2017 was on of my most productive making years and it was great always having something on the wires (needles in Shetland dialect). For me, there were two main things that kept my knitting year on track. The first was having this blog! While never super busy writing, I found that having the blog as a bit of a knitting diary helped keep me accountable to myself and cut down on those nights where I just faffed around.
The other tool I found really useful was the Make Nine challenge and taking the time to think about what I actually wanted to make, use and learn over the year. Looking back at the 2017 Make Nine challenge, I’ve finished three of the items, started a fourth and got the wool for a fifth. It doesn’t sound like a lot but it’s probably the most I’ve ever followed a plan!
#2017makenine progress
2017 Make Nine Photo credits & patterns L-R from top left: 1. Ondawa by Michele Wang; 2. Bousta Beanie by Gudrun Johnston; 3. Socks! Line drawing my own; 4. Fly Away by Tin Can Knits; 5 I’m sure this is not a suitable baby toy but I do love this Flamingo by Susan B Anderson; 6. Baby Girl Fair Isle Cardigan by Purl Soho; 7. Hazel the Humpback Whale by Bec Brittain; 8. Rock Lobster Mittens by SpillyJane Knits; 9. Shallmillens Snood by Donna Smith. All photos are taken from the patterns’ Ravelry pages.
The Ondawa jumper by Michele Wang for Brooklyn Tweed. I purchased the yarn for this in the summer from Iona Wool and so far I’ve started a sleeve as a swatch. I’m not as far on as I’d like but fortunately for me, jumpers are a year round necessity up here!
The Bousta Beanie by Gudrun Johnston for Shetland Wool Week 2017. So far, I’ve knitted two of these and I absolutely love them both. I’ve also promised to teach friends’ how to knit them too…
Socks! I made Hermione’s Everyday Socks for my best friend’s birthday and they were great. Lovely to knit and a real sense of achievement. So good, in fact, I’m currently knitting a second pair.
I finally made it through the Fly Away blanket by Tin Can Knits and the full details will be on the blog soon. This was an epic knit and sew (all my own fault) but came out brilliantly in the end. Definitely time consuming though!
I didn’t manage to knit a baby toy and given how my niece likes to put her toys firmly through her paces, I don’t think this will feature in my 2018 plans.
A baby cardigan also didn’t feature this year but I think a proper Shetland jumper for a toddler might be a possibility this year.
Hazel the Humpback Whale remains a major pattern crush but I didn’t make any progress in 2017 towards having her grace my sofa.
Mittens. I still absolutely love the lobster mittens but this year’s main mitten progress was to mend my Flamingo Mittens. I haven’t really taken them off since.
The Shallmillens Snood by Donna Smith. I got as far as purchasing the wool for this but I haven’t actually started it yet. I’m hoping to get it going in the first quarter of 2018.
And so to the 2018 Make Nine plans. There are some that remain from last year, some newbies and some that are unlikely because let’s face it, how many jumpers can I realistically knit in a year? Time to find out!
#2018makenine plans
2018 Make Nine Photo credits & patterns L-R from top left: 1. Ondawa by Michele Wang; 2. Shallmillens Snood by Donna Smith; 3. Toddler’s fair isle jumper. Terrible line drawing all my own; 4. Harvest Moon Blanket by Aimee Alexander; 5. Peace de resistance mittens by Bristol Ivy; 6. Open Waters shawl by Melanie Berg; 7. Fern and Feather by Jennifer Steingass; 8. Arrow Pom hat by Hilary Grant; 9. The Weekender by Andrea Mowry. All photos are taken from the patterns’ Ravelry pages.
The Ondawa jumper by Michele Wang for Brooklyn Tweed. With glorious yarn from Iona Wool, I’m on the case. It won’t be fast and it’s definitely far above my level but I’m excited!
The Shallmillens Snood by Donna Smith. The yarn is purchased and the needles await.
A fair isle jumper for a toddler. I’m not sure of a pattern or colours but I’d love to knit a wee jumper for my niece.
Baby blanket(s). Every year there are more babies and that necessitates more baby blankets. I need at least two this year but I can’t decide on patterns. At the moment, I’m a big fan of the Harvest Moon Blanket by Aimee Alexander but I’ve not decided on patterns yet.
The Peace de resistance mittens by Bristol Ivy. These mittens are clever, fun and above all inspiring. Basically, everything a mitten should be. It would also let me give my flamingo mitts a rest!
Open Waters shawl by Melanie Berg. This shawl reminds me of the sea and I love the sea (islander through and through). To date, I’ve not been much of a shawl wearer but I think this shawl could change that. Any yarn suggestions would be great though as I haven’t the first clue what would be good to knit this in.
Any jumper by Jennifer Steingass. At the moment, my favourite is Fern and Feather but frankly, they’re all brilliant and I’d be thrilled to make any of her designs.
I got the wonderful Knits from the North book by Hilary Grant for my birthday so I’d love to try a pattern from that. The Arrow Pom hat is currently top of my list.
The Weekender by Andrea Mowry. Right now, I can’t get enough of boxy jumpers and this one has really caught my eye. If I can finish Ondawa, I can take this on!
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