in cotton or linen?

Great sweater!!

>35 MickyFine: Don't put it away in a drawer for summer - it's a great colour and you can wear it year 'round, plus it look really comfortable.

>36 mabith: Thanks! Enjoy scoping out the shelves. 😆

>37 dudes22: Thank you, Betty

>38 lauralkeet: Thank you, Laura. I do have a tank top pattern I plan to do in cotton yarn eventually. But I have picked up some cross-stitch as my next project.

>39 norabelle414: Thank you, Nora!

>40 SassyLassy: It's a bit warm to wear year- round (baby alpaca and wool blend so it's very toasty). But living in Canada, it'll get plenty of wear come fall/winter.

As I mentioned to Laura above, I've picked up a cross-stitch piece for my next project. The plan is for it to go on a wall in the guest room as the walls in there are very bare.

I usually post weekly updates on my stitching to Insta (for #stitchingsunday) but I'm not sure how often I'll post updates here. Maybe after I complete each row of squares? Stay tuned for that.

>41 MickyFine: It would be perfect for evenings here on the East Coast!

The sweater is really nice.

>43 SassyLassy: I bet!

>44 mnleona: Thank you so much.

>35 MickyFine: Very nice. I came home and put on short sleeves. It got warm here today!

Well, I've finished the first row of squares on my cross-stitch project so I think it's a good point to show it off around here. I did discover this pattern in this group (I feel like it was Betty or Lois who shared that they had the pattern in their stash and I liked it so much I got my own). It's been a lot of fun to work on so far and while that lime green is my least favourite colour (so of course it's the one with the most stitches in the whole pattern :P), I think the pattern for that square is my favourite so far.

>47 MickyFine: - I did buy that pattern with the intention of starting it if we decided to go south for a month or two in the winter. Instead of trying to take quilting with me. Of course the person we used to rent from sold their house and then Florida had the big hurricane, so we haven't been back since. But I will do it one day and will check with you about what thread size fabric you used and what kind of floss. It's looking very nice.

>47 MickyFine: Oooh, I like that a lot! Something about the precision of those geometric shapes is really appealing.

ohhh! Pretty! I like the colors.

>48 dudes22: Happy to share that info whenever you decide to tackle it, Betty.

>49 lauralkeet: The symmetry of them is really b satisfying for my brain. Also the joy of just managing a single colour for each square and not switching back and forth a bunch (which is its own kind of fun but it's nice to do something simpler for a change).

>50 al.vick: There will be a few more in the mix eventually but I also find the colour palette really lovely.

>47 MickyFine: What's the full pattern look like? I'm also digging the colors.

>52 mabith: It's this pattern from from Vivienne Powers on Etsy. I am (obviously) doing the version that's six squares across rather than the larger version that's now in the listing.

It should be nice when you finish it!

>54 thornton37814: Agreed. I already love how it looks.

The sweater in >35 MickyFine: is super pretty, Micky. Well done!

And wow, the pattern in >47 MickyFine: is gorgeous!

>56 PawsforThought: Thanks on both counts, Paws. I'm very pleased with both.

Powered through an entire row of squares this past week.

>58 MickyFine: Those are looking very nice. It kind of reminds me of the new "324" chart by Works by ABC which uses 324 DMC colors. Apparently there is a version that only uses 36 colors, but most people are going with the 324 colors. They have a stitch-along for it too that Top Knot Stitcher (Abby) is hosting.

>59 thornton37814: I looked up that chart and it's lovely, but more intense than I think I want to tackle (at least at this point).

I took my Earned Day Off yesterday to give myself an extra extra long weekend (we get Good Friday and Easter Monday off at my work) and visited my LYS. Picked up another skein of a yarn I already had in my stash (it was intended for one sweater but after looking more closely at the yarn, discovered it was not the weight the store had classified it as and switched the plans for it to a different sweater, which meant I needed just a bit more) and a crochet hook. And then let myself browse since I had a gift card in my wallet. Came home with this gorgeous Allegria yarn from Manos Del Uruguay. The colour is called Aloha and it was just too beautiful to leave behind. I had no clue what I was going to do with it when I picked it up but after some scrolling through Ravelry, I think it's going to be a cowl/wrap (the pattern is a very long cowl you can pull down over your shoulders).

Here's the beauty:

I love that yarn, Micky! What a gorgeous color.

>62 lauralkeet: It makes me happy every time I look at it. :)

>63 MickyFine: That is a happy yarn indeed. Manos del Uruguay can tempt me every time.
This one looks like a versatile weight, so the cowl idea would work well. Cowls can tempt me every time too!

>61 MickyFine: That's a nice color yarn (as others have said).

Yes - I agree. Looking forward to seeing how it works up.

>64 SassyLassy: I made a toque from one of their bulky yarns a couple years ago and I really love it.

>65 thornton37814: I'll be sure to let it know it's admired, lol.

>66 dudes22: It might be a while for that Betty. We'll see if I feel like a big or small crochet project after I wrap up the current cross-stitch project.

Finished another row of squares on the cross-stitch project this week. Not the best lighting in this photo, apologies.

I went on a day road trip with Mr. Fine and a couple friends last week (and didn't have to drive, yippee!) and as the cross-stitch project is a little too large to tote along, I started a crochet project.

I put in a good chunk on the bottom ribbing of the Mountain Peaks Cardigan designed by Janine Myska. While the design photo is striped, I've opted to make mine a solid colour, so mine will be black. I'm using Estelle Knits DK yarn and finding it pretty solid to work with thus far. The pattern is from Modern Crochet Sweaters and includes a few options for customization. Depending on how much yarn I have left at the end of the project, I might add a pocket or two. I wouldn't expect a ton of updates on this project until June at least though, as I am focusing on the cross-stitch piece.


Photo copyright Janine Myska

Although, while I say I'm focusing on cross-stitch, there is a chance I might be dropping everything and working on a completely different crochet project in the near future. One of the hand dyers I follow on Insta,Rose Hill Yarns, dropped some really gorgeous fades in the last couple months. I bought the Tea Party Fade as a gift for my mom for mother's day/her birthday (her birthday is in June).



I've got a couple shawl patterns bookmarked and the plan is to let her pick the shawl design she likes and offer her the choice of me making it up for her or her having the fun of making it herself (she also crochets). If she opts for me making it, I'll drop everything else and work on that, of course.

I also ordered the Meet Me in the Moonlight mini fade from the same dyer for myself.



Isn't it gorgeous? It'll likely be a cowl/infinity scarf (I'm going to have a lot of cowls to choose from whenever I get around to actually using all the yarn in my stash *snort*).

Well, the Tea Party Fade yarn ended up making two shawls for my mom. I used the Blurre pattern from Deanne Ramsey on Ravelry.

Light to dark shawl:



Dark to light shawl:



Wingspan on these is about 6 feet-ish and I still have quite a bit of the lightest and darkest yarns left. I've made a bunch of coasters for my mom with it and am considering a pillow cover or maybe a cover to slip a book into for the last of it.

Those are gorgeous shawls, Micky!

>71 lauralkeet: Thanks so much, Laura. My mom was really pleased with them.

They're lovely! I like the color shifts.

>73 mabith: Thank you. The pattern offers options for going from thick to thin strips from top to bottom or vice versa and I definitely prefer the thicker stripes at the top.

Very nice!

Beautiful shawls!

Thank you, Betty and Nora!

Great work on the shawls, Micky!
And the yarn in >69 MickyFine: is gorgeous!

>78 PawsforThought: Thanks, Paws!

I finished my cross-stitch project on the long weekend but I think I'll wait to share pictures until I've pressed it and stuck it in a frame.

With that project done, I've decided to try working on two different projects and see how I'll do at balancing them. I've gone back to the crochet cardigan I mentioned up in >69 MickyFine: and I've been working on it in the evenings in front of the TV.

My other project is a cross-stitch piece to hang in my library at home (one of a planned trio). It's a stack of books with flowers, so very on brand for me. I'm doing it on 18 count white aida, which is much easier than my first time trying 18 count when the fabric was black. 😝 That one I work on before work and on my coffee break when I work from home and on the weekends.

As promised, the completed cross-stitch piece that I've finally hung up in our guest room.



Pattern: Quaker Tiles on White by Vivsters (Etsy)

>81 MickyFine: - Funny - I was just thinking about this pattern today. It came out really nice. I found a needlework store and I'm thinking of getting fabric and thread to take it when we go on vacation next month. I just need to decide what size I want it to be. It's been quite a while since I've done any cross-stitching, so I hope I'm not too rusty.

>81 MickyFine: That's so nice, Micky. I love the way the colors transition from one to the next.

>81 MickyFine: That turned out so beautifully! Your guests are lucky!

>82 dudes22: Thanks, Betty! If you decide to take it with you, I hope you have fun with it. I did mine on 16-count aida and I like the size it came out as. This is a great pattern to get back to cross-stitching with as each square is its own colour so you just have to figure out the logic of what order to do stitches in and not also figure out colour changes.

>83 lauralkeet: Thank you, Laura. I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

>84 mabith: Thank you, Meredith! We have a friend coming to stay with us later this week so I wanted to make sure it was up on the wall before she got here. :)

My next cross-stitch piece is underway. I'm thinking monthly updates here as the amount of time I have for it on a weekly basis will probably vary widely.



You can start to see a flower taking shape near the bottom right. Even in the reference image I'm not entirely sure if the reddish shape is supposed to be a leaf or a flower, but it's done at any rate. 😊

The crochet cardigan is also ticking along. I've finished the back panel and I'm about a third done the first of the two front panels. I was worried about working with black yarn but this project has been really straightforward, thankfully.

Great work, Micky! Good to hear that the black yarn went well - that’s always a worry for me.

>86 MickyFine: Ooh, that looks like one of those patterns that will be gorgeous once finished but makes me run a mile due to fear of confetti.

>87 PawsforThought: I definitely won't work with it all the time but I am pleased to be getting a basic black cardigan into my stash of cozy things.

>88 mabith: I get that fear. So far, it looks like the pattern designer hasn't led me astray. 😊

Ok, so first the monthly update on the cross-stitch.



Look, it really is a flower!

As for the crochet cardigan, I've finished all the body panels and am about a third of the way through the first sleeve. Hoping to have it done by mid-October but we'll see how it goes.

Looking great!

>91 al.vick: Thanks so much!

I've been mostly lurking lately but I have been crafting apace. First on the updates, I completed my crochet cardigan and I absolutely love it. I can also happily say that working with black yarn (for this project) was relatively painless. The stitch pattern is pretty simple though.



Pattern: Mountain Peaks Cardigan
Designer: Janine Myska (from her book Modern Crochet Sweaters)
Hook: 5 mm
Yarn: Estelle Yarns DK in Black

I then made two ear warmer headbands back to back. The pattern for both is the Christa Headband designed by Courtney A. Clark (AKA ilovetinderbox) and I used a 3.25 mm hook for both as well.

This one is for me and is made from leftover yarn from the pink sweater I made back in the spring.



This one is for my mom for Christmas. I used some of the hand-dyed yarn I got her for Mother's Day/her birthday and used for the shawls in >70 MickyFine:. I held two threads double to get the DK weight called for in the pattern, and I'm pretty pleased with how it looks. We'll hope she likes it come Christmas. :)

Finally for show and tell, the monthly update on the cross-stitch project:



This is progress as of November 2 and the flower is definitely taking shape now. I also really love how the leaves on the right are turning out.

In addition to the cross-stitch, I'm now working on two separate crochet projects. I've started making an amigurumi Nativity set (my first time making amigurumi) and have nearly finished baby Jesus so far. Because the amigurumi often require a lot of counting and focus, I've also started a cowl for myself whose pattern is much simpler and easier to pick up and put down in front of the TV. I'm using the hand-dyed yarn I bought for myself back in the spring when I bought the yarn for my mom's shawls (and now headband).

Those are all great! I might show the headbands to my friend as a hint. She's made me a couple of hats and socks before. As i scrolled back up to look at the shawls again, I went by the cross stitch in #81. I really need to see about getting some fabric and thread to start mine like that. We're planning a trip next February and I'll need something to take with me. Which size did you end up doing? And will we be seeing that tree skirt next month?

You've been a crafting machine, Micky! The sweater looks terrific and I bet the headbands were fun to make. Your cross-stitch is always impressive too. As I mentioned on your 75 thread, I'm looking forward to seeing the nativity set take shape.

>93 MickyFine: working with black yarn (for this project) was relatively painless
Your eyes must be better than mine!

>97 dudes22: Thanks, Betty. I love a good headband as they don't squash my curls as much as a toque.

As for the cross-stitch, I believe I did mine on 16 count Aida. It's in a 16x20 frame from IKEA. 😊

>98 lauralkeet: Thanks so much, Laura! It was a nice change to pick up some smaller projects that worked up quickly. It was a nice change from the sweaters I've mostly done that take more time. Although that said, I want to try and make another sweater soon so I can wear it this winter.

>99 qebo: It helps that the yarn is not super thin and I wasn't doing any tricky stitches. Starting the project was a bit tricksy though.

>94 MickyFine: I have seen these patterns and never cared for them but as I see one on you, they are really nice. I love the brown colors.

>101 mnleona: Thanks so much.

>95 MickyFine: It's looking great. I'm on page 5 of 20 on Pandemic. This page seems to be stitching up a bit more quickly. I'm not sure if it is because it is somewhat less dense stitching or because I finally told myself I need to put in at least one thread per day, and if I don't get it in, I need to make it up on a future day (preferably the next day). Sometimes I don't have time to stitch on Wednesdays so I'll probably get to play catch-up a lot on Thursdays.

>103 thornton37814: - I was working on a project once that had a white rabbit in it, and that's the way I got through by doing one length of thread each day.

>104 dudes22: I need to put in a thread tonight in the hotel, but I'm already tired. I know I won't have time to put in a thread tomorrow so it will have to be made up Saturday. (I'll be in a meeting or driving home until time to go home, visit with the kitties a few minutes, and go to bed.)

Well, I went for physio this week and was told I have early signs of tennis elbow so I've pulled back on my crochet time a bit. I did, however, finish Joseph for my amigurumi Nativity set today so I have a full trio in advance of Christmas, at least.



The pattern set also includes a sheep but I'm not sure if I'll tackle it right now or give my forearms a break from the small, tight stitching these require.

Cross-stitch has been largely neglected while I've worked on these so no update on that front. The cowl is working up beautifully and I love the yarns I'm using for it so much. 😍

Those are really cute. I'm in awe of the small stitches.

These are so cute.

>106 MickyFine: Your amigurumi turned out really well, Micky!

Thank you, Betty, Leona, and Laura!

That's absolutely adorable, Micky! Sorry to hear your arm is unhappy, though.

>111 PawsforThought: Thanks on both fronts, Paws!

cute!

>106 MickyFine: I love it!

Thank you!

I did it! With a couple days to spare, I have completed phase 1 of the Nativity. And now I have no intention of making another amigurumi for many months. Pleased with these cuties, even with all the wobbly bits I could point out.



Pattern: Aradiya Toys
Yarn: Schachenmayr Catania
Hook: 2 mm

>116 MickyFine: These are adorable.

That's really very cute.

Aw, I think the sheep is my favourite.

>116 MickyFine: They look great! Real people (and sheep) have wobbly bits too, so that's just realistic.

They're so cute, especially that sheep!

Aww, thanks all!

>120 norabelle414: Very wise. I did watch a reel from a self-published author the other week that hypothesized that typos in books might become a sign that they were created by an actual human.