January Makes

I’m rounding out my first month on this blog with a look back at everything I finished this month. Some projects took months to complete, one only took a few hours, but I do have thoughts on all of them – so let’s dive in.

Pattern: Anker’s Jacket

Designer: Petite Knit

Cast On: December 30, 2022

Cast Off: January 8, 2023

I’ve already created a full blog post on this one (you can check that out here), so I’ll keep it short and sweet. This was such a fun make. As the dates will reveal, once I cast on, I couldn’t wait to cast off. This was my second time inserting a zipper in a cardigan for my two-year-old daughter, and now it’s the only way that I’ll finish her cardigans.

Pattern: Louise Pullover

Designer: Northside Knit Co.

Cast On: October 23, 2022

Cast Off: January 18, 2023

Again, I’ve already blogged about this one (you can check that out here). I affectionately call it my favourite sweater. I can’t picture another one taking the top spot at the moment, so it will likely be my favourite sweater for the rest of this winter. I wore it out on a cold day and it kept me so warm. My only complaint is that the neck rode up a bit high, but it’s not a huge problem or a deal breaker – just a personal preference.

Pattern: First Time Socks

Designer: Pastiche Knitwear

Cast On: August 2022

Cast Off: January 20, 2023

Will you check out those cast on/off dates? Sometimes we fall victim to “second sock syndrome” and boy did I ever. I tried knitting these two at a time in the round and lost my will to continue – since then I’ve learned that I don’t like knitting two at a time. I talk a little bit about these socks in this blog post. While I do like this pattern, I recently switched to a German short row heel with quite a bit of success (and a few lessons learned).

Pattern: Everyday Socks

Designer: Petite Knit

Cast On: January 21, 2023

Cast Off: January 28, 2023

I’m not sure if you can tell, but these socks are at least 10 rows too long and two rows too wide. I could have solved this by sticking to the same measurements/row count as my go-to sock pattern (see above), but I was trying something new and wanted to get it right. I even used a sock ruler for the first time, which might have contributed to the problem. I did LOVE the German short row heel construction and will be using it going forward. I also quite enjoyed the Kroy sock yarn I used for this test run. It’s very affordable and feels super durable

Pattern: Boxy Pouch

Designer: Kandou Patterns

Started: January 26, 2023

Finished: January 26, 2023

Did I need a new project bag? Absolutely not, but I made one anyway. I specifically wanted a smallish bag that I could use for small knitting projects – one that fit in my purse – and this boxy pouch fit the bill. I’ve actually sewn quite a few of these, so perhaps I’ll make a dedicated blog post at some point. I didn’t have a long zipper to insert in this one, so I created long tabs to go on either side of a 9″. It created a smaller opening that actually works well for sock knitting (especially if the yarn wants to move around). It’s made of a fun sewing-themed cotton canvas, lined with a bright fat quarter, and interlined with cotton quilting batting. This is my third Kandou pattern and they are excellent!

Pattern: Quick and Easy Chunky Pom Pom Hat

Designer: Fox & Pine Stitches

Cast On: January 28, 2023

Cast Off: January 28, 2023

This was my final make for the month and it only took a few hours. My daughter has been growing like crazy and was in need of a hat that covered her ears, so I pulled out a ball of Lion Brand Wool Ease and got to work. I liked this free pattern for circumference, but I did need to add a few extra rows of length. Honestly, that might just be for my daughter (she’s only 2 but I had to knit up the 4-12 size), so I would take it with a grain of salt. 

Thank you for reading this far! I hope this post left you with some inspiration for a future project. 

Happy making, 

Jackie

A little disclaimer: This blog is very small, so it almost goes without saying, but I am not affiliated with any brands mentioned in this post.