APQ 2017 UFO Challenge, Knit-A-Longs, & More

Happy 2017! And so starts a new year! First things first -- I was waiting for the announcement of the American Patchwork & Quilting 2017 UFO Challenge number to start the year. Seems it was announced early and it is #6. Turns out it is my Jamestown Sampler quilt which looked like this at the start of the month:

So I decided to see what the status of this project was exactly. I laid out all the finished blocks on my kitchen floor and it looked like this:

Pretty, huh? Weird though. I tried to concentrate my 2017 UFO list to consist mostly of completed tops so I could have 2017 be the year of quilting finishes! Wouldn't you know the first project selected is one that I have to assemble the top and then decide & sew on borders before I can even think about quilting! I have retreat this month so I hope to get this top together then.

While roaming through Ravelry, I decided to join in a couple of knit-a-longs. The Loopy Ewe is probably one of my favorite yarn stores. I love their yarns, programs, blog, and incentives -- basically everything about them! I decided to join in on their 2017 Sock Challenge. Thank goodness they're a loose group because this challenge involves knitting a pair of socks each month. I decided to join halfway, choosing to have a pair of socks knitted every other month. Here's what's on my lap yesterday morning:

I am knitting Cadence Socks  by Very Busy Monkey using yarn purchased at The Loopy Ewe. It's called Fibernymph Dye Works. It's a hand-dyed yarn that the colors mirror each other. They have all sorts of colors but I chose a neutral combo. Loving the pattern so far but I haven't gotten far along yet. It also double-duties in a Very Busy Monkey knit-a-long, which only challenges you to knit a new or in-progress VBM sock pattern. Perfect! One project = two challenges. I can do this!

I also decided to join the Warm Woolies Club through TLE also. Around the middle of December, January, and February they will send me (for a fee, of course) a skein of yarn plus extra goodies. There's a Group Page where they suggest Ravelry patterns to use that skein up. FUN! Another skein I need to wind up. They sent me a skein of Blue Moon's Fiber Arts Super Sparkle in pinks to purples with silver sparkle flecks throughout. I plan on knitting a Reyna cowl with this. You can find the pattern here .

My third knitting project-to-be  means getting another skein of yarn wound up. I got a free pattern when I participated in the One for You, One for Me KAL where, if we knit up 2 or more of Laura Aylor's cowl patterns by a specified date, she gave us a free pattern. She is a wonderful designer and I have the yarn, just need to cast on!

I did manage to FINALLY finish wool applique pillow kit. It's called "Farmer's Market" by Timeless Traditions, aka Norma Whaley. It was a FUN pattern and I thought the pillow turned out cute! 

I've lately been trying to work more diligently on my Mosaics applique project. I was so inspired by my friends' progress that I thought I should also get a move on it. Loving it also and will share pictures at a later time when there is some real progress to be shown.

And because that's not enough, I plan on pulling out a cross-stitch project to work on too! Nothing like a new year, a new slate, and I may need a new brain! Did I also mention that I want to start a new bed quilt? I think I'll quietly work on Split 9-Patch by Bonnie Hunter. I should be able to do this in between my other projects. I'd really like to use up some of my scraps this year! High hopes, right?

Happy New Year!