Month: April 2025

Finished Objects and more projects needed.

I recently watched a podcast where they had had Stephen West as a guest and he said he needs 10 projects on the go at all times. The podcaster was a bit gob smacked by that.

I had an ah-ha moment. No wonder I’m struggling, not enough projects! The monogamous sleeve knitting got to me big time. So I’ve been busy on several small projects and am also getting ready to do another sweater, or maybe two, ha, ha.

My Twelve-Point Circular Yoke in Hempton by Hemp for Knitting is done. It’s only barely spring here. Congrats to me on getting it done before the summer. It’s still not warm enough here to wear it.

You’ll notice there is a flaw part way down on the body. Totally my fault. It is the resting round where I left it for several weeks and that round is loose. I should have taken that round back and reknit it. My bad.

I finished the first of my pair of the Aert Mitts by Gudrun Johnston in Waxwing wool, a rustic fingering weight wool. Total enjoyed it but decided on the second one to reverse the centre section colours, just for fun.

I’m not sure which one I like better yet.

I finished my rendition of the Mermaid Avenue Socks by Summer Lee. I loved the stitch pattern fish scales. I didn’t knit these socks according to the pattern. I knit them toe up with a short row heel, so except for the scales, they aren’t really the same socks.

I am working on an idea for Any Gauge Toe Up Socks with a Short Row Heel, nice pattern name – Not. These were my first try and it seems to work. I need more socks to try this idea out on.

I also finished by Windward scarf. It does not photograph well. It’s an intriguing pattern which I have knit 4 times and would totally do it again.

The mitts are almost done. I’ve cast on another pair of socks. But where are my 10 projects?

I’ve picked up an old project to finish.

I mostly knit for myself and know exactly how I like things to fit. This is the Slanting Slip-On top which I’m knitting for my daughter. I started last spring. I made some incorrect assumptions about her size and had to rip quite a bit of this back and reknit the bottom section again. This always slows me down. Things can sit in the time-out corner for a long time. This one did.

I decided to go up a needle size to make the hips wider, you can see where. I don’t think when it’s worn this will matter. I have 2 more inches to go. She loves the feel of it and wants to wear it as soon as I get it done. I did this in Summer Silk by Shelridge Yarns at a totally different gauge than the pattern, of course. If you’ve followed me for a bit you know this is my usual struggle. So many, many modifications to get it to fit: gauge change, shorter arm depth and exact size requested – not negative ease as in pattern. Two more inches to go.

I don’t think I’ve ever had this many finished or almost finished objects!

I cast on the Shima mini Shawl by Beatricemase Designs.

I was intrigued by the centre spine where you knit with all three colours. I’m not very far along yet.

This pattern is for people who like to tick off rows as they knit. I am not a row-ticker so finding it a little weird but if you are, this is the pattern for you.

Stitch counts at every set of rows are very reassuring.

Now I am looking around for a couple more projects because this is not nearly enough! Cheers, Deb

Any Gauge and Gauge-Free patterns by Deb

Debgemmell435 on Youtube

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Small Projects

I’m always in a rush to finish. Why the rush? I have no idea. I don’t like to do the actual finishing, as in sewing in ends and sewing on buttons, etc. So why the rush to get there?!

I am trying to enjoy the journey, which I do while actually knitting, it’s the in-between times that are the problem.

So here I am trying to enjoy knitting a bit on each of these projects.

First up is the Mermaid Avenue Socks by Summer Lee. It is cuff down with a flap heel. So, of course, I am knitting it toe up with a short row heel!

Even though the stitch pattern from her pattern is upside down, they still look like scales to me, so all good.

To continue my colour knitting I’m working on the Aert Mitts by Gudrun Johnston.

As you can see I didn’t do a good job of choosing colours. The blue is way too pale and the pattern can’t be seen. These are my colours. All fairly bright except for that blue.

I’m going to rip it back and substitute the navy for the pale blue. You agree?

Next is the Windward scarf by Heidi Kirrmaier. This was tv knitting for me so I’m much further ahead. You do have to pay attention at the edge of each triangle or parallelogram, but there is an excellent written chart for that. Here’s how the middle section is worked. Amazing, eh?

Working a little bit each day will get me there. No rush!

Cheers, Deb

Any Gauge and Gauge-Free patterns by Deb

deb.gemmell on instagram

debgemmell435 on youtube

Is it time to cast on yet?

I am really close to having all 3 circular yoke sweaters finished. Note to self: Self, pay attention, 3 sweaters at the same time is 1 too many!!! Unfortunately, I never listen, sigh.

The first prototype of the Twelve-Point Circular Yoke is done. The pattern is written and Free to you. Knit it in any gauge of yarn you like. This was a deep dive into old stash to find this DK wool/mohair blend yarn from Wellington Fibres.

Today I wore it on my podcast. If you have some time check it out.

I am almost finished the second Twelve-Point Circular Yoke in Hempton, a cotton/hemp blend DK weight yarn by Hemp for Knitting. I have 5″ to knit on the body and then a cuff on the sleeves for a summer short sleeve version. Summer is coming and I will be ready!

The Lunenburg is done too. I knit it in Durasport by Briggs and Little. I washed it last night so it’s still damp but look… finished. Just in time. Spring is here and this will be perfect to wear with a down vest. Come on weather, just a little warmer please.

I was also knitting a blanket for a break from the sweaters and it’s almost done too! This is the Puzzle Pillow Blanket by Meg Swansen. It’s done with short rows and is a modular knit. I added another section at the side to make it wider. I worked it with one solid fingering weight yarn and one variegated yarn held together on a 5.0mm needle. I used the russian join to attach each new small ball of yarn as I went, a new different coloured solid joined to the old solid and a new variegated to the old variegated. Not especially systematic but I’m pretty happy with it. Just a little more to go on the top left square, then cozy up.

My grandson wanted to know what I was doing so he got his first knitting lesson.

So now … OMG, I can’t tell you how excited I am, it is time to cast on some smaller things. I need the satisfaction of starting something and finishing it in a timely fashion. It’s also a reward for sticking with the sweaters to the end. This is something I find hard thing to do. Do you find that too?

First, I am going to knit something I have knit 3 times already and am excited to knit again. This is the Windward by Heidi Kirrmaier.

It’s construction is very, very clever. This time I am knitting it on a bigger needle with heavy fingering from my stash. I’m not even close to the gauge according to the pattern, but that’s ok with me. It has written charts (a sneak peak at the top of the photo) which you need to follow and is convoluted and amazing.

Next is the Mermaid Avenue Socks by Summer Lee which has been in my queue for a while. These are cuff down with a flap heel.

I bought this pattern for the fish scales patterning. My son is a fisherman so I think he will enjoy these.

I started these but have since ditched them. OK, I’m owning up, I am not going to follow the pattern at all. I am going to knit these socks toe up with a short row heel. I have an idea for any gauge socks that I want to try out. I just really like the fish scales!

Next up is Aert Mitts by Gudrun Johnston. I bought this as a kit by Waxwing Yarn. They are a new company producing non-superwash wool milled in Quebec. It’s fingering weight wool and blooms beautifully. I was so happy they did a trunk show at my local yarn store so I could see all the colours and buy quite a few. I can’t wait to get started.

I’m ready to get going on these smaller things. How about you? What is your spring knitting looking like?

Cheers, Deb

Any Gauge and Gauge-Free patterns by Deb

Deb.gemmell on instagram

Debgemmell435 on youtube

Knit Two Sleeves at a time

Is second sleeve syndrome a thing? If you suffer, here is a solution. Knit both sleeves at the same time on two circular needles.

It’s a messy start, which you know if you have ever attempted to knit two socks at the same time. So here goes.

This is my Lunenburg pullover which I am really anxious to wear. I have done 5″ on both sleeves. It’s going to be a fabulous spring sweater.

Meanwhile, the Twelve-Point Circular Yoke is moving along. I’m past my waist now and have been working some hip shaping on the Back of this sweater. The end of the body is in sight, well, not exactly in sight, but you know what I mean.

Working on only 2 sweaters feels like monogamous knitting to me. I think I need to add another project to be comfortable. Maybe a pair of socks would fill the void. I’m thinking of casting on this week. I think I know which pattern I’m going to use, but I hate to say it because then I’ll probably change my mind, so it will be official once they are on my needles… although a shawl would be nice too. Sigh, so many options.

How about you? Is spring tempting you to cast on?

Cheers, Deb

Any Gauge and Gauge-Free patterns by deb

deb.gemmell on instagram

Debgemmell435 on youtube