May & June
A big old catch-up
It’s been a busy couple of months, both with my knitting (8 finished objects) and with fun plans: hosting friends, celebrating my birthday and a few trips.
I managed to sneak in one relaxing weekend where I had no plans other than knitting. On my to-do list was: block a pair of socks and a gauge swatch, sew together the ducklings, lengthen my Matcha Sweater and finally, cast on an Oldenburg Sweater. And I completed them all! Cutting into the Matcha Sweater was definitely a little nerve wracking, but I’m so happy with how it turned out (I just need some cooler weather so I can wear it properly).
At the end of May, I enjoyed a long weekend in Geneva. It was the perfect weather to crack out some of my summer knits, enjoy an ice cream (or three) and have the fanciest to-go salad of my life. I also got in some rows on my Sophie scarf on the plane and by the hotel pool.
At the end of June, I spent a week on Lundy, and despite there being a heatwave on the mainland, you know I had to take my Lundy Jumper with me. Although it wasn’t quite heatwave weather on the island, I spend 90% of the week in shorts, so it definitely wasn’t all over colourwork jumper weather. But I didn’t let that stop me for a little photoshoot.
It was a lovely and relaxing week, just what I needed after a busy few months at work. Mornings spent Puffin watching, letterbox hunting and running into the other wildlife on the island. Afternoons spent reading, knitting and cooling off with a swim. Evenings in the pub, for food, drinks and the 8pm wildlife log. People often wonder what there is to do for a week on sunch a small island, but trust me, you’ll fill the time.
As always, I hope you enjoy reading what I’ve been knitting on in May & June and plan to knit on during July.
What I’ve finished knitting
Basic 4ply Socks
I used the Ara Stella Luxe Sock in the colourway Jeju to make a pair of socks for one of my friends. These are just basic vanilla socks to show off the yarn, and I love the pops of neon.
Ducks
How cute are these ducks! The patterns are by Claire Garland (aka DotPebbles Knits) and I used the recommended yarns. They were a gift for a friends new baby, with one duckling for the older sibling, so they didn’t feel left out as I didn’t make a knitted toy for them when they were born. (I made a cardigan to match one I made for the mum, so they did get something!)
Oldenburg Cardigan
A successful re-knit of my pattern that I had next to no notes on! Finished in time for Lundy, as thankfully I remembered to order buttons the week before the trip. I’m so glad I changed my mind from when I originally purchased the yarn, and went for dark blue on the background and white stripes (as opposed to the other way around). The yarn is Rauma Puno, which is so soft and a dream to knit up, but it will be interesting to see how it wears.
Sophie Scarf
On my focussed knitting weekend in May, I extended my Matcha Sweater, which meant I could finally use the leftovers to knit a Sophie Scarf. I adjusted the increase rate on this one, to make it a more gradual increase.
Hennessey Hot Water Bottle Covers
I finally got this idea out of my head and into my hands. I think I need to make the mini one a few stitches smaller, but the large size is spot on. I made good notes, and have charted the colourwork pattern, so I think I will write this one up before the Oldenburg Cardigan and get back into the swing of pattern writing (it’s been a while!).
What I’ve still got on the needles
Cologne Socks
The colour of this skein of Laneras Yarn Co Beartooth - High Twist in Better Together is absolutely gorgeous, and I honestly can’t stop admiring it. I’ve finished one sock, and started the second.
Magdelena Shawl
When I saw this come up on Knitt yarns instagram stories as a kit, I instantly knew I needed it, and not just because of the name (I promise). They didn’t have a wide selection of colours that came in the kit, but I went with Dark Grey Blue in the Rauma Finull, which I think will pair really well with my green wool coat in the winter. So far, it’s been a great mindless knit, that I started on Lundy knit all over the island and I finished the first of the three balls on the boat trip home.
Golf Club Cover
A third Golf Club Cover for my dad, to go with the two I gifted him at Christmas. Technically the cover itself is finished, but it still needs a pom pom and an i-Cord to join it to the other two. I can’t finish this until I am re-united with my luggage from Lundy on the weekend, as the project and yarn went into my hold luggage, which got stuck on the boat and then delivered to my parents house.
What I’m planning to cast on in July
Cabled Sweater
Using the Aran yarn I purchased last year from Kerry Woollen Mills, I’ve cast on a cabled sweater in an attempt to knit it before a trip to Cork in early August. I’m hoping it’ll be slightly oversized and an absolute classic piece to treasure and wear for years to come.
Turtle Dove Shawl
I have had some Rowan Alpaca Soft DK leftovers in my stash since 2022, and the Turtle Dove Shawl on my to-knit list pretty much since it was released at the end of 2023. So as usual, it’s high time I did something about it and cast it on! However, this is only likely to be cast on if I’m making good progress with the cabled sweater and have finished up all the other portable projects.
Tracking my yarn stash
May
In: 0g
Out: 191g used from stash
Net Position for the month: -191g
Net Position for the year: -793g
June
In: 0g
Out: 486g used from stash
Net Position for the month: -486g
Net Position for the year: -1279g
Final thoughts
Two months with no yarn purchases! I’m pretty sure I can make it to a third, but probably not a fourth as I have a trip to Ireland in August, where there is likely to be a trip to a yarn mill.
If you’ve read this far, aren’t already subscribed, 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 the next update!
Madeleine