This year, I decided to expand my capabilities and embark on little monthly challenges. Some of them are financed-based, some are fitness-based and some are just for fun. I really have no rhyme or reason for the challenges, I just wanted something to focus on for each month.
The challenge:
For October, the challenge was to finish all my crochet and knitting projects sitting around my apartment.
The parameters:
Originally, I planned on doing a step challenge for this month. But the gym in my apartment building was closed for renovations the first week, which really put me at a disadvantage. So instead, I glanced around my apartment, landed my eyes on the pile of half-finished yarn projects scattered across my coffee table, and thought, there’s my challenge!
Plus, the holidays are creeping up, and I want to make time to craft a few seasonal items. And because I know myself, I’d feel guilty starting anything new with unfinished projects still lurking around. So I set my goal for this month: finish three works-in-progress:
1. Sophie Scarf
I’m halfway through knitting the Sophie Scarf, and I just need to sit down and work on it.
2. Granny Squares
Remember those granny squares I crocheted for my June monthly challenge? They’ve lived on my coffee table ever since, waiting for their ends to be woven in and their destiny to be decided.
3. A Sock
Remember my July monthly challenge to knit a pair of socks and I only made it halfway through one? I promised myself I’d at least finish that lonely sock so I could free up the needles and call it progress.
How did I do?
I’m happy to say I finished all my projects that were on my list for this month!
Sophie Scarf
Done and done. This little neck scarf is destined for a friend who spotted a sample knitted up in a yarn shop. I uttered the four most dangerous words in knitting: “I can make that.” Months later, I’m finally finishing this up and getting it ready to ship off as a Christmas surprise. (I’m 99% sure she doesn’t read this blog, so we’re safe!)
Granny Squares
These squares have haunted my coffee table for months. Weaving in the ends alone took ages; next time, I’m sticking to one color to save my sanity. Once that was done, I decided to turn them into a tote bag.
Because the squares were slightly different sizes, I blocked them to make everything uniform, then joined them together, added a border and a handle, and it suddenly became a bag! It’s cute. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. The joins are a bit wonky and a little Frankenstein-ish, so I probably wouldn’t gift it, but I learned a lot. Next time, I’ll try a different joining technique.
The Sock
Oh, the lonely sock from July. All it needed was the leg portion, so I buckled down and finished it. I am happy to say that the sock actually fits! A first for me in the sock-knitting world. I’m excited to make its matching partner so I can finally wear them.
The bind-off was new to me: Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off. I’m not sure I love how it looks just yet – the top is a little bunchy – but maybe it’ll even out when the ribbing is stretched on my leg. Fingers crossed!
Lessons learned:
I guess I need to learn to stick with a project. I don’t know if I’m cut out to work on multiple projects at once.
I’ll be back next month with a new challenge.
2025 Monthly challenges:
January: Food budgeting
February: Sit-ups
March: Decluttering
April: Puzzles
May: Cozy Journaling
June: Granny Squares
July: Sock knitting
August: A picture a day
September: A poem a day
October: Finishing projects
Wow, your projects turned out great! I hope you can do the other sock soon so you can wear them. 😄
Thank you! I’m hoping to start it soon.