This Sarah Stitches

Category: Year of Projects 2026-2027

  • Year of Projects 2026-2027: Weeks 12-16

    Year of Projects 2026-2027: Weeks 12-16

    It’s been a minute since I have shared an update with you all. There has been a lot going on for various reasons which has left no time to sit and document my progress. Finally, things have settled down a little.

    I have been having fun documenting what I am working on each week as part of this challenge. It really does show me what I manage to achive in a week.

    Onto the WIPs since my last update!

    Stripped Swift Bag

    I finished the Swift Bag. I had a lot of fun knitting this one & I do think it looks very stylish in my office. Originally, I had considered marling the yarns but I am actually glad I didn’t. The stripes are not the same height but I kind of like that. The pattern is called Swift Sak by Knifty Red. I started this project on 12 September 2026 & I cast off on 27 September 2026. It was on the needles for 16 days. Total yarn usage was 198.2g from stash.

    Project Details: knit on 4.50mm (US 7) needles using various stash DK acrylic yarns. The DK yarn was held double.

    Jewelspun Funnel Neck Dress

    I received some Jewelspun yarn for Christmas this past year & have been trying to find the perfect project for it. I came across the Funnel Neck Dress pattern by Sidar which was specifically designed for this yarn. The magic with this pattern is that it uses 2 colours of the yarn in blocks. The shade of yarn I was given at Christmas was Sunstone Amber. It has beautiful orange and red tones. As a redhead, I wanted a complimentary shade that would work well and not look too out of place. After doing some research on the different colourways available in the Jewelspun yarn, I settled on Golden Green. It is knit in flat panels & will be seamed together at the end. I started this on 27 September 2026. I started knitting the back panel as directed but then I decided to cast on the front panel and work until it was at the same place as the back so that I could work on them simultaneously. I plan to do the same thing with the sleeves.

    Project Details: knit on 4.00mm (US 6) & 5.00mm (US 8) needles using 2 Sidar Jewelspun in Sunstone Amber & Golden Green. 4mm is used for the ribbing.

    Garter Squish Blanket

    I have a lot of random skeins of yarn in my stash. Most of these are from a Vinted purchase in January this year. I have been eyeing up the Garter Squish blanket for a while. Jenn, of the Stashdown Diaries, is currently working on a version of this. I decided that you can not have too many blankets! So, I have started a Garter Squish of my own. It’s a free pattern by Stephen West.

    I took some time to pull out yarns that I think would work well together when knit together. My blanket will be different from the original as I am using 2 strands of DK yarn instead of 2 strands of worsted/Aran weight yarn. I will likely need to make some adjustments to the length of the blanket to compensate for my yarn substitution. I started this project on 17 October 2026.

    Project Details: knit on 8.00mm (US 11) needles using various stash DK acrylic yarns. The DK yarn is being held double.

    Stashbuster Ripple Blanket

    I have been doing a lot of knitting of late so I decided to add a crochet project into the mix. As I am trying to use my yarn stash, I thought a crochet blanket might be a good stashbuster. Crochet does tend to eat yarn more so than knitting. I had fun picking out colours from stash that I thought would work well together. It is turning out more of an Autumnal colour palette, which I quite like. The pattern is called Sundance Throw by Jessica of Mama in a Stitch. I started this project on 18 September 2026.

    Project Details: crochet with 4.5mm hook (US 8) using various stash DK acrylic yarns.

    Ridgeline Duster

    I finished the Ridgeline Duster cardigan. I did enjoy this knit thoroughly. I did have to wait to start the sleeves until I had purchased a smaller circumference cord for my Chaiogoo needles. Once I got started on the sleeves, they seem to fly by! I also didn’t really experience the second sleeve syndrome with this cardigan which I am relieved about.

    I am currently blocking the cardigan so I have no photos to share. I’m hoping by next week to be able to wear it. This is a pattern from Chantel at Knitatude. I started this project on 26 July 2026 & I cast off on 4 October 2026. It was on the needles for 71 days. Total yarn usage was 437.8g from stash.

    Project Details: knit on 5.50mm (US 9) needles using 2 strands of James C Brett Shhh DK in Whisper Grey.

    That’s it for this week. Hope your week has been a good one. I am hoping to get back on track with regularly posting. Thanks for stopping by.

  • Year of Projects 2026-2027: Weeks 10 & 11

    Year of Projects 2026-2027: Weeks 10 & 11

    I had every intention of posting an update last week but before I knew it, the week had gone by in a flash! So, recap time!

    I am pleased that I am still continuing to find some time for some of my cross stitch projects. For the last couple of weeks, I have been gravitating towards a few of my other WIPs.

    I have been having fun documenting what I am working on each week as part of this challenge. It really does show me what I manage to achive in a week.

    Onto the WIPs for the past two weeks!

    Giant Harry Potter

    I have been really enjoying stitching on Giant Harry Potter. The pattern is by Clouds Factory.

    I have worked on this a little bit at the start of this year but then it was in hibernation, like all of my cross stitch WIPs. Now, I’m at 58.8% completion mark. I only know this thanks to Markup R-XP. I started this on 22 February 2017.

    Project Details: stitched on 28ct cloud blue evenweave from Fabric Flair using called-for DMC & Anchor, 2 strands over 2.

    Scrappy Slouchy Bag

    I completely forgot to share this the last time. I came across a blog post for a slouchy bag from Jessica of Mama in a stitch. Her pattern is called Mohave Slouchy Tote Bag. I decided to use 4 strands of DK yarn, 2 colours at a time. I love how this has turned out & I just have a bit of finishing to do but I am calling it pretty much done.

    My plan for this bag is for it to be a WIP project bag to stay at the side of the sofa. It is huge & very difficult to photograph!!

    I started this project on 24 August 2026 & I cast off on 29 August 2026. It was on the needles for 6 days. Total yarn usage was 519.2g from stash.

    Project Details: knit on 9.00mm (US 13) needles using various stash DK acrylic yarns.

    Advent Banner

    You may remember that I had to pause this last week as I had run out of DMC 927. My skein arrived on Saturday which meant I could resume stitching the last 2 letters. I started this on 7 July 2022 & finished stitching on 6 September 2026.

    Project Details: stitched on 14ct plastic canvas from Darice using DMC thread 2 strands over 1.

    Happily Ever After

    I picked up another older WIP this week. Somewhere along the line I have repurposed the DMC threads I had for this, so my progress might be slower than I’d like.

    The pattern is by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery. I’m at 37% complete. I started this on 1 March 2017.

    Project Details: stitching on a linen (I don’t have the specifics to hand) using called-for DMC, 2 strands over 2.

    Stripped Swift Bag

    I started a new knitting project this week. I am on a mission to reduce my yarn stash & have been in the market to create a bag for my knitting swift. I did consider sewing one but then I can across a knitting pattern for one. It seemed kismet. The pattern is called Swift Sak by Knifty Red. I started this 12 September 2026.

    Project Details: knit on 4.50mm (US 7) needles using various stash DK acrylic yarns. I’m holding the DK yarn double.

    That’s it for this week. Hope your week has been a good one.

  • Year of Projects 2026-2027: Week 9

    Year of Projects 2026-2027: Week 9

    I’m a little late posting my update. It’s been a Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK. With that comes the tradition of DIY.

    This week I have been focussing on a couple of my Works in Progress (WIPs)

    Deer Friends

    I have been really enjoying stitching on Deer Friends. The pattern is by Plum Street Samplers.

    At the start of this year, I had very little completed. Now, I’ve exceeded the 50% mark. I started this on 14 September 2020.

    Project Details: stitched on 40ct hand-dyed Newcastle linen using my own conversion, 1 strand over 2.

    Ridgeline Duster

    I have gotten a few more rows completed on this cardigan. It’s really difficult to show my progress at the moment. Here’s the photos from last week. This is a pattern from Chantel at Knitatude. I started this on 26 July 2026.

    Project Details: knit on 5.50mm (US 9) needles using James C Brett Shhh DK in Whisper Grey.

    Advent Banner

    I have paused progress on my Advent Banner as I sadly ran out of DMC 927. I placed an order last week for a skein to be able to finish the banner. I started this on 7 July 2022. This is so close to a finish.

    Project Details: stitched on 14ct plastic canvas from Darice using DMC thread 2 strands over 1.

    That’s it for this week. Hope your week has been a good one.

  • Year of Projects 2026-2027: Week 8

    Year of Projects 2026-2027: Week 8

    This is my first post for the Year of Projects challenge & as I have found the group only in the past few days, my first update will be a little on the shorter side. I have been been enjoying working on some of my WIPs this week. Here’s what I have been working on:

    Ridgeline Duster

    This is mindless knit project but also one that grows quite quickly. Design is from Chantel at Knitatude. I started this on 26 July and I’m almost done with one of the front panels. The construction for the collar was interesting and clever. I really enjoyed starting this project.

    Project Details: knit on 5.50mm (US 9) needles using James C Brett Shhh DK in Whisper Grey.

    Advent Banner

    I have graviated towards my cross stitch projects this week, well 1 project in particular. This has been a WIP for a while. Started on 7 July 2022, I don’t have masses left to complete. The banner will read Jingle All The Way when finished. This was a design by Sarah Elizabeth Stitches (me in a former life, when I was a cross stitch designer.) It was the project I created for an cross stitch advent box in 2022. I had intended to finish the model for the big reveal after the advent box had been released. Sadly, I never did. My goal is to finish it this year so that I can finally display this in my home.

    I did run out of DMC 3831 & 778 last week which thankfully arrived this week from Lakeside Needlecrafts. I was able to colour complete both of these colours once I had the new skeins. I have only got colour 927 to stitch now on the final 6 letters. This is so close to a finish.

    Project Details: stitched on 14ct plastic canvas from Darice using DMC thread 2 strands over 1.

    That’s it for this week. Hope your week has been a good one.