We are living in strange times; across the world we are all suffering varying types of ‘lockdown’.  But some say that yarn crafters, in fact any crafters, are well prepared for lockdown as we all have tools and ability to make beautiful things without leaving our sofa!

Whilst this is true, at the start of this pandemic I suffered from a loss of my crafting mojo; I wanted to make thing but couldn’t find the enthusiasm to craft.  I started several new projects but nothing grabbed my attention, I just couldn’t concentrate.  This is unusual for me but I reflected and decided I should try some simple projects.   And I started several.  And big confession here:  as soon as I had a whiff of a lockdown I ordered yarn from a variety of suppliers!  My stash control work over the last 2 years was thrown out of the window because I felt I needed plenty of yarn to keep me occupied.   I may have ordered as many as 30 skeins of yarn – but I didn’t count!

One project I started was a large blanket and another a Tunisian crochet cowl, both were fairly simple designs but I stalled.  Then I ordered some luscious sock yarn from Find Me Knitting – Dragon Hill Studio Shebourne Sparkle Sock.  I bought a skein of this yarn when I visited last year and made some lovely socks.  So I thought maybe a bit of blingy sock yarn would do it.  Like many LYS, Find Me knitting is operating mail order only and I contacted Deb to check that she had it in stock first.  She did and the 2 cakes of sock yarn arrived pretty promptly (thank you Deb!) and before I knew it a pair of vanilla but very sparkly socks were made – some blingy simple socks worked their magic!    It was the process of using a single skein (not too big or daunting a project) and doing something simple but rhythmic that provided the magic I needed.

I have a lot of single skeins in my stash which need good projects.   Co-incidentally at one of my weekly knitgroups, which are now online via Houseparty and Zoom, a good friend showed me her book on one skein sock yarn projects.  I was tempted to buy the book but then I realised I have a few one skein designs of my own.  So I will choose one of those next, probably from these favourites:

There are 3 patterns here, each are ideal as one skein projects and each using 4ply/fingering/sock yarn:  One Es Es, Kitty (which has several variations) and Muriel (which has 2 variations).  They all have a gentle rhythm to the pattern which makes them quite relaxing to work through.   I think they would make a lovely collection of one skein makes and I think I could get a dozen different shawls from all the variations.  So I have popped them together in an ebook on Ravelry called Single Skein Shawls, at a bargain price of £5 (normally £12 if bought individually).  So if you fancy some single skein lockdown projects, this may be perfect for you.

I’d love to know what single skein projects you may be working on, whether they are shawls, socks, mitts, cowls – so please share your progress!

Happy crocheting xxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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