April - Let's Celebrate!

Congratulations to me! It's been a whole year - 365 days - without purchasing any yarn. None, nada, zero! I have been using only stashed yarn, even for tests. Every time I want a new skein of yarn, I go down to the craft room and open a tote to see what yarn still needs used, and so far, it has cured my craving for the new. I remember how I got so much. I'd see it, fall in love with it, buy it and then be so excited to wait for it to arrive. But when it did come, I still loved it, but that excitement just didn't seem to be there any more and I'd put it in a tote. I think I was turning more into a collector that a user of that yarn. Yes, hand-dyed is pretty, but there's only so many places one can use it. Beautiful patterned projects are hidden among the colors - stitches cannot be seen well. I find myself grabbing more of the plain colors these days and a hand-dyed only once in a while. I am excited that I actually lasted a year! Now let's see if I can hit 2! 

I finished my test for the Adore Tee. It crocheted up nicely but I found that the Bernat Handicrafter Cotton was not exactly what I would consider a garment type yarn, but it was what I had on hand. I would definitely use a nicer cotton yarn next time. The Adore Tee is a paid for pattern available on Ravelry. Finished April 6, 2025.

My next finish was the Cityscape Shawl by Benjamin Matthews. This was a Mary Maxim Knit Kit of the month and included the called for Red Heart Colorscape yarn in both the Mykonos and Bangkok colorways. I started it in 2024 and put it aside for another item I needed to finish and never picked it up. When digging through my craft room, I found the bag and just had to pull it out and complete it. This pattern is free on Yarnspirations website although the yarn has been discontinued. I never took a photo of the completed scarf - only where I was when I pulled it out to finally finish it. I was less than 50% at this point. Finished April 15, 2025

The next item finished is the Ticking Stripe Kitchen Towel. This was a kit I got back in 2020 from Annie's Hook and Needle Kit Club. This was to be either a knit or crocheted towel/dishcloth set. I knit the first towel, and had enough to do a second and found that I actually had enough to do a third! This is number 3 from the kit and I still had a little bit left over that went in my cotton scrap bin. This kit was definitely worth the price (I think I just paid postage). Unfortunately, this was another project that I forgot to take a finished photo of. Sigh... Finished April 17, 2025.

WIPs

I really wanted to work on some socks and I had a hand-dyed skein called Dream Weaver from Potions and Pearls  (on Etsy) that I've been hoarding. I LOVE the colors and just needed something mindless and beautiful to work on. I completed one sock when another test came through. I used my own vanilla sock recipe. First sock finished April 27, 2025.

I saw a test offer for some colorwork fingerless mitts that I loved, so you know I had to test these. Started April 27, 2025.

Last but not least, I thought I'd request this kit to test. It's a printed counted cross stitch on 11 count aida. I wasn't expecting a lot - especially for the price - but was quite surprised when it came. The item was printed well, although my old eyes had problems seeing the lightest blue printed on the fabric. No biggie, as there was a print chart that one could refer to. All floss, chart, needle, printed bookmarks and backing was included. Simple, mindless, and just something that could be pulled out when one wants to just do a little stitching.

April was a good month for crafting.