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I’ve had enough new years to know that I won’t find any comfort or success in making goals for myself. But I do enjoy looking back on my progress over time.
What a better time, then, to take a little snapshot of where I am in my hobbies and pastimes.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.kaylapins.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_0892jpg1200.png?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
My mom is contemplating participating in the cross-stitching world’s #NYE12x12. The idea is, starting today (New Year’s Eve) at noon, to work on a different WIP (work in progress) or start a new one every hour until midnight. I scoffed thinking certainly I didn’t have enough projects to participate.
Well, well, well. I’m still not planning on participating, but I was able to round up plenty of projects and I have several more kitted to go. Here’s a roundup of my current WIPS as of today, December 31, 2022, and the projects I have kitted to start in the new year.
Crochet
Crochet, at least with large gauge yarns, seems to hurt my joints more than anything else. But I couldn’t resist the yarn for this adorable amigurumi set.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.kaylapins.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image.png?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1)
The pattern is Royal Tale by Olka Novytska and is available for purchase on Ravelry. (You guys. I just looked this designer up on Facebook and she has a NATIVITY SET!! So cute.)
I sprung for some new sport-weight yarn because I think plush toys look best in a smaller gauge. I didn’t use quite as many colors as called for to lower the cost and to provide a tighter color palette.
I’m using Knit Picks Brava Sport in the following colors:
- Peapod (Dragon)
- Grass (Dragon)
- Seashell (Dragon, horse, peach on unicorn, red on knight)
- Blush (Horns on dragon, skin on knight, unicorn body)
- Rouge (Pink on unicorn)
- Canary (Gold on night, yellow on unicorn)
- Marina (Blue on unicorn, light gray on knight)
- Freesia (purple on unicorn)
- Coral (Brown on horse)
- Silver (Dark gray on knight)
If you buy at least 10 of a single yarn (even in different colors) from Knit Picks you can use code MYVALUEPACK for 20% off. (Not sure when this sale ends, but always check their sales page for current promotions.
So far I have one lone dragon body. I would like this set done in two weeks for a baby gift, so I better get going!
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.kaylapins.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/dragon-body-amigurumi-set-green-crochet.png?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Isn’t it so cute how adding eyes to something makes it adorable? I love safety eyes for a professional finish on handmade items. This is the set I have from Amazon.
Knitting
I’m knitting the Festive Doodle by Caitlyn Hunter of Boyland Knitworks. Pattern available for purchase through Boyland Knitworks or Ravelry.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.kaylapins.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/festive-doodle-progress-knitting.png?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
I wish I could tell you more about the yarn. It’s an amalgamation of sock yarns and kits that I never knit up.
I love this project and it is deceivingly simple. The intricate patterns are on a six-stitch or so repeat and never use more than two yarns at a time, so it is decent for travel and so meditative.
I’m making the Lego Man Mitts by Carissa Browning. It is a free knitting pattern download on Ravelry.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.kaylapins.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/lego-man-mitts-for-gannon.png?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
These are destined for my nephew, Gannon, and are from Cascade Superwash 220. They are deceivingly NOT simple and require me to refer to the pattern constantly, so I do not enjoy these as much. But he is such a sweetie and that keeps me going.
For another nephew, Carver, I am making a new “bit.” He literally wore his baby blanket to shreds so I salvaged what I could and am making him a new one.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.kaylapins.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/carver-bit-blanket-progress.png?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
This design is based on the Ten Stitch Blanket by Frankie Brown, a free knitting pattern download on Ravelry. I didn’t want to turn my work quite so often and I like multiples of 12 much better, so I am doing a 24-stitch repeat instead.
I’m making what I can from the yarn of Carver’s blanket and am adding in my old standbys, I Love This Yarn in Key Lime and Graphite.
Cross Stitch
I’m a terrible human and don’t keep good notes on the linen and thread I use. Keeping a blog is an effort to get better at that! I’ll do my best to link up what I can.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.kaylapins.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_0902jpg1200.png?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
First up is Consider the Lilies from Heartstring Samplery. I called the ladies at The Stitchery Nook and asked for “the works” and a cute scissor. They kitted it up and sent it my way! I don’t remember the linen, it’s a 40-ct something, and they included the called-for floss.
This is Pandemic from Long Dog Samplers on 36-count linen. I am using DMC 844.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.kaylapins.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pandemic-cross-stitch-progress.png?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
I love stitching on this. It is meditative for me because the thread colors never change. I have no goal of ever completing this, so it is a nice process piece for me to just relax and stitch.
This is A Year in the Woods: The Hare from Cottage Garden Samplings. I don’t remember the color, but it’s 36-count Weeks Dye Works. I hear other cross-stitchers don’t like this, but I really like the looser weave. I’m pretty new to cross-stitching and don’t know any better. I’m using the called-for threads.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.kaylapins.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_0897jpg1200.png?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
This is Away We Fly from Blackbird Designs. I had good intentions of this being an autumn stitch as a holiday gift but life happened, so it will wait for another holiday. I’m using the called-for threads on 36-count linen.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.kaylapins.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/away-we-fly.png?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
This is a little sampler of my own design. It has a different vehicle for each letter of the alphabet. I was stitching it on some thrifted evenweave that I honestly hate, so I won’t be going any further. I’ll restart this soon.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.kaylapins.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/vehicle-cross-stitch-sampler.png?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Finally is the frogged many times over Good Yule sampler, my own design. I started on tomato red linen but didn’t like how the white blended in.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.kaylapins.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/good-yule-tomato-red.png?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
I restarted on this Lugana with ghost stitching lines and like it much better. It’s not as nice as stitching on linen, but I don’t hate it enough to restart again. I think I’m just a 36+ count one-over-two girly.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.kaylapins.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/good-yule-lugana.png?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Coming Up
This post got too long so I’m skipping sharing my kitted up items. For cross-stitch I have another Year in the Woods and another Easter stitch planned. I also have a lot of my own design ideas rumbling around in my brain.
For knitting I have four sweaters for myself, a shawl for myself, and two sock patterns for myself planned.
I have lots of granny square wishes for crocheting. It will be fun to look back and see where the year takes me!