The idea of sharing my weekly stitches with you was to keep me organised and on track. I have so many ideas buzzing in my head that I end up with more WIPs than I care to admit. As I type this, I’m surrounded by half-finished projects – and even finished ones waiting for their patterns to be graded!
I studied Fashion specialising in Knitwear at Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication, and later worked in the yarn industry in lots of different roles – designer, design consultant, brand manager, sales and marketing manager. But no matter what I was doing, I was always, at heart, a knitter.
Knitting calms me when life feels a bit much. It helps me focus and clears my head. And sometimes, when I can’t decide what to do next… I just pick up my needles, and the answer appears like magic.
So, confession time. I did cast on another project before finishing the child’s jacket.
Why? Because I have castonitis – that irresistible urge to start something new.
The weather’s turning chilly, and I couldn’t find my Caspian Hat. That’s all the excuse I needed to cast on a new one!
And once I started, I couldn’t stop. I knitted one in a few evenings, and when I finished, I felt a little sad… so I immediately started another one in a different colour. Two hats in a week – not bad going!
Here’s how it went:
- Monday: Cast on, balanced chores with knitting, watched Black Widow and Jonathan Creek, and got most of the main part done.
- Tuesday: Just four rows of the crown shaping – needed full focus for that bit!
- Wednesday: Finished the crown while watching Silent Witness and loved every stitch of the shaping. It’s those small details that bring me joy.
- Thursday/Friday: Busy days, but I cast on the other hat and managed just a few rows in the evenings – the perfect tonic.
- Saturday: Movie night knitting. Almost ran out of yarn mid-row but just made it – phew!
- Sunday: Rainy day, perfect for chores and knitting. Finished the main part and shaped the crown. It’s completed! So 3 days to knit the first one and 4 days to knit the second one.
The Caspian Hat is one of my earliest designs – before the Purl &Jane studio even opened – and it’s still a classic. It’s gender-neutral, simple, and endlessly wearable. You can make a short beanie or a longer cuffed version, depending on your style.
The Donegal Aran yarn is a dream for this project. It’s a traditional woollen-spun yarn that keeps you warm but never too warm, perfect for British autumns. That’s the wonder of wool – it quietly keeps you comfortable without you even realising until the day you forget to wear it.
If you fancy knitting your own, you can get:
- The pattern – £4.95
- Two balls of Donegal Aran – £9.90
- Or the complete kit for just £14
Now… which WIP should I finish next? (As long as I don’t cast on another hat first!)