A Flurry of Finishes – YOP Week 47

I missed sharing my updates yesterday due to a chaotic schedule of sorts for the U.S. Memorial Day holiday. This post will be knitting content exclusively because I have a number of things to share.

Friday (May 22nd) was the start of the Splash Pad Party, hosted by the Down Cellar Studio podcast. This event awards points toward entries to win prizes, and the base points are earned based on the weight of yarn used (approximated) between 50 and 200 grams. Any project that exceeds the max weight has the points capped, and while there is some wiggle room concerning the minimum weight requirement, small projects don’t earn points unless they’re grouped. There are additional optional points to earn by using sponsor products, with maximum awards if you use the 2026 Splash Pad Party exclusive items sold by “pro shop” sponsors.

With the start of the Splash Pad event, I was well prepared to finish several projects I’d been working on for a while. Then, during the week, I learned that another podcaster, Crazy Sock Lady, was bringing back her Summer Sock Camp. Prize opportunities are awarded for completing pairs of socks, regardless of size, and WIPs are also allowed here. As a result, I adjusted my finishing schedule a bit. Now – on with the show and tell!

Stitched or Still-in-Progress

I’ll go ahead and start with the most spectacular finish of the month. I started this cardigan back in March as a key milestone in my Year of Projects plans. It used a significant portion of a 500 gram cone of fingering weight yarn I bought in Dublin, Ireland, on my birthday adventure tour in 2024. Last week I was working on the sleeves, and I’d opted to change to ribbing with the main body needle size until I reached the indicated sleeve length in the pattern. Then I switched to a smaller ribbing-gauge needle as directed, continuing for another two inches before wrapping up with a tubular bind-off. That finish to the sleeves is glorious, and the result of these changes is a nice, snug feel to the sleeves – but not constricting. I’m looking forward to wearing this sweater year-round as it features my signature color so well! I wore it to church as part of my Pentecost ensemble, and my knitting pal took some fun FO photos for me.

Pattern: Fancy Cardi by Joji Locatelli; yarn: King Cole Anti-tickle Merino Blend 4-ply in Red on US4 (3.5mm) and US2.5 (3.0mm) needles

Next up, I finished my vanilla socks – I chose to finish them right away because I wanted the needles for another project. Of course, now I need to cast on another vanilla sock, as that’s my go-to project for the movies and such activities.

Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams; yarn: Rock and String Creations Jitterbug Sock in The Royals on US1 (2.25mm) needles

Next, I finished up the garter stitch decrease section of the colorful shawl I’ve been enjoying. I still have to block it, so another FO picture might pop up later. (I had very limited time to spend blocking, and the sweater was my priority!)

Pattern: Sugar Pop by Lisa K. Ross; yarn: Leading Men Fiber Arts Show Stopper in Darkest Hour (black) and Bring May Flowers Gradient set on US4 (3.5mm) needles

Yesterday (Monday), I took a #MarkItMonday photo of my other SIP (sock-in-progress) but then I proceeded to finish it to become the first finisher in the Summer Sock Camp thread. I’m particularly pleased that this project also earned me nine points in the SPP! My decision to work the striping sequence in reverse compared with the instep was a happy one – I really love the way this came out!

Pattern: Novus Shorties by Laura Nelkin; yarn: Woolens and Nosh SW Targhee Fingering in Pengwings, Knitters Brewing Company Sock-aholic in Last Call on US1 (2.25mm) needles

As for ongoing projects, I have two test knits in the works, though I can only share one. They’re both progressing nicely though! For this next one, I’m on track to have it completed ahead of Flag Day (June 14th) – and I’d also like to don it on my cruise in July! I’ve calculated the approximate number of stripes I will need before decreasing to the second end, and I specifically looked at which color I need to end with before starting that section. 🤓

Pattern: Twenty Twenty Six Scarf by Pat Blair of aGypsy Knits; yarn: Cascade Heritage Sock in Royal Blue, Christmas Red and White on US4 (3.5mm) needles

My last WIP to share is the tee top that was moving oh-so-slowly for a while. I finished the center back strip last week and finally got started on the body, which essentially joins the two strips while adding the shoulder section between them. Because I’m using just two colorways, I altered the striping sequence from the original design. This is sure to be a cruise accent, though my main interest is to wear it for Zombie Knitpocalypse next month.

Pattern: Recalibrate by Shana S. Cohen; yarn: Wool2dye4 Sheila’s Sparkle (undyed) and Two If By Hand Sparkle Sock in Janice, on US7 (4.5mm) needles

Cast-on Conversations

Finishing several projects means that I can start moving on other project plans. First, I was able to begin knitting the qualifier socks for the Supersock World Championship competition, though I’m not actively competing. I want to finish the qualifiers for a couple reasons. First, they’ll earn me more patterns. But second, when the pattern was released, I was very touched by the designers notes that she designed this sock as a tribute to designer Adrienne Fong (Bellybuttonknits) who passed away following a fight against cancer back in 2019. Given the designer’s preference for self-striping yarn, I changed up my plans for this flag-themed set I bought recently.

Pattern: Tresor Socks by Laura Jenkins; yarn: Must Stash Yarn & Fiber Perfect Must Match in Stars & Stripes Forever on US1 (2.25mm) needles. Note: this pattern is a top-down design; because the SWC admins neglected to offer a toe-up sock design among the qualifiers, they’ve allowed us to work any qualifier pattern as toe-up. This required adjustments to the charts, but KnitCompanion made that super easy!

I also received the yarn from The Loopy Ewe for my June Camp Loopy project! I won’t be able to cast on until June 1, but this week my grandson can help me to wind the skeins into cakes.

Cascade Heritage Fingering yarn in Dahlia and Sleet

I have two more projects I’d like to cast on soon, but I need to focus on my immediate deadlines before I can venture off to start more. If the socks are on track by the weekend, I can start my next pair of vanilla socks – particularly since there’s an Aviators football game on Sunday.

Knit on. 🧶