Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Getting a Start on Finishing

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prima shawlI don’t know if it’s spring or just beginning of the month frustration, but I’m just about sick of all the partially finished knitting projects sitting around my house. So I’ve decided that for the month of April, as much as possible, I am going to focus my time on finishing projects I’ve already started rather than casting on new ones.

I am a great starter and I often get really close to finishing without actually doing so. I have a knit dress that has almost all of its crocheted edgings done, for example, and has been in that state for more than a year! There’s a sock I started earlier this year that’s the mate of one I knit a couple of years ago. There’s that lace scarf I told you about that needs to be blocked, and a cowl that just needs its ends woven in.

Oh, and that pretty bit of knitting up there? It’s the shrug that’s part of a free class at CreativeBug I told you about recently. I’m not actually watching the class, and I’m using a different yarn, but isn’t that colorway just perfect for spring?

Please tell me I’m not alone in needing to focus on finishing. Better yet, tell me you’ll join me in working on finishing projects this month. Tell me what you need to finish and why it hasn’t gotten done yet, and we can keep each other accountable.

Through the month I’ll be sharing my finished objects and tips on getting things out of the UFO pile and onto your body, or wherever they need to go when they’re done.

I hope you’ll join me! All you have to do to start is leave a comment, and we’ll finish the rest together.

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Comments

  1. You are SO not alone. Been trying to do the same thing since the first of the year. I HAVE managed to finish a few things but the pileof unfinished projects seems to be getting taller.

  2. You are SO not alone. Been trying to do the same thing since the first of the year. I HAVE managed to finish a few things but the pile of unfinished projects seems to be getting taller.

  3. LoL! I was just thinking that myself a couple of nights ago. I started projects for National Crochet Month, and suddenly the month is over, and I still haven’t finished! Well, I did finish one afghan/throw, so it wasn’t all bad. But there’s those supposedly quick projects that are almost done – the linen stitch cowl and the Reds Waves Cowl.

Have you read?

Knit and Felt Some Tabi Style Slippers

The felted slipper craze that began last year doesn’t seem like it’s fading away. The Sailor Slippers, often striped knit and felted slippers made with super bulky yarn, because the project of the moment late last year (check out more knit slipper options in this post all about sailor slippers) and they’re still consistently popular with knitters.

Which makes sense because they are fun and fast to knit, and seeing them go from this giant thing to something that actually fits a foot feels a little magical. 

I have always loved felting (in fact my first book was about felting knitting) and it’s always fun for me to see people rediscover this technique. 

If you’ve knit enough plain slippers to fit all the feet you know, maybe it’s time to stitch up some tabi style slippers instead. 

Maymade Knits has designed these cute tabi ballerina slippers, made with bulky yarn and felted. They’re worked flat at first and then in rounds, and are available in 10 EU sizes (the Internet tells me add 31 to your American shoe size to get your EU size). The designer says the slippers are meant to have a close fit and you should choose a size a little smaller than your foot for the ideal fit. 

The pattern includes a video tutorial along with the written pattern. 

You can grab this pattern on Ravelry. The same designer has her own version of the striped felted slipper as well, called Sarah’s Striped Slippers. These are worked in super bulky yarn and have a contrasting foot and a striped body. These are knit flat and seamed and there are 7 size options available. Check that pattern out here if you’re looking for a more traditional slipper shape. They also look roomier so you can wear them with socks if you like. 

[Photo: Maymade Knits]