August
A surprisingly productive month of knitting
August was a month spent mostly enjoying my time knitting, with a surprising amount knit given it’s a summer month, and working in the garden. We’ve worked really hard to take it from it’s overgrown state when we moved in two years ago, and even if I do say so myself, it’s looking really great already. There’s still a few big projects to tackle, the decking and the border along the back fence being the next two on the agenda, then some lawn improvements and the patio area needs a bit of a spruce up. But we will get there eventually. We also only have one more room to complete inside the house, so the end is definitely in sight!
As always, I hope you enjoy reading what I’ve been knitting on during August and plan to knit on during September.
What I’ve finished knitting
Nancy Vest
I really love the bold colours in this vest. It was sold as a kit from Wensleydale Longwool Sheep Shop (they are now closing down unfortunately), and I was able to swap the green in the kit to the navy, which I think is more a ‘me’ colour.
I managed to adapt the knitting from flat to in the round, with steeks for the armholes and neck, which was a first for me (I have done a button band a couple of times before). It seems to have worked as nothing has unraveled yet! And I can’t wait to get some wear out of this over the autumn and winter.
Wall Hangings
These are my go-to for 1st Birthday’s or Christening’s so I got a head start on some upcoming celebrations. The pattern is from Lauren Aston Designs, and as they are knit in chunky yarn, they take me about an hour to knit each. There is then the pom poms to make and add along the bottom, but overall it’s a fairly quick afternoon/evening project.
Mini Stocking
I also made a mini stocking for one of the recipients, another Lauren Aston Designs pattern & yarn. I gifted my school friends one each for them and their partners a few years ago, and have been making sure I remember to make one for any new arrivals!
Duck Hats
Possibly the most random thing I’ve ever knit, but the lake I swim at has an annual night swim and a group of us decided to go for a theme for the first time, and have chosen ‘Ducks in a row’.
I managed to make 8 in total, although one was finished in September, and I also made a baby version in September for one of my friends with an 8 month old so they can match.
We’ll definitely all be wearing these when we swim as the water gets colder.
The yarn was kindly gifted by Utopia Crafts
What I’ve still got on the needles
Lana Vest
I haven’t done a cabled project in far too long, and I have so many cable jumpers on my to-knit list, but for this Aran yarn from New Lanark Spinning Co, in the colour Sky, I went with the Lana Vest by Irene Lin.
It’s oversized, and boy have I forgotten how slow the rows where you do the cables can be! But it’s looking good so far, I’ve finished the back panel.
Wood Pigeon Socks
I’m still plugging away on these socks. They definitely took a back seat to the duck hats this month, but I’m determined to finish them in September so I can cast on a new pair of socks.
What I’m planning to cast on in September
Natural Woman Scarf
I got this beautiful Monet inspired yarn set from The Wool Kitchen at Unravel last Autumn, and I knew I wanted to make something for my mum with it. So after some back and forth, decided on the Natural Woman scarf by Nadia Crétin-Léchenne. I’m pairing it with Kinross 4ply in the colour Beadlet.
Emerald Socks
I purchased this Emerald sock yarn from Hanks Yarn Parlour in Belfast, back in 2023, and what better excuse to cast it on than a trip to Ireland (despite the fact I’ve been back to Northern Ireland since then!). I always think socks are the best portable project, and I’m limited to carry on for this trip (which is rare for me), so it means I can really focus on them.
Tracking my yarn stash
In: 300g gifted
I make up the rules, so I’ve only counted the gifted yarn from Utopia crafts that I’ve used so far for the Duck Hats (they gifted me 1kg in total, but I think I’ll de-stash anything I don’t use to make the hats)
Out: 1,044g used from stash
For the Nancy Vest, Duck Hats, Wall Hangings & Mini Stocking
Net Position for the month: -744g
Net Position for the year: -378g
Final thoughts
I am finally back into the negative year to date for my yarn usage! The end is definitely in sight for using up my sweater quantities, although a trip to Ireland may see me gain a sweater quantity, and push me back into the positive, so we shall see…
If you’ve read this far, aren’t already subscribed, and are interested to see how much I get done this month and what’s up next on my to-knit list. Please do consider subscribing to get the monthly updates straight into your inbox:
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 next month’s update!
Madeleine