Tag: 2024

My Favorite Hand Knits Finished in 2024

Last year, in 2024, I completed three sweater patterns that I absolutely love.

During 2024 there were a few hand knits that have become my favorites. I knit four sweater patterns and a couple of hats. The hats are not worth mentioning. Three of the sweaters turned out to be favorite knits of mine. The links go to my pattern review blog pages.

Calliope 2

The Calliope pullover is so nice. This was my second time using this pattern. I love the gold color and the yarn makes a really nice fabric. It was my first time using Sunday Morning yarn by Sonder Yarn Co. and I ended up loving the result. I did make some pattern changes on the sleeves and hem.

Calliope pullover sweater
Cool camping day
Calliope sweater in gold
Calliope
Calliope sweater hand knit

Rebel Cardigan

This cardigan pattern by Ankestrick is definitely a favorite. I finished knitting the beautiful sweater in August. Once the weather turned cool in November (a few days at least) I pulled it out. I’ve been wearing it all winter. The Rebel Cardigan is very cozy and warm.

Rebel Cardigan
Rebel Cardigan
Rebel cardigan
Rebel cardigan

The Field Sweater

When it came to the Field sweater, I loved the look, but was unsure I could accomplish it. This was probably the most difficult pattern I have knit so far. The whole yoke was made up of special stitches that took a lot of time to complete. It turned out so lovely and it is a sweater I am proud of. The fit is perfect.

hand knit Field sweater textured yoke and ribbing
Wearing the Field sweater
Field sweater

New Techniques and New Yarns

In 2024 I knit two sweaters that used double yarns. I held mohair with merino for the Rebel cardigan and Field sweater. I also learned some new techniques and met some challenges. Each of these sweaters took a while to finish.

I did knit one other sweater called the Autumn Alpine. I am not super happy with it. The neckline wasn’t good, and I tried to fix it, without much luck. I ended up doing short sleeves just to be finished. I’ve never worn it.

short sleeve colorwork sweater
Autumn Alpine

Sweaters begun in 2024

The sweaters I have on my needles now, that were begun in 2024, are as follows. The links to my Ravelry pages for each. These sweaters should be finished in 2025.

  • Warm Up 2 – Knit using bulky Peace Fleece
  • Solvi – Bright blue yarn from Harriville Designs
  • Birthday61 – Size 1 needle, half-fisherman’s rib. A long project.

How did your knitting go in 2024? Have you made anything special, or learned any new knitting techniques? Maybe you have knit these same sweater patterns. I’d love to hear about what you made.

Merry Christmas Eve

A quick wish for the holidays and update on my knitting.

Today is Christmas Eve 2024, and the post is just a quick one. I’ll share what I’ve been doing today (cooking and knitting), and send wishes for Happy Holidays.

First, an update on my latest knitting project. The Birthday61 sweater, is moving along slowly. I knew it would be a long haul, but I am enjoying it. I’ve already begun on my second skein of yarn, and I’m still knitting the yoke. A little bit of knitting is happening today.

knitting Birthday61 sweater
Progress on Birthday61

Food is mostly made for tomorrow’s small feast. Christmas Day is spent with my son. It is just the two of us, so we don’t go nuts. He has the day off, so he will make a ham. Probably cooked on one of his grills. I also made potatoes au gratin to be baked tomorrow. The vegetable will be my baked Seminole pumpkin. It’s all cooked and ready to eat. This was the only pumpkin I got from all my garden this summer. It tastes a lot like winter (butternut) squash.

baking Seminole pumpkin
Baking my garden pumpkin

Today at my home in Central Florida the weather is gloomy and cool. My cats have been sleeping indoors, which is unusual for Skittle. She likes to be outside, but she likes it warm!

black cats sleeping
Sleepy cats – Fontana and Skittle

We have lights up outside, but nothing for decorations inside! I’m just not in the mood to add more stuff to the house. My little fake tree is still in the shed, along with the few other holiday things I still have.

Whatever you are doing today and tomorrow, I hope it is enjoyable and peaceful. I miss the excitement of children, but I’m also happy for the low key way I celebrate.

I don’t write about Christmas these days, but have a few very old posts related to the holidays.

Sweater Knitting Projects in the Queue For 2024

Planning some new knitting projects for the upcoming new year. I’m still on the sweater knitting spree and these four patterns will be challenging in their own way for me.

As we close out 2023, I’ve been gathering some sweater knitting projects to complete in 2024.

Ravelry has a “queue” area for us and although I have not used it much, I’m beginning to. When one project is not enough (always) it’s nice to have an accessible list of knitting patterns to view. Find it in the “My Notebook” dropdown, if you are logged into Ravelry.

How to Use the Ravelry Queue

The queue section is meant to hold favorite patterns to knit soon. They can be listed in order of importance with information and ideas for the project. Any pattern found on Ravelry can be added to the queue from the pattern page, purchased or not. 

Each pattern added will list the suggested yarn with a space for the knitter to list the yarn that will be used. I find this helpful if I am buying yarn on sale (yay for year-end sales!) and need to match it up with my intended patterns. Also include any notes in a separate space.

Four Sweater Patterns in My Queue

This is my tentative list, in order of current interest, of patterns that have caught my eye over the last couple of months. Each section contains a link to the pattern page.

Number One

The first pattern in my queue is the Autumn Alpine colorwork yoke pullover by Boyland Knitworks / Caitlin Hunter. After knitting the Eva Cardigan in all one color, I had a hankering for some stranded colorwork. This project is in the works already. I’m knitting it along with my gold Calliope.

autumn Alpine colorwork sweater
Sonder Yarn Sunday Morning French press color
Color “French Press”
Knitting Autumn Alpine sweater

View the Autumn Alpine Pattern Page

Number Two

The pattern in the second position in my queue is the Rebel Cardigan, pattern by Ankestrick. It is a buttonless sweater with a unique shoulder construction. A worsted or DK yarn is used, or hold two yarns together for the gauge. I’m not sure yet which yarn I will use for this one.

View the Rebel Cardigan Pattern Page

Number Three

The third pattern in my list is the Sunday Cardigan by PetiteKnit. I chose this one while searching for a use for my Alafosslopi yarn. This sweater is knit top-down with wide ribbing at the yoke area. It calls for a bulky yarn, or combination of yarns to equal bulky. There is a button band but it is “knit simultaneously with the rest of the cardigan” so there is no picking up of stitches for the band… hurray!

View the Sunday Cardigan Pattern

Number Four

The last sweater in my queue is something completely different. The Clotilde Cardigan, by Pernille Larsen / Knitting for Olive, is knit in worsted weight yarn and is a lace pattern. 

This one will be a challenge for me, as I almost never knit any type of lace. The pattern is charted only. The sweater is really beautiful and I hope it’s something I can manage. The New Year should bring a challenge, right?

See the Clotilde Cardigan Pattern

More to come, including new yarns purchased for these patterns. Have you found any good yarn sales this December? Do you have some knitting patterns ready to go in January? I love to hear from fellow knitters, so please say hello.

Cat drawing (minus the tree which was added by me):Image by Richard Duijnstee from Pixabay
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