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Name: Kaitlyn

Date: April 23

Current Location: New York City, NY

Hey all!

Welp, it finally happened. I missed a post ☹️

I know you were all devastated when the entire month of March passed without a single peep from me, but rest easy, dear reader(s)! I have not forsaken you!

March was a rough month for me. I ended up in the hospital again, had a couple of major work projects weighing on me, and attended the funeral of a family friend. I also celebrated my birthday, which is always a rough time for me, although I actually had fun this year, so that was nice.

I did head back up to New York this past month, though for a decidedly less-fun adventure. Work trips, am I right? I spent a few days assisting at an event for a client, but I did manage to squeeze in a trip to Knitty City, a truly delightful local yarn shop on NYC’s west side.

I bought some beautiful rainbow sock yarn that I can’t wait to play with, and some spectacularly soft merino wool that I’m going to use for an ear warmer!

Completed Projects:

Tree of Life Afghan

It’s done! I’m really happy with how this one turned out, and I enjoyed working with a new technique to get the raised detailing to make the tree panels.

Not sure when this one will be off to its new home, but I hope the recipients like it!

Current Projects:

Fancy Yellow Socks

The Flying Arrows sock pattern from Helen Waittes

I was so sick of these that I haven’t been working on them much, but I’m creeping along towards the toe. Undecided if there will be a second sock.

Tunisian Holiday Sampler

I finally finished the square that I hated, and have completed several more!

I still have a few more to go, and several other colors to incorporate before this one is finished.

My First Sweater

I have officially CAST ON A SWEATER! I am LEVELLING UP as a knitter!

This is the Flax Sweater from Tin Can Knits. They are the same folks who provided my very first sock pattern, and they had such clear instructions and so many helpful videos, that I went back again to use their beginner sweater pattern.

I will admit that I have committed the cardinal sin of not swatching for this project, so I don’t actually know if this will end up fitting me. As it’s my very first sweater project, I’ll be honest: I don’t really care how it looks on me, so long as I get through it and it looks like a sweater at the end of it all.

Up Next:

Hanging out in the DMV for most of the summer, but might head north to visit my hometown when the summer weather hits truly disgusting levels in July/August.

See you all next time! ❤

Name: Kaitlyn

Date: February 25

Current Location: New York City, NY

Hey all!

I spent the beginning of the month in New York for a dear friend’s birthday, and then hung out in NYC for a couple of days on my way home. No yarn-specific adventures, unfortunately, although I did visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art (the fashion wing was closed, damn it!). There was, however, a fantastic exhibition of Japanese kimonos with some seriously impressive embroidery on display.

My other highlights include Central Park, which was lovely despite the cold, and I enjoyed getting to walk so much. I also visited THE STRAND!! 😍😍😍 SO MANY BOOKS! I feel as though I’ve failed, as I didn’t buy any knit, crochet, or yarn-specific items. I did buy two Spanish-language books to practice with, though.

Current Projects:

Tree of Life Afghan

FLASHBACK TO JANUARY: “Check out how large this one has gotten! I’m on the second tree panel, and I hope to have this one finished and squared away by the end of February so I can get started on a new afghan.”

…Yeah, that didn’t happen. Between travel and work this month, I’ve hardly made any progress on this one (2-3 rows, I think?). Maybe March will be better, lol!

Fancy Yellow Socks

The Flying Arrows sock pattern from Helen Waittes

These socks have ended up being the bane of my existence. The instructions for the heel are so convoluted, that I’ve done the heel section and ripped it back 3 times, and I’ve ended up just using the heel instructions for my first pair of socks I worked on last year. It also took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out that these are being knit inside out, and I had to adjust the heel to accommodate for that. I am now (*knock on wood*) through the heel bit, and moving on to the foot of the sock.

Tunisian Holiday Sampler [link https://tlycblog.com/tunisian-holiday-sampler-blanket-links/%5D

Working on a new square, but I’ve been dragging my feet because I really don’t like this particular stitch (smock stitch). It’s tedious and I’m not a huge fan of how it looks.

The good news is the squares aren’t too big, so once I’m done with this one, I can move along to another stitch and forget this one ever happened!

Up Next:

I’m headed back up to New York City at the end of March for work, but have no other major travel plans. I’m still trying to recover financially from my health issues last year, but I may get a few trips in this summer and in the fall.

I hope you’re all feeling the love this February!

See you all next time! ❤

Name: Kaitlyn

Date: January 31

Current Location: Bethesda, MD

Happy New Year, All!

January has been a hell of a ride, and not what I expected.

I always start the year with grand plans, goals, resolutions, and ambition. Usually this lasts for only a few months before life gets in the way and I resume my usual mediocrity, however this year I was stopped cold by COVID. Again.

Nearly one year to the day from my first infection, I got COVID again. We suspect our New Year’s outing. That really cut into my momentum, but it was a mild infection and I was soon on my feet again and ready to go!

I attended the WEBS Winter Knitting Retreat mid-month, which was the first knitting retreat I’ve ever attended. The classes were very fun and interesting, and I learned a number of new skills that I can’t wait to try. I also won a free cardigan pattern from one of the sponsors, along with the requisite yarn to make it. I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

The other major bonus from the retreat was the goody bag we got ahead of time – a free pattern, and a number of free skeins of yarn!

Mostly I found the retreat very inspiring. I’m planning to make my first attempt at a sweater this year – I’ve got the yarn for it, I just need to pick up large enough needles to get it cast on, and I’ll be good to go.

Current Projects:

Tree of Life Afghan

Check out how large this one has gotten! I’m on the second tree panel, and I hope to have this one finished and squared away by the end of February so I can get started on a new afghan.

Fancy Yellow Socks

The Flying Arrows sock pattern from Helen Waittes using the lovely yellow ducky yarn I got from my San Antonio trip.

I’d originally cast this on to work on during my Seattle trip as it’s small and easy to carry around, but that didn’t work out, so I’ve been knitting away at it during my usual evening hours watching tv.

Tunisian Holiday Sampler

This kit from TL Yarncrafts and Lionbrand is a few years old – it came out for the 2020 holiday season, if I recall correctly, but was in such high demand that it took me several months to get a hold of it as the yarn was continually out of stock. I finally snagged it mid-2021, and have only just gotten started on the first few squares starting in December.

This afghan has 20 squares working on 20 different Tunisian Crochet techniques, which are joined together to make one large, lovely, and festive afghan!

I’m really enjoying this one. The squares are large enough to give me practice on the different stitches and techniques, but don’t drag out so long as to bore me. I’m looking forward to stitching this one together to see the final result!

Up Next:

I’m going to visit a friend up in New York for her birthday, and I’m planning an extra day in the city to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art! Keep an eye out for photos of my trip next month!

I hope your year has gotten off to a roaring start!

See you all next time! ❤

Name: Kaitlyn

Date: December 28

Current Location: Bethesda, MD

Literally nothing in my life has gone to plan this year, so I’m not sure why I thought December would be any different.

Weather cancelled my trip to Seattle to see my family for the holidays, so I stayed home. Alone. Which sucked. But I also got to just kick my feet up, relax, and knit and crochet while I marathon-ed my way through Doctor Who, Witcher: Blood Origins, BBC’s Pride and Prejudice, and Anne of Green Gables. So, really, who’s the winner here?

Anyway, I just wanted to wish all of you a very happy new year! I hope you’re enjoying time with your families and friends, keeping warm (or cool, for my folks south of the equator!), and settling yourselves before the new year.

All my love and wishing you happiness in the new year!

See you all next time! ❤

Name: Kaitlyn

Date: December 18

Current Location: Bethesda, MD

I’ve gotten so many projects done this year, you guys, I barely even know what to do with myself. I’m used to spending (literally) YEARS on large projects like blankets, and I’ve focused on a larger number of smaller projects in the last 12 months, so I’ve completed a lot more.

I feel so accomplished!

Finished Projects:

Crochet Scarf (The V Scarf from Naztazia)

This one has been technically “done” for over a year, but I was too lazy to get around to blocking it. I actually worked on this one when I went to Ocean City for a few days in 2020 on my grand hunt to find a COVID vaccine! I finally did a weekend of blocking all my shawls over Thanksgiving, and I’m really happy with the end result!

Hotyka Shawl

Ends woven in, blocked, and fully complete! I was a little hesitant about this yarn when it arrived (The La Jolla collection from Sewrella) as it felt a little rough to me, but once I started working with it, it softened right up and I love the finished product!

Current Projects:

Tree of Life Afghan

Still going! I stopped including it in the update section for a while since I wasn’t making an progress on it due to me focusing on a lot of other projects, but I’ve wrapped up the others and this one is full steam ahead! This one was a bit of a pain at the beginning, but once I got the hang of the pattern and the diagonal front- and back-post double crochets, I’ve been breezing right through it!

I love the way the tree panel looks, and I can’t want to finish up the flower panel I’m working on now! I think this one is going to look great when I’m done!

Advent Calendar Christmas Cowl

My Christmas present to myself was a yarn advent calendar. I’d heard of these, but had never tried one before, and I am really enjoying myself! The calendar comes with the pattern, needles, and little bits of yarn to do ~12 rows per day to finish a cowl by Christmas! I’m a little over halfway through, and am having a blast!

I’m definitely doing another one next year!

Up Next:

Heading out to Seattle next week to see the fam, then I’m home again until February, when I’ll make a quick hop up to New York for a few days to help a friend celebrate her birthday. I have my beautiful yellow sock yarn that I think I’ll cast on for a smaller, travel-friendly project in Seattle, so keep an eye out for photos!

See you all next time! ❤

Name: Kaitlyn

Date: November 17

Current Location: San Antonio, TX

I saw the Alamo.

No, really. The actual Alamo!

I was just in San Antonio for a professional conference, and there was SO MUCH GOOD FOOD!! I was mostly in the downtown Riverwalk area, but I did take a quick side trip to a local yarn store, and then the antique store next door which had loads of yarn (and also an entire section dedicated to 90’s good, which I find deeply offensive).

I picked up some lovely, soft yellow yarn that will be saved for my next attempt at socks, and some squishy, sparkly yarn I’m going to use for a braided ear warmer pattern!

I also ran my first 5k last weekend! Not particularly fast, but it still got done, lol.

I have (HOPEFULLY) wrapped up my medical problems for the foreseeable future, although it leaves me in a great deal of debt. I may need to be selective about my travel for the next few months.

Finished Projects:

Weaving

I completely forgot to add photos of my towel and damask sample last month, so here are the other samples of my weaving from Massachusetts! Tragically, I’d already washed them both, so they are quite wrinkly, but you can see the patterning very well, and there’s a close-up of the ribbon I wove for a hanger on the towel.

I also just wrapped up another weaving class at The Art League, and had some fun experimenting with colors and texture

Wedding Shawl in Burnish from Purl Soho

Ends woven in, blocked, and fully complete!

Current Projects:

Hotyka Shawl

Up Next:

No big trips planned for the rest of this year, but I’ll be making one last trip out west to see the fam for Christmas in Seattle. I have a quick jaunt up to New York planned for February to visit a friend on their birthday, and there’s also potential for Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and France next year!

See you all next time! ❤

Name: Kaitlyn

Date: October 21

Current Location: Shelburne Falls, MA

Oy, the last few months have been a beast! Work was a rolling disaster throughout September, and it won’t truly let up as the fall deadlines start rolling one after another. Oy.

Health updates: I spent 2 ½ months on some medication that require me to not eat anything I truly love (sugary, deep fried, or alcoholic 😭 ), so I sulked quite a bit about eating “boring” foods. I just finished that, so I’m back to all my unhealthy favorites, lol!

I also had a surgery earlier this month that will hopefully solve a large number of my health problems. Now I just need to finish healing and get back in shape, and I should be good (fingers crossed!).

Biggest craft news: I spent the first week of October in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts at the Vävstuga Weaving School where I learned to dress a floor loom in the Swedish fashion, and wove a blanket a small damask sample, a towel, and a ribbon tag for the towel.

This was one of the best weeks I’ve had in a long time – it was quiet, peaceful, and I got to devote myself entirely to my craft. I’m already planning my next trip back for another one of their week-long sessions! My full plan is to attend their 8-week immersion course, but that may have to wait until the year after next. I’m trapped in medical debt for the foreseeable future, and I’ve already got plans for my travels next year, so Massachusetts may have to wait.

Finished Projects:

Weaving

Behold, my blanket!

Due to supply chain issues, we didn’t get to pick our own colors, but the palette turned out ok anyway. I was very suspicious of the colors initially, but I suppose I should have trusted the yarns selected by the professional, lol!

Current Projects:

Wedding Shawl in Burnish from Purl Soho

So, this one is technically ALMOST DONE!! It is -not quite- there, yet. I still need to weave in the ends and block it so it looks nicer, but it is OFF THE NEEDLES!!

Up Next:

October is nearly over, and November is around the corner! I may be picking up another client, I’m in another weaving class, and I started a new shawl during my Massachusetts sojourn.

I’m heading for Texas next, so keep an eye out for more pictures!

See you all next time! ❤

Name: Kaitlyn

Date: August 31

Current Location: Bethesda, MD

It’s been a month! Work has been a rolling disaster with all of the state grants I’ve had to do, and it won’t truly let up until next week. Then, I’ll get a week or two to breathe before the fall deadlines start rolling one after another. Oy.

My health is doing ok, which is a relief. I’m on some medication right now that requires me to not eat anything I truly love (sugary, deep fried, or alcoholic 😭 ), so I’ve been pretty grouchy about eating “boring” foods. It’s only for another month or so, though. I’ll live, I just won’t be happy about it!

Finished Projects:

Weaving

Behold, my fabulous scarf/table runner!

I had so much fun in this class – the loom was a pain to warp, but such fun to weave on! Our instructor gave us a number of different patterns to try out, but I fell in love with one called the Rose Treadling Path, and just kept doing that one over and over again in different colors.

…now I want a loom of my own. My roommate is going to kill me O.O

Snowflake

I make another little snowflake this month! They’re such fun to crochet, and work up quite quickly. Be sure to let me know if you want one this year!

Current Projects:

Wedding Shawl in Burnish from Purl Soho

I’m happy to see tremendous progress on this project. Now that I’m no longer occupied with the mosaic blanket in the evenings, this has been my main focus, and it’s showing! I’ve added probably a foot to this over the last month, and switched to the second ball of yarn. I have 3 balls, so I’m not sure how long it will be when it’s finally done… Several feet at least, I would think.

I want it to be long and draped – I’ve made scarves in the past that were just TOO short, and they were a bit worthless. I may err on the side of caution and go into ball 3, just to make sure it’s long enough.

Up Next:

September is shaping up to be a busy month. I have a potential new client coming onboard for grant writing, and I’ve decided to train for a 5K in November (we’ll see if I survive!).

See you all next time! ❤

Name: Kaitlyn

Date: May 31

Current Location: Alexandria, VA

We had beautiful Spring weather here in the DMV for a hot second, then it flirted with cold and rainy terribleness for a while, then we dove straight into a hot and painfully humid summer.

This month has been crazy, and while I didn’t get nearly as much done on my fiber projects as I would have hoped, I did hit a few milestones, including FINISHING A SOCK!!! and crafting a weaving project.

Work has been super busy – I’m a freelance grant writer, so how much work I have depends on the time of year – May is a little bit nuts for deadlines, but it should calm down a bit over the summer while everyone’s off on vacation before picking up again in the fall.

Updates: My health has stabilized, and I’ve set up payment plans to sort out my finances. I’m just going to be very broke for a while.

But I digress. Let’s move on to FIBER CRAFTS!

Current Projects:

Weaving

LOOK! I MADE A THING!!

This is my sample cloth, which starts with tapestry techniques before moving into what’s called ‘plain weave’, which is a looser weave used for towels, scarves, and other daily use items. I’ve practiced a number of lace techniques, with varying degrees of success, and the bit at the top (pink/purple/red) is called hatching, which might be my favorite!

I really enjoy the tapestry style of weaving, but I’m not sure I have the creative juices to ever come up with a unique piece of art. I’ve considered picking a piece of art to use as a base, and interpreting it through a tapestry. I think I’ll need more practice before I can make that happen, though.

Ryelight Socks from Tincan Knits

BEHOLD! I HAVE MADE A SOCK!!!!

Objectively, it’s not a great sock, it’s true, but for my first attempt, I am very pleased with it!

…now to do the other one.

Wedding Shawl in Burnish from Purl Soho

No big progress on this one. Between work and focusing on weaving, I haven’t made much progress this month.

Up Next:

Not a lot going on in June for me – I’ve signed up for another session of weaving classes, but with my medical and tax bills, I don’t have a lot of wiggle room in the budget for travel at the moment. I may be visiting family up near Boston over the summer, and I’ll be going to Massachusetts and Texas in October for craft- and work-related trips, respectively, so I have that to look forward to.

Stay happy! Stay healthy!