Well the time has come to wrap up Year 13, my 6th year as part of the Year of Projects group on Ravelry. I love this group and the routine of posting each Sunday.

If you are interested in joining us for the group’s 14th Year, please see the link at the bottom of this post. You’d be very welcome and you don’t need such a crazy long list as I seem to always create.

My wrap-up comments are in blue boxes and bold italics next to the sections/items. This post is lengthy, if you usually just read my posts via email you will need to click on the email’s “Read More” link to read the full post and/or view all the photos.

Key:
↪️ carried over from a previous YOP year
✳️ started
✅ finished
🆕 added to list after week 1
‼️ abandoned (i.e. changed my mind and probably will never make it)
⏸️ on hold (i.e. not fully abandoned the idea but decided not to do it this YOP year)
🐸 frogged

NB. There are links to the Ravelry pattern, yarn or project page.

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Main target for YOP 13

This year I will finish the carried forward items started in a previous YOP year or get rid of them. Year 13 could be an unlucky year for some items! Even though no-one is judging me, other than myself, I’ve worked hard on decluttering the house and consider myself a pretty good completer/finisher, so long term works in progress (WIPs) aren’t something I want to have in my life. Will 13 be a lucky or unlucky number for all my long term WIPs….we shall see!

Ok so I’ve already drafted my YOP14 list and I have carried over some long term WIPs, so I guess my main target for YOP13 has been a failure. I optimistically live in hope that I’ll finish them in YOP14!

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Acquisitions/Collection Curation

• ↪️ NO new superwash knitting yarns!
  Q2 I bought a gnome kit in superwash 4 ply, not realising the same dyer had kits in non-superwash, which is frustrating. But it is only 80g/322m.
• ↪️ Contain my stash and have no overflow containers or bags!!

Just 80g of superwash bought is almost a win, next year I’ll achieve it!

Oops, I still have overflow, no matter how much I try to squeeze in my Kallax and rainbow drawers. I’ll carry this one forward again!!

Crochet

• ✅ Bowl and plant pot cover kit (included base and Bobbiny cotton rope yarn). Started week 5, finished week 6.

If I see these for sale again at a craft fair I’ll definitely buy another kit. Highly recommend. It was bought from LilyK but I notice her online shop is now closed.

Dyeing

• ↪️ Dye more locks for fairies’ hair.
• ‼️ Dye a gradient in fibre to then spin to make the Alaska hat! I have an Alaska hat with other yarn now.
• ⏸️ Dye fibre for lampshades as and when required (rather than buying) On hold – I have so much fibre from a friend and in my stash I won’t need more until YOP14.
• ⏸️ Dye undyed fibre in stash to use for future spinning project. On hold

At the moment I have enough dyed locks to keep me going, I’ll carry it forward again. The others remain on hold.

Felting

• ↪️✳️ Needle felted Ylva (Started YOP9!).
• ↪️✳️ Make a handbag using the felting ball (Started YOP11 week 24 fibres weighed and test felt)
• Pictures and products to sell/gift:
  • ✳️ Fairies – Oct x 1, Dec x 9
  • ✅ Tomte – Oct x 2, Dec x 4
  • ✅ Lampshades 20cm – Jan x 2, Mar x 6, Jun x 2
  • ✅ Lampshades 25cm – May x 3
  • ✅ Lampshades 35cm – June x 1
  • Lampshades 40cm – no requests received for this size
  • ✅ Baubles – Mar x 6, June x 8
  • ✅ Wreaths – Mar x 1
• Waste paper bin for living room
• Sewing bin for sunroom
• ↪️✳️⏸️ Needle felted Highland Cow (Started YOP9!) On hold
• ↪️⏸️ Make plant pot covers On hold

My felting has been a bit hit and miss these last 12 months. I really should finish making Ylva, our dog, as she is nearly 100 in human years and she’s my model for it! The handbag I have everything I need to make it and it was all measured out 2 year’s ago! What stops me? I don’t actually use the handbags I already have!! I’ll be carrying most things forward to YOP14.

Fibre Prep

✅ If I haven’t washed these by end of 2023 then compost them or use as mulch over winter. 

• ↪️ ‼️Finish washing BFL/Shetland X (from Katharine) started washing and using it YOP 9.
• ↪️ ‼️Finish washing Shetland X (from Serena) started washing YOP11 week 1

1st March 2024 the leftovers were moved into one of my compost bins. I sometimes think I should have tried harder, but I’d already taken the best bits. I discovered this week that Serena, who’d given me one of the fleeces, was a sister of Pink Floyd’s drummer! She recently passed away and our Guild’s annual magazine had some lovely memories shared of her. I must do something next year with all the best bits of the fleece that I did wash years ago.

Knitting

Jumpers/cardigans

• Knit 3 garments, ideas below:
  • ✅ Selfish Pullover by Sweater Freak in New Lanark Chunky yarn in Denim/Sky. Started week 1, finished week 5. Neck adjusted week 20.
  • ↪️✅ Fern & Feather by Jennifer Steingass in hand-dyed Shetland Aran New Lanark Aran in Blueberry/Verona. Started week 13, finished week 20.
  • 🐸 Turtle Dove II by Espace Tricot using some Shetland Aran weight I dyed started week 26. Frogged week 31, I didn’t like the drape…or lack of drape.
  • ✳ Another garment using yarn in stash. Possibly another Jennifer Steingass pattern Avena using existing greens in stash or Goldenfern with Jamieson’s of Shetland. Started Avena week 35 using New Lanark Aran in Verona and New Natural colour.
  • ✳️ Quick Sand by Heidi Kirrmaier in Drops linen/cotton. (Started week 53).

I think if I hadn’t decided to knit a blanket (and so many gnomes) I could have finished 3 items. As it is, Avena I have ripped back the German short rows to the emergency lifeline I’d put in just before them. I did the yoke with larger needles as I usually go up size in colour-work. I still have some concerns about how the yoke is lying and I’m going to block it and then decide what needle for the body. If it still doesn’t lie right I’m not sure what I’ll do then.

In the meantime I’ve cast on new Quick Sand cardigan.

Shawls

• ↪️ A summer weight shawl (maybe Estuary by Tin Can Knits)
• ⏸️ Shawl using Rowan DK merino/alpaca yarn. (Possibly a 2nd Void) On hold, but may use yarn for a cardigan instead.

A shawl just wasn’t a priority for me this year, I have some I rarely wear and so my priorities changed. I’ll carry forward a summer weight one though.

Socks

• Knit more pairs of these socks with stashed yarn:
  • Rose City Rollers (RCR) by Mara Catherine Bryner.
    • 1️⃣✅ using self striping I dyed YOP11 week 22. Started and finished week 7.
  • Deb’s Super Simple DK Socks
    • 2️⃣✅ using Ripples Crafts Doubly Reliable sock yarn in Was That a Kingfisher? Started week 24 and finished week 25.
  • Hermione’s Everyday Socks by Erica Lauder
    • 3️⃣✅ using WYS Signature 4 ply in Hidden Gem. Started week 32, finished week 52.
  • ‼️ Try a toe up pattern (possibly Toe Up Socks With a Difference by Wendy D Johnson) Happy just doing cuff down socks. ‼️
  • Try a new DK pattern

I love seeing everyone else knitting lots of different sock patterns, I’m quite happy re-knitting these 3 indefinitely, but may still look out another DK sock pattern.

Accessories

• Knit using existing stashed yarn or handspun only:
  • ✅ Alaska hat in handspun yarn from gradient I will dye. Colour-work hat using Isager Yarn Jensen leftovers in 26/101. I decided to do the Alaska hat with this yarn so combined 2 list items into 1. Started week 9, finished week 10.
  • Make 2nd Mostly Warmness cowl and cuff set by Martina Behm using Ripples Crafts Suilven (merino/yak/silk) yarn in Oh My!.
    • ✅ Cowl started week 10, finished week 12.
    • 🐸 Mittens started week 13, frogged week 19 (too tight).
  • ✅ Fisherman’s rib cowl by Merce Mitchell, using Rowan Brushed Fleece yarn in Nook. Started week 15, finished week 16.
  • 🆕️✅ Bisbis Beret by Sari Nordlund, using CaMaRose Midnatssol lace in Bordeaux and John Arbon Yarnadellic sport in Canto De Ossanha. Started and finished week 21.
  • 🆕✅ Carmel Beanie by Aspen Leaf Knits, using Bluebell Yarns Texel chunky in Berry Splash/Black Grape. Started week 30 and finished week 31.
  • 🆕✅ Just Wiggle It cowl by Sarah Ashcroft using handspun merino/alpaca blend. Started and finished week 34.
  • 🆕✅ Bisbis Beret by Sari Nordlund using handspun merino/alpaca. Started and finished week 34,
  • ✳️ Pinwheel Mittens by Ella Austin using kit from Loop London containing Isager Highland lace yarn in Sand/Denim. Started week 22, first mitten finished week 37.
  • ↪️ A colour-work project using Black Isle yarns Gotland wool
  • The Shift by Andrea Mowry, make a second version in different colours of handspun….maybe using baby camel and silk advent!
  • Make husband something with green New Lanark yarn.
  • ⏸️ Shrug & More by Martina Behm in existing stash or handspun. On hold

The main aim in this section was to use existing yarn or handspun, well some was brand new yarn …hey ho! I was probably being unrealistic, new yarn brings inspiration. My red Bisbis beret is my favourite.

Other/household

• ↪️✅ Habitation Throw by Helen Stewart using scrap 4 ply. Started YOP 10 week 45, finished week 12
• 🆕️✅ Snow Matter What (Mystery Gnome KAL) (Mr Gnightley and Sgnome-man) by Sarah Schira, using Lamington Lass Highland Peruvian in Brer Fox and British BFL in Snowflakes, Berry, Grass and Fractured Obsidian 4 ply yarns. Started week 23, finished week 26.
• 🆕✅ Mini Sock Yarn Sweater by Janet McMahon, using scrap 4 ply from a swap with Ali. Started and finished week 26.
• 🆕️✅ All Work, Gnome Play (Gnorwen) by Sarah Schira, using Lamington Lass Highland Peruvian 4 ply, in Beware the Jade Dragon, Pewter and Snowflakes. Started week 36, finished week 37.
• 🆕✅ Gansey Afghan by Lena Skvagerson, using Isle of Auskerry Aran yarn (North Ronaldsay wool) in Seal/Slate. Started week 28, finished week 40.
• 🆕️✅ Gnome-Made Gifts (Gnova) by Sarah Schira, using Lamington Lass Highland Peruvian 4 ply, in Orchid, Violent Violet, Pewter, Fractured Obsidian and Snowflakes. Started and finished week 41.
• ↪️✅ Dish cloths. 1️⃣✅ Waffle dishcloth by Debbie Andriulli, using Lily Sugar’n Cream in Swimming Pool week 10. 2️⃣✅ Another Waffle dishcloth, same yarn but Holly Jolly prints colour started and finished week 44. 3️⃣✅ another Holly Jolly waffle knit, started around week 48, finished week 53.
• 🆕✅ Gnome Is Where You Hang Your Hat? (Gnemo) by Sarah Schira, in Lamington Lass Highland Peruvian 4 ply, in Snowflakes, Brer Fox and Ocean Blue. Started week 42, finished week 53.
• ⏸️ Knit breed samples into squares. On hold

At the beginning of YOP13 there were only 3 items here, so I’ve been a little distracted by new patterns and knit-alongs. I am pretty impressed I finished a blanket and then knitted another one! The gnomes are addictive, and I finished one (Gnemo) this week. I also finished a dish cloth this week too.

Painting & Drawing

• Look for a painting group to join and if I don’t or don’t enjoy it declutter painting equipment.
• ↪️ Do a new watercolour painting (carried forward from YOP 11 and then 12)
• ↪️ Do a new pastel drawing (carried forward from YOP 12)

Hmmm 🤔 well I still can’t bring myself to declutter all my painting/drawing supplies…despite another year having gone by with nothing painted or drawn. I’m going to carry this forward to next YOP year I think.

Sewing

• ↪️ Make trousers with fabric in stash
• Sew something with handwoven material
• ↪️⏸️ Make play suit/jumpsuit with fabric in stash On hold

Hmmm 🤔 okay another neglected area and carried forward items still not done. I really would like to give sewing another go, so I’ll carry these forward.

Spinning

• ✅ Take part in Tour de Fleece. I didn’t do as much as planned during 2023 TDF, but I did spin during the calls and when we met up for a team lunch.
• ✅ Spin alpaca/merino fibre colour sets. Started week 21 on Ashford Traveller, finished week 26.
• ✅ Spin Shetland fibre I dyed purple. Started week 22 on Nano 2, finished on Traditional week 28.
• 🆕✅ Nature’s Cuddle (merino, llama, yak, silk) I dyed. Started on Traveller week 34, finished on Traditional week 35.
• 🆕✅ John Arbon Devonia in Nightshade (50% Exmoor Blueface, 30% BFL, 20% Wensleydale). Started on Traveller week 34, finished on Traditional week 35.
• 🆕‼️World of Wool Candytuft blend (37.5% merino, 25% flax, 25% tussah silk, 12.5% muga silk). Started on Traveller week 35. It is painful to spin and so I have abandoned this idea and will felt the fibre instead.
• ↪️✅ Spin 2021 baby camel and silk advent fibres (Started YOP 12 week 28) Ashford Traveller and Nano (and some plying done on Ashford Traditional).  Finished week 46.
• ‼️ Spin yarn for Alaska hat I have an Alaska hat with other yarn.
• ↪️✳️ Finish spinning 25g breed project (Started YOP10) During YOP13 I’ve spun Charollais, Cheviot (black), Coopworth, Icelandic, Jacob, Lleyn, Lonk, Welsh Mountain.

Well I think spinning has perhaps been my most successful non-knitting craft this year. 8 breeds spun towards my breed project; I finished the baby camel and silk advent mini skeins I’d started in YOP12; I also spun the merino/alpaca set and knitted two projects with it. I still prefer spinning with others and I am having more spin calls and meetings these days.

TDF 2024 has just started, I’ll cover that in next year’s list.

Weaving

Rigid heddle loom

• ✅ Make a woven project using handspun yarns. Scarf woven with handspun Rambouillet held together with handspun yak/silk. Started and finished week 18.
• ↪️✳️ Make a patterned shawl with WYS Exquisite in Belgravia/Rose merino/silk yarn. ✅ Diamond stripe sample started week 40 and finished week 41. I think I’ll be weaving a different pattern with it.
• Make a selection of hand/dish towels
• Weave with new cotton from Sara
• ⏸️ Midnight Shawl by Kelly Casanova (On hold)

Inkle loom

• Make some inkle bands from the book my sister gave me
  • ↪️✅ Monk’s belt sample (started YOP 12 week 22 finished week 14)
• ↪️ Make a Minion inkle tablet weaving band
• ↪️⏸️ Try another tablet card weaving pattern. On hold

Tapestry

• ✅ Try a new tapestry weaving using wool pack from Kincraig At the end of Q3 I crossed this out and wrote “I’m not sure if this is abandoned or just on hold.”  Well I gave it a go and enjoyed it and made little pictures with the wools from Kincraig week 43 and week 44.

This has been the area I am most disappointed in, really I’ve just made one item and the rest are samples. Next YOP year I would really like to get into a regular weaving routine.

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Goodness me, if you’ve got this far well done for sticking with my waffle. Overall I am happy with what I’ve achieved in the last 12 months. Some areas have been neglected but I will try to make a concerted effort to find time for those crafts too. My list for YOP14 is enormous, but it’s something to aim for and hopefully no-one is judging me on how I did or will do. That’s not what this group is for. I’ll be talking more about the new list next week.

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Other News

My neighbour and I have been getting out for a walk most days, and I walked to work on Monday too. Summer showed up that day 22°C/71°F and I broke out in prickly heat!! Then it’s gone cool again. Looks like the next few weeks will be low to mid-teens (high 50s/low 60sF). It’s certainly more comfortable walking to and from work when it’s cooler. It being so cold makes me wonder why bother saving to extend the patio though.

I went shopping for an outfit to a casual-ish woodland wedding in a couple of weeks. The long range forecast shows it as wet and cold. I may end up wearing thermal long johns under my ankle length dress as it’s outdoors all day and evening and looking at a high around 14°C/57F. Fingers crossed the forecast will improve. They’ve said bring a hoodie and a blanket for the evening, so I’ll be prepared with many layers.

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This is a Year of Projects post. Officially the Group has just finished its 13th year, but this was my 6th year participating. Click on the link if you would like to find out more about the Year of Projects Group on Ravelry, as you’d be very welcome to join us. Year 14 starts next week, so it’s a perfect time to join us if you’d like.

Year 13 list.