April
More sunshine than showers
April had a relaxed start, with lots of time at home, and in the garden, where all the tulips were in bloom and the sun was shining most of the time. In the last week of the month I went on two very fun trips.
The first was to Gothenburg, which I can highly recommend for a long weekend away. Lots of yarn shops were visited, and a theme park right in the city centre. The weather was perfect for wearing some knit-fits.
The highlight of the trip for me, was definitely island hopping on the archipelago. And it was a bargain, two trams and three boat trips cost us less than a tenner. It was also the perfect place to wear my newly finished sweater.
We also went on a day trip to Legoland, but not the one up the road from us in Windsor, the one in Billund, Denmark! It was an early-ish start and a late return home, but a very fun day out. We spent a few hours in the theme park, and we only really queued for one ride. Then we headed over to the Lego house, which is an interactive Lego experience and a museum. They also produce a new exclusive set each year, which was the reason for the trip. I had a Sophie scarf on at the start of the day, but it was so warm it didn’t last long!
As always, I hope you enjoy reading what I’ve been knitting on in April and plan to knit on during May.
What I’ve finished knitting
Fisherman’s Sweater
What a challenge this one was! But, I finally got it finished in April, largely spurred on by wanting to wear it to Gothenburg.
The arms are quite long, so I wore them turned up, which I don’t mind, but once I’ve worn it a bit more next winter, it might get some sweater surgery to shorten them.
Petty Harbour Socks
Last month I said these would be off the needles in no time, and I was right as I finished them on the first of April! The yarn is Ainsworth and Prin Classic Sock in the colourway Kerfuffle and the pattern is a lovely broken rib, with 50% all knit rows.
What I’ve still got on the needles
Basic 4ply Socks
I’ve cast on the second pair of socks for my two friends, the yarn for this pair is Ara Stella Luxe Sock in the colourway Jeju. These are just basic vanilla socks to show off the yarn, and have mostly been knit on planes so far!
Ducks
I finally cast on Jemima Puddleduck, by Claire Garland. I’m using the older pattern she brought out, which is now called Lady Duck on Ravelry.
I’d still like to cast on a couple of ducklings once the main one is done. I have the yarn and pattern for the Little Duckling, also by Claire Garland, ready to go.
What I’m planning to cast on in May
Oldenburg Cardigan
So, my next garment was going to be the cable knit, but…I’m off to Lundy in June, and you get there on the Oldenburg, so obviously I need to have made the Cardigan by then. I am also planning to refresh my memory of the patten I half wrote up for this and maybe finish it, so watch this space.
Sophie Scarf
Yet again, I’ve still got the second scarf to make with the leftovers of my Matcha Jumper. I need to extend the jumper first, before I can make the scarf. Neither of these were completed last month as I had hoped, so fingers crossed I can make this happen in May.
Hennessey Hot Water Bottle Cover
This idea has been in my head now for two years (or more) now, to make a houndstooth hot water bottle cover using the leftover yarn from the Hennessey Houndstooth Cardigan I designed. I’d like to do a mini and a regular size one, and I think it should be fairly straightforward. I just need to cast it on!
Cologne Socks
These will probably be cast on at the very end of the month, likely the day before I go on a plane, when I figure out I’ve got no easy and portable project to take with me (this always happens!). But I purchased a skein of Laneras Yarn Co Beartooth - High Twist in the colourway Better Together back in 2023 from GarnStore in Cologne. So it’s high time I used it.
Tracking my yarn stash
In: 200g
Out: 697g used from stash
Net Position for the month: -497g
Net Position for the year: -602g
Final thoughts
Despite purchasing some yarn from Gothenburg, I’m still very much on track to be using up a good amount of my stash this year. I’m not making quite as much progress on garments as I usually do, but I’m having fun with some of the smaller stash busting projects, and once I’ve done some of them (like the ducks) the remainder of the yarn will most likely go on vinted so it won’t get added to that very full drawer of leftover yarn I have! (see March’s bulletin for that picture)
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Feel free to leave any questions about any of my projects or anything else I’ve mentioned, comments or feedback. And I’ll speak to you in the next update!
Madeleine