Year of Projects 2022: Week 52

I’ve got a few things finished up this week so I’m mostly planning on focusing on my advent box blanket projects.

I finished up the 3 Leaves socks I’ve been working on. The design is by Paula Pereira and was originally in Laine’s 52 Weeks of Socks book (but can be purchased separately on Ravelry as a PDF now). It features a lot of twisted stitches and a bit of lace. The pattern is written toe-up, which is not my favorite but definitely works best with the charts. It is charted with a distinct right and left version, where the motifs are mirrored. I substituted in a Fish Lips Kiss heel on mine. They are a wee bit shorter than I like for the leg, but I felt like adding another full repeat to work out correctly with the chart (and was another 20+ rounds) would make it too long, so I kept it as is. The circumference, however, could be easily modified from the current “medium” and “large” stitch counts as the backs and sides are all stockinette. I used West Yorkshire Spinners’ Signature 4-ply in the color Pacific.

I also finished up the Musselburgh Hat I have been knitting for my husband. This is such a great basic pattern – despite having knit 2 in the last 2 months, I predict more of these in the future. (Design is by Ysolda Teague.) I used Sweet Sparrow Yarns Owl base (SW merino and yak) in the Changeling colorway for the exterior and Wooly Wonka Fibers Aerten Sock (SW merino, cashmere, nylon) in the Forest Primeval color for the lining. My husband wanted it pretty deep so he could have a wide fold-up brim to cover his ears, so I knit it per his request. It’s VERY warm and I hope it will be a good addition to his cold-weather gear to take to Yellowstone in January.

The advent blanket continues on. I am using the Quiet Voices advent box of miniskeins of sock yarn from Suburban Stitcher from this year. I’m using a somewhat modified version of Bear’s Rainbow Blanket (a freebie from Purl Soho). I’m using sock yarn, but holding it double to get the most of out each mini. I can get 2 blanket squares from each mini with just a couple of yards left over. I am also doing one of the 2 written border rounds using an undyed/off-white sock yarn, also held double. I decided on a zigzag attachment technique which I really like. It retains some stretchiness so it doesn’t pull in at all and I think blends nicely with the rest of the border stitches. Here’s my progress through December 21st.

Only minimal progress on my Xmas cross-stitch this week, but I’m hoping to get a few stitches put into it today and tomorrow and then I’ll switch to my new start. I’ll post photos of that next week, when we’ll be changing over to 2023!

I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday celebrations and I’m looking forward to the new year with you all!

Happy Holidays!