Hi pals! Happy February! Today we are back with our monthly recap of everything I knit, crocheted, and read in January.
If you’re new here, every month I do a recap video of everything I knit, crocheted, and read the previous month, and alongside that I try and make sure you have all the details, links, and what not here. So far yall seem to enjoy the resources so we will keep them going.
So lets get into it, ya?
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What I read
Before we get to everything I knit and crocheted, let’s start with everything I read in January. We’ve got 3 rom-coms and 1 dark romance for January. As some of you know, I am a book reviewer on top of being a crochet and knitwear designer/influencer, which means I get to read books early, also known as ARC’s (advanced reader copies). The first 3 are ARC’s, but one is coming out in just a few days. I try and mark which ones are out and which are ARC’s and which are free on Kindle Unlimited, but let me know if I miss one and I can get it updated for you.
In it to win it:
We’ve got 3 rom-coms and 1 dark romance for January. First up is In it to win it. I’ll give you a little intro, but I have a full review here if you want to check that out. This book releases on Monday February 5th, will be free on Kindle Unlimited, and I highly recommend it.
“Emily Cooper is a total bad ass at her job and wants nothing more than to get this promotion she has been working for, partially due to the fact that if she doesn’t she will lose her apartment, but also because she is the best person for the job. What she doesn’t want is a distraction, even though her friends think she deserves just that, at least for the weekend. That’s where Matt, and his perfect forearms, come in.”
The Break-Up Pact
Another lovely rom com, this one features June, who is a delightful tea shop owner who is just trying to make ends meet to keep the dream of her and her sister alive. Levi is living in NYC doing the big hedge fund shenanigan’s while dreaming of being a writer. They were best friends as kids, until they weren’t, and they haven’t spoke in 10 years. Insert my favorite plot, they are both broken up with, and those break ups go viral, the two pair up and fake date. I love fake dating so damn much.
You can read the rest of the review here. This one doesn’t come out until August 13, 2024, but you can preorder it here if you want!
Not You Again
And like I said, 3 rom coms, which makes this the last one. What’s it about? Wedding gown designer Andie signs up for a reality show to get the potential $100,000 prize to help fund her spot in Atlanta’s Fashion Week, and all she has to do is marry a stranger signs unseen. No big deal, until the person she says “I do” to is the same person she said “I love you to”, the same person who left and destroyed her 7 years ago.
This one has a bit longer of a review than I normally write, sometimes it just needs the words, and you can read that here. It also doesn’t come out until July 9, 2024.
The Fabric of our Souls
The Fabric of our souls didn’t get a book review yet, but to be honest, writing reviews for books with as many trigger warnings as this one has is hard. Don’t get me wrong, I adored this book, but it is quite dark and there are some parts that might hurt more than others depending on your mental health. Again, this is a 5 star read for me, and one of my top books, but just protect yourself first and check for the triggers.
This one is currently out now and free on Kindle Unlimited.
Everything I knit and crocheted
Now let’s get into everything I finished in January.
Sean’s green and black hat
I don’t have a pattern for this one yet, but I promise if it’s something you want I’ll get it written up and out to testers asap. I used two strands of worsted weight yarn held together, made a rectangle, added the brim, seamed it together, and added the braids at the end. It was a quick make, but there are a few stitch combos used that give it a great texture.
Let me know what you think!
Forest Girl Beret
My goal in 2024 is to make 1-2 patterns every month that aren’t my patterns. Insert stage right, the Forest Girl Beret.
I did make a few changes to this one, I used thinner yarn and made it a tiny bit smaller so it situated on my hair clips better for my head, but it’s a wonderful pattern and she did a great job with the directions.
Josephines Bucket hat
Eeek! This one is one of my favorites of the month. As I mentioned in my video, I work with Hobbii Yarns quite frequently and this is one of those projects. I used their Hobbii Friends Cotton and held it double with Hobbii Friends Prints and designed this lovely little bucket hat with my sweet friend Josephine in mind. She looks wonderful in hers, so of course I had to make a second one.
The pattern for this is coming out in March.
Knitting machine beanies
I adore my knitting machine and all the things I can make with it, but my favorite favorite are these beanies. 110 rows on an Addi King Size, cinch the top and bottom, fold it in on itself, and there you have a beanie.
If you want me to do a video tutorial on how to cast on, cast off, and make these beanies in general just let me know. 😉
Black cardigan
My birthday was a few weeks ago and I really wanted to have a new top for my birthday like I did last year. The only problem with that? I am a slooooooow knitter. Instead I decided to use my left over Caron One Pound yarn and knocked this cardigan design out in a few days. I am reworking this with a different yarn to get a better fabric, but I hope to have this pattern out in the Summer/Fall.
Black skirt
Here is another project I worked on with my leftover Caron yarn, but then I ran out before I could finish it and the entire point was to not buy more yarn, so I am left with this little baby until more happens to appear.
Mary Kate Crop Top
I talked about this in the video a bit, but this comes from Red Door Fibers “Blind date with a project” kits she put out a few weeks ago, and it came with the Mary Kate Crop Top as the chosen pattern. I did make a few changes to this to fit me better, but the pattern itself is beautifully written and a dream to follow.
Unnamed v-neck top
Another day, another Hobbii project. This one is a bright one, but one I love all the same. I haven’t named it yet, and I also haven’t written down the pattern, but maybe one day I will. 😂
Ukulele strap
My partner got me a ukulele for my birthday and I knew I needed to crochet a strap for it asap. I couldn’t find a pattern for one, so I just worked this up and I plan on getting a blog post up soon with the instructions too.
Knit scarf
My simple knit scarf. This beauty has been something I’ve been slowly knitting over the past few months and I finally got it wrapped up. I’ll have a blog post coming sometime this month with the details.
Scrap beanie
A scrap beanie was exactly what I needed to make to get my crojo back after burning out over Christmas, and I am super thankful for that. I just used up a bunch of DK weight yarn I had lying around from a few sweaters and I love how it turned out. I didn’t follow a pattern for this one, but again, if wanted I can write it up.
Everything I worked on
Tweed Beanie
A few months ago I knit myself a pair of these fingerless gloves with this lovely Fireside tweed yarn by Sewrella Yarn. I knew I would have a bit left over, but to my surprise I had enough for a little beanie too, so I am working on that now and hope to finish it up at some point before next winter. 😅
Knit Tank Top
This knit tank top is one of my birthday presents to myself. I am using the Purl Soho Notched Hem Tank Top and two skeins of Woolberry Fiber Co yarn in the color Beach Reads. It’s not a hard pattern, but the sides have a section of purling that slows me down every time.
Icord
Alright pals, here is the information for the icord maker, the Cordsmith. I found this on Instagram reels and promptly bought one and I cannot imagine not having this little tool in my hook cup.
Sock
And finally, this sock. I wish I wanted to finish it. I just have the gusset and the foot and toe left, but my newer sock set caught my eye and I wanted to make that instead. Second sock syndrome is a real thing yall lol.
And that is everything I knit, crocheted, and read in January. I hope this blog helped you find something to read in February, or something to make, and I hope you have a cozy week ahead. Love you pals, mean it.
Sam
