Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

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?

Bucket Hat Knitting Patterns

As I was starting to write this post I thought that it was true that I’d never done a roundup of bucket hat knitting patterns before. But then I looked, and I actually did one last year (which you can find here) but there are plenty of cute bucket hats to do another post about, right? 

The one that made me want to write about this (again) is the Red Heart Knit Fanfare Bucket Hat from Yarnspirations. This cute striped hat can be worked in team colors, and while I might prefer a non-acrylic yarn for a summer hat, it would be fine when it’s not too hot outside (or try a cotton yarn instead). 

Claire Slade’s Sunlit Bucket Hat has an angled brim to help keep the sun out of your eyes. It’s worked from the bottom up using worsted weight cotton yarn, and comes in three sizes. You can find the pattern on Ravelry. 

Get a little air flow in your bucket hat with the Shady Bucket Hat from Wool & Beyond. This one uses DK weight yarn and an eyelet pattern throughout the body to keep it cool. It comes in sizes ranging from newborn to adult large, and is worked in one piece from the top down. You can grab the pattern (in English or Swedish) on Ravelry. 

If you’re looking for a fun, floppy sun hat for kids or adults, this pattern from Muki Crafts is a little more slouchy than a traditional bucket hat but it’s super cute. It comes in baby, toddler and bigger kid sizes and adult. I uses worsted weight yarn and is worked from the bottom up. 

Another variation on the classic bucket is this one that’s more of a cloche style. Made by branda, it uses bulky yarn so it’s more of a winter bucket hat, but now’s a fine time to knit it if you live somewhere that’s warm right now (or even more so if you live somewhere that’s cold right now). 

Another one to get you ready for colder weather is Tirmety, a two-layer bucket hat from ViTalina Craft, which has a textured stitch pattern on one side and stockinette on the other. You can wear either side out or even make them different colors if you want. The pattern is sized for toddlers, kids and adults. 

And if you want to add some extra cuteness to your bucket hat, I love this (of course totally optional but also totally adorable) embroidered deatila on the New York Bucket Hat from Pauline Fanguin. It uses two strands of DK weight yarn held together for extra sturdiness, and uses changes in needle size to shape the hat. Of course you could also knit stripes or use different textures of yarn to change up the look. This pattern is made to fit your head and is available in French and English.