2020 and a return to Knitting

In many ways, 2020 was not a bad year.  Let’s not dwell on the exceptions to that statement now.  

In terms of my knitting life, there was positive movement.  I finished more projects in one year than at any time since my move to Knoxville at the beginning of 2012.  I started posting in this knitting blog again.  And, even more importantly, I am eager both to finish off old WIPs and to start new projects.

The Details:
    6 blog posts, half of them over the last two or three weeks of the year.

    7 finished projects

    33 skeins of yarn used.

Of course there were some glitches, some unknitting, and I bought yarn as well.  I did not knit all the yarn I bought.  Although I started cataloging my yarn stash, and yes it is big enough that it is not yet cataloged, I did not specifically note new purchases.  That will change this year:  I will track new yarn purchases, as opposed to existing stash, with the goal of knitting up more yarn than actually comes in.  And I will also finish cataloging, which will help the process of knitting as well.  I did not finish in 2020 not because of the size of the stash, but merely because health issues put a large damper on my ability to do things, more so than I actually realized at the time.

 

I did not tackle anything on the accumulated mountain of UFOs.  Two projects finished this year were started in 2019 however, so at least the mountain did not grow higher.  Finishing what I have started had developed into an ongoing problem, one I am still working to correct, may always be working to correct.  It may be that I am just the kind of person who starts too many things.

And so here is the list, in chronological order.  Some I previously posted here, some not.  Links are provided if I posted a finished photo.  Blue Square Throw and Summer Sunset photos here.

 

1. Cozy Cowl Cardigan.  Pattern is 007 Cowl Cardigan by Lisa Richardson in Mode at Rowan One.  Rowan Kid Classic.  Color 899, floss.  Started in October 2019.  Finished March 18, 2020.
2. Checks and Stripes Shawl.  This was knit for my church’s prayer shawl ministry using 3 skeins of Lion Brand Cupcake DK. Started in January and finished in April
3. Citron Socks.  Yarn used was Lichen and Lace 80/20 sock in color citron.  I started in April, and knit off and on, finishing in July.  These socks have been in heavy wear this winter.
4. Blue Square Throw in Noro Taiyo color 124.  Pattern is Perfectly Square Throw by Vanessa Ewing.  This was a fun fun knit and the only reason it took so long, from 8/2/20 until 10/16/20, was that I was concurrently dealing with some major health issues.  I want to knit another, and have purchased yarn to do so.
5. Summer Sunset.  This is the #15 boxy tee by Laura Bryant from Vogue Knitting Summer 2019.  Started in July 2019, put aside when I started the Cozy Cowl and resumed following completion of the blue square throw, finishing on 12/6/20.
6. Berries in the Snow.  Quick hat knit with Malabrigo RASTA in color Lotus, using Sidewinder Beanie by Aspen Leaf Knits.
7. Sidewinder 2.  A second sidewinder knit in Malabrigo Franca in color blush.

 

All of these projects were successful.  Five of them are currently heavy rotation.  Summer sunset is not because it is still too cold, but that should change as the weather warms up.  I assume the prayer shawl is being used but actually do not know.  I found this a tedious knit.  I like the way it turned out, and the shawl itself was soft and cozy, but I did not enjoy knitting the yarn.

 

All in all, a successful year.  Hopefully a trend.