MickyFine's 2025 Projects

I'm Micky, 38, and I crochet and cross-stitch. I've currently got one project for each craft actively on the go and I like to share progress and completed photos around here. Let's see what I make in 2025!

Looking forward to seeing your projects!

Hi Micky! Looking forward to seeing what you make this year.

Hey Mickey - Always like to see what you're making.

Nice to see you, Meredith, Paws, and Betty!

All right, let's do a beginning of the year progress photo for the current cross-stitch project:



This project was basically ignored for all of December and I'm trying to strike a balance of working on crochet and cross-stitch on alternate evenings and giving an equal amount of time to both on weekends. We'll see how it goes.

The current crochet project is a pair of fingerless mitts that I plan to use in the office (this winter the HVAC has been blowing cold air at my desk a lot). I'm using the second ball of yarn that I picked up on my first trip to Newfoundland. They're working up pretty nicely now that I've got myself into a groove with the stitch pattern (and how loose I need to make the stitches so I don't spend ages fighting to get my hook through a stitch) and I'm a little over halfway done the body of the first mitt (thumbs are done separately in this pattern).

>6 MickyFine: Looks great!

>7 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori!

Ok, cross-stitchers, I'm starting to think ahead in my current pattern and I'm facing two pages of pattern that are solid stitches. Any advice on how to tackle this? Should I break it into smaller quadrants? Normally, I'd just do all the stitches of one colour and then move on, but with no white space to help orient myself, and the sort of impressionist style of this pattern, I'm worried about losing my place and having to rip out stitches.

I haven't cross-stitched in a while so I'm not really following you. But - What about using a basting stitch to create a grid? Would that help? Sort-of like the darker lines on the pattern? If there are any.

I tend to do those in sections, but I'd also mark out the edge of the solid stitching with pencil on the fabric to help avoid mistakes.

>10 dudes22: Sorry, Betty. Let's put it this way - the pattern page has no unfilled squares. I've never had to stitch that much without at least some white space that I can help use to orient myself on where I am in the project/pattern. Is that clearer?

>11 mabith: Yeah, I'm thinking that I might break the pages down into smaller chunks, even if it isn't as an efficient use of thread. I'm thinking maybe 20x20 stitch squares.

>9 MickyFine: They do make gridded Aida. I've never used it, but a lot of people do it. I've seen some people do the basting mentioned as well.

I will also say I find that there are fewer extra stitch lines when I do those sections stitching vertically rather than horizontally (where you get an extra heavy looking 'line' every two rows). I got a little obsessed with that kind of thing for a while.

Would doing light colors in a section help you be able to have a starting point? That popped into my head and may not be what you are asking

This is a kind of different solution, or a solution to a slightly different problem: but I do a lot of patterns with multiple pages, and I find that coloring in the stitches on the pattern as I do them helps keep me from making mistakes, and allows a quick comparison of the pattern to the "finished stitches" on the fabric. I only use about 6-8 different colors on the pattern even though there may be 50 colors or more of thread. I don't know if that suggestion helps or not. I have thought about doing a basting solution, but have never done it.

This became a crucial solution for me when I started doing blended colors, and couldn't tell the difference between them on the finished work.

Thanks all for your input. You've given me some good options to consider. :)

I'm pleased to say I've finished my first project of the year and I'm quite pleased with how they turned out. They'll go a long way to keeping my hands warm on days the office is chilly.



Pattern: Hello Autumn
Designer: Sidsel Sangild
Hooks: 3.5 mm and 4.5 mm
Yarn: Best Kind Sock in Partridgeberries from Windswept Fibres

>18 MickyFine: Nice.

Very Nice!

Those look great Micky!

Thank you, Leona, Betty, and Laura.

My next crochet project is going to be a sweater. I'm planning to make the Bridgette Ballet Neck sweater:


Photo Copyright Courtney A. Clark

This will be my first top down sweater with both a yoke and short rows, so it should be a fun learning experience.

I'm going to be using Hedgehog Fibres sock yarn in Cheeky:



I started gauge swatching today and I'm loving how the yarn feels and how the colour looks worked up.

Unfortunately, while using my swift and ball winder to cake up the yarn earlier this week, one of the skeins had a bit of a tangle and in my impatience, I made it decidedly worse so I have probably half a skein to untangle and wind into a ball by hand. And I have to do it before I start on the sweater proper as I know it's best to alternate between skeins for hand dyed yarn for large projects.

>23 MickyFine: Love that yarn!

Lovely yarn!

That's going to be gorgeous, Micky. I've had the same experience with swift+winder before. It's so annoying, but fixing it can also be kind of meditative.

>23 MickyFine: Beautiful colors.

>18 MickyFine: Cute! I love fingerless gloves for work (I'm always so cold and our circ desk has a fake-marble-like countertop, which is always frigid), and I've made myself a few pair, too.

>24 mabith: Me too!

>25 dudes22: Isn't it just?

>26 lauralkeet: I figured this plight would be familiar to someone around here, Laura. I'm thinking this evening I'll probably do some untangling while watching movies with Mr. Fine.

>27 mnleona: I think it's so pretty, too.

>28 scaifea: Ugh, yes, I am very familiar with this scenario. I've yet to meet a library HVAC that functions properly and doesn't result in being freezing at least part of every year.

>18 MickyFine: Wristers and fingerless mitts - you can never have enough. What a great pattern and yarn.

I usually wind from skeins by hand, as my swift and ball winder are always elsewhere when the mood strikes me, but as >26 lauralkeet: says, it is meditative.

>30 SassyLassy: Aww, thanks. I'm pretty delighted with them.

I did get my yarn untangled over the weekend with some unplanned help. I briefly let my attention wander and my cat, Smee, managed to get into it and chewed through it (sometimes cats do live up to the cliche). So now my skein is two balls. 😆

Gauge swatching has been a journey. I started and could immediately tell after a couple rows that I needed to go up a couple hook sizes. So I frogged, switched hooks and started over. Neared the end of gauge swatch attempt two and discovered that I'm closer on stitch width (should be perfect with blocking), but my rows are too tall. Le sigh. So now I have to frog again and try adjusting tension. I've watched a couple videos on adjusting the "golden loop," which should solve this problem. But after all this crocheting and frogging, I'm a bit annoyed with it so while I had today off, I opted to just cross-stitch instead and ignored my crochet all together, lol.

Well done, Smee!

I get frustrated with gauge swatching sometimes too. My most recent experience is a row gauge that is so far off the pattern specification that I'm blaming the designer. I know it's probably me, but it made me grumpy and I needed to take it out on someone LOL.

In knitting you can often get by with row gauge being "off" because you just knit more rows (or fewer) to achieve the desired length. But depending on the garment or stitch pattern, that strategy doesn't always work.

When I used to knit, I hated doing a swatch even though I knew it was important. One of the reasons I haven't gone back to knitting even though some of your (all of you) projects tempt me.

>32 MickyFine: I am crocheting what should be a simple scarf and maybe not in the mood so having to frog it also. I am now counting each row for the number of stitches.
I was like you and got some patterns together for cross stitching for Christmas.
The cat and yarn made me laugh.

I hardly ever do swatches. I’ll do some measuring once I’ve got somewhere on the work instead. I’m too lazy to do actual swatches.

>33 lauralkeet: LOL. I appreciate your sympathy. And my condolences on your own gauge swatching pains. I could probably adjust rows on this pattern but I think adjusting my tension will result in a slightly tighter fabric, which I think I'll like so here's hoping third time is the charm.

>34 dudes22: I'll take swatching over weaving in ends but it's not my favourite task at this moment, Betty.

>35 mnleona: I've been there. I've gotten to the point where depending on the project I'll just move stitch markers from row to row to make counting easier (every 10 stitches I put in a stitch marker). It beats getting halfway across and not being sure if you're at 46 or 56 stitches. 🤦‍♀️

>36 PawsforThought: I do them for sweaters as, after all that effort, I really want them to fit me. For things like gloves, scarves, and hats, I haven't swatched much but those are usually more forgiving (or small enough that frogging isn't quite so painful).

Monthly update on the cross-stitch project:



I wrapped up another pattern page on Monday so the top third of this is officially done. Since then, it's just been me and the lilac blob on the left. While I prefer doing a bunch of stitches all in one colour, rather than three stitches in one colour and then having to switch over and over again, I'm also looking forward to adding other colours so the blob looks more like the flowers it eventually will be.

I like the colors. Very pretty.

>38 MickyFine: Oh, that's lovely so far!

>39 mnleona: I agree the palette is really lovely.

>40 scaifea: Thanks, Amber!

>38 MickyFine: It's really fun seeing the gradual progress on this! it looks great

>42 mabith: Thanks so much!

I am always so impressed by your projects!

>44 lesmel: Aww, that's sweet of you.

Monthly cross-stitch update a few days late.



I finished another pattern page (although it's an edge so it was light on stitching to begin with). Really pleased with how this is turning out.

On the sweater front, I'm through the initial rounds of yoke construction and on to the short rows in the back. So far it's going well and I continue to love the yarn I chose for this.

Ooh, that cross-stitch is lovely, and it's really neat to see how it's come together in progress shots!

And ooh! Sweater! Cool, glad it's going well!

>47 Kalira: Thanks!

The cross-stitch project is looking nice!

>49 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori! Another week-ish and it'll be time for another update already.

A few days late (although I took the photo on April 1), here's the monthly update on the cross stitch project:



I've probably still got a third of a page left to stitch for the current pattern page but I am enjoying how you can tell what's to come in the negative space right now.

Sweater continues to be slow but steady progress. The joys of fingering weight yarn and having to work a little harder to make sure I match gauge, which slows down my usual crochet speed. However, I am getting closer to the end of the bust section and then I get to do waist shaping rows.

That's really looking nice.

>52 dudes22: Thank you, Betty!

looking great!

>54 al.vick: Thank you!

>51 MickyFine: It's so much fun seeing the full design appear. It looks great!

>56 mabith: It's fun for me too, Meredith. I'm constantly referring to the complete pattern image and being like, ah, that's what we're doing here!

It really is neat to see the picture to come through design, so to speak!

>58 lesmel: Agreed!

Another month, another cross-stitch update. I was feeling like I'd barely done anything but looking back at my post from the beginning of April, I've done more than I thought.



Sweater is ticking along and starting to look like a cap sleeve crop top right now, lol.

Pretty stitching, Micky.
I have one of those cap sleeve crop tops on my needles, too. That made me chuckle.

>61 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. I have a feeling your crop top will be a full sweater before mine.

>62 MickyFine: Only because I'm short ha ha.

I've mostly been working on bigger cross stitch project this year so I feel like I'm not doing many finishes, but I am making progress. I'm over halfway through page 9 (of 20) on Pandemic. I've made progress on several other projects. I've only finished a couple of smalls that were called for WIPGO. I've decided not to do WIPGO next year. Instead I'm going to put several projects on a wheel so I can focus on whatever is called that week and then move to something else the next week. I'll keep working on Pandemic next year (although I predict a 2027 completion date for it. I could possibly knock it out by the end of 2026.) I will also put some smalls in next year--at least one a month.

>64 thornton37814: I hear you on the large projects. Most of the patterns in my stash are detailed ones. The current project is part of a planned triptych for my home library. At the pace I'm going, I might finish this piece by the end of the year. I haven't decided if I'll immediately dive into the next piece of the trio or take a break and do something different for a bit. But I have months to decide, lol.

Monthly cross-stitch update.



I finished a pattern page in the past month and am currently getting close to the quarter mark on the current page. In terms of the number of pattern pages I'm past the halfway mark but as the project is bottom heavy, I'm not halfway with actual stitching.

Plus a bonus update on the crochet sweater. I finished working on the torso today (with the exception of the hem stitching on the neckline). On to sleeves!

Looking good Micky! I like the way the yarn works up in that sweater.

>68 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. I'm really pleased with how it's turning out.

I've been spending more of my crafting time working on the sweater in the past month (I am very close to finishing it) but there's been a bit of progress on the cross-stitch.

Looks great!

>70 MickyFine: Oh, that’s really lovely, Micky!

>70 MickyFine: I love that piece, and it's fun to watch the design appear, like magic, as you work.

>71 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori.

>72 PawsforThought: Thanks, Paws. I'm pleased with how it's turning out.

>73 lauralkeet: It really is an enjoyable craft to see squares turn into a full image as you work. :)

>74 MickyFine: - "...see squares turn into a full image..." That's one of the things I liked so much when I used to do cross stitch - seeing the pattern emerge on a blank piece of fabric.

>75 dudes22: It's very satisfying for sure, Betty. I'm sure quilting has moments like that too.

I finished the crochet sweater today! I did the last of the rows on the second sleeve last night and did the final bits of weaving in this morning. It's now washed and blocking so probably photos later this week (or more honestly, next weekend).

With one crochet project done, I've moved straight into another. This afternoon I've started on a toque for myself using some leftover yarn from my stash. My last few projects have all used fingering weight yarn so it's a delightful change to be starting this project using worsted weight and what feels like a chonky 6 mm hook.

The cross-stitch is still on the go but a little neglected as having the finish line in sight for the sweater meant it got all my crafting time.

>77 MickyFine: I was counting the weeks left in summer today, and toque season is not that far away! Regarding the fire season right now, I hope you at least have decent air quality. I was in Winnipeg twice in the past month, and the air quality was really bad. You could smell the smoke drifting in from the west and north.

Looking forward to the sweater pictures.

>77 MickyFine: - Congratulations on finishing your sweater. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

>78 SassyLassy: Yup, toque season does approach. I'm making this one with plans to take it to Scotland when we go mid-September.

Smoke hasn't been too bad this summer so far *touch wood*. We had some very smoky days in May but mostly it's just been hazy. We do have smoke in the forecast (along with rain) in the forecast today though.

>79 dudes22: Thanks, Betty!

>80 MickyFine: Wow - Scotland in September - gorgeous! I remember hiking there one beautiful September afternoon and having to stop because it was hot enough to worry about heat stroke (carrying a heavy back pack for a five day hike). I sat at a request only railway station reading outside until the train came alone. It was lovely.

Good to hear things are reasonable in Edmonton.

>81 SassyLassy: Yup, I'm preparing for all contingencies knowing that Scotland is likely to be similar to weather here in September: no option out of bounds (but with way more rain). The year I got married it snowed on our wedding day (in mid-September), but there have also been years where I could wear shorts on our anniversary. I've got outfit plots for all options and we'll see what forecasts look like closer to departure. The toque prep is in case we end up at the chilly end of the spectrum. :)

As promised, photos of the completed sweater.




Pattern: Bridgette Ballet Neck
Designer: Courtney A. Clark (@ilovetinderbox on Instagram)
Yarn: Hedgehog Fibres Sock in Cheeky
Hook: 3.75 mm

The off-the-shoulder neckline is perhaps a little lower than I want so I may add a couple rows there and on the sleeves. We'll see how I feel about it after wearing it a couple times. The yarn is SUPER soft though and it feels lovely to wear in terms of texture.

Wow, great job!

Very cute! Looks like it would go with a lot of things - dressed up or down.

Really pretty, Micky! Nice work.

It looks great! I love how that yarn knit up, pattern wise.

>84 norabelle414: Thanks, Nora!

>85 dudes22: I'm hoping so, Betty. I'll give it a whirl in the fall, I think.

>86 lauralkeet: Thank you, Laura!

>87 mabith: It's always fascinating to see how speckled yarn works up. I was quite pleased with how it turned out for this crocheted project.

As previously mentioned, the cross-stitch hasn't had much attention in the past month but has still grown a bit.

>89 MickyFine: Beautiful shading. Such a change from crochet - we have to keep all our outlets going!

Didn't mention that >83 MickyFine: looks great.

>90 SassyLassy: Thank you. I do enjoy swapping between crafts. It adds some nice spice to my evenings and weekends, lol.

I finished my toque this afternoon.



Pattern: Madison Beanie
Designer: Maple Silver Stitches
Hook: 6.5 mm and 7 mm
Yarn: Gingersnap Lux Worsted in Satin Slip and Heirloom

I'm quite pleased with how this one turned out. Since I'm planning to bring this to Scotland in case of cold temperatures, I'm not adding a pom-pom now (easier to tuck under a rain hood), but I might add one later.

Nice to see the cross-stitch hasn't been totally neglected, Micky. 😀 And the toque looks great! I think you're smart to hold off on the pompom for now.

I love seeing the progress on your crossstitch even if it's only a little more. And I love the color on your toque. I agree with Laura -save the pom-pom for when you get back.

>93 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. I'm pretty pleased with how the toque came out.

>94 dudes22: Thanks, Betty. Going to try and give the cross-stitch a little more time this month. We'll see how it goes.

Micky, I thought of you today, were your ears burning? I saw some photos online where someone is making a granny square "book blanket" by crocheting a granny square for each book read. That's pretty cool, but it gets better: each square uses colors similar to the book's cover.

>96 lauralkeet: That's a very cool idea.

So after the toque, I started (and frogged and started and frogged and started) a shawl that I intend for the office. I was fighting with gauge. Apparently, I crochet very tightly because to match a gauge done with 6 mm hook, I would have to use a 9mm?! I didn't love how holey the fabric was at that size hook so I'm instead using a 7 mm and doing extra rows to match the length it should be. Did I pull out the Pythogarean theorem to do the math? Yes, yes I did. I'm just about finished the first colour block section and it's looking lovely.

However, I think I'm going to pause on the shawl and save it to take as my project on my upcoming trip in September. Especially as I offered my step-daughter the choice of a cross-stitch piece or crochet blanket as a wedding gift and she opted for a blanket. I bought the pattern on Ravelry yesterday as it's one I've been eyeing and I think I'll use for other wedding gifts in future. I picked up yarn today (nothing fancy just Pound of Love). I've already issued the disclaimer it will not be ready for the wedding (early October) but I'm aiming for Christmas at the very latest. So here's hoping I fight less with gauge this time. 🤞

Look at you and your math skills, lol. I'm looking forward to seeing the blanket, is it bed-sized or more of a throw?

>99 lauralkeet: It's a square throw blanket. I'll definitely post progress photos here. 😊

First section of the blanket is done.

What a pretty pattern! And I like the color too.

>102 dudes22: Thanks, Betty. It's coming out bluer in this photo than it looks in real life. It's called "Cascade" and is more blue-green to my eye.

And after thinking about it, the shawl I've paused is a little bulky for a trip project. So I wound some sock yarn into balls for a cowl project instead. I'll definitely start on that one before we go as foundation rows are often tricky (especially if I need to swap hook sizes). I usually don't have this many WIPs on the go and my brain isn't completely psyched about it, lol.

Second section of the blanket is done. I'm pleased you can at least somewhat see the shell stitches in the charcoal.

And I wrapped up the third section last weekend.



Next update will probably be a few weeks both because as the square grows, it takes longer to do a round. Also, I'm traveling soon and won't be bringing this one along. Nor will I be bringing the shawl as I initially plotted. I've instead started a third project (which is an awful lot of WIPs for me). It's a cowl made with sock yarn and the foundation chain is looking super pretty with the colour I've chosen. Now to finish the internal debate about whether I should bring both skeins that the project calls for or be realistic and admit I'm unlikely to get through a whole skein in random moments of crafting in 10ish days away. :P

Also, does anyone have any experience with taking safety pin style stitch markers through airport security? The Canadian website talks about brooch style pins (which are fine) so I'm assuming my stitch markers will be fine but I'll happily take any stories either way.

I'm really liking that color combo Looking good!

>107 dudes22: Thanks, Betty!

I finished the fourth section of the blanket last night.



It's a little harder to see the stitch detail in this photo as I took it in the evening and not in natural light, but I'm quite pleased with how it's going.

Also, you know I couldn't go to Scotland, the land where there are 4 sheep for every 1 person, and not come home with some yarn, lol.

I visited Kathy's Knits in Edinburgh and came home with these two from Abercairn Yarns:


Jewel Beetle


Spring Tide

Then while browsing a shop in Portree on Skye, I happened across a small basket of yarn in amongst the other goods on display and found one that was too pretty not to bring home. This skein is from Hebridean Fibre Company:


Spruce & Willow

I have no idea what I'm going to use any of them for (they're all fingering weight) but they're all cozy in my stash now.

They are lovely!

Another blanket update photo now that I've completed section 5.

>110 MickyFine: Great yarns to play with!

>112 MickyFine: How many sections will there be in total?

>113 mabith: They're super pretty yarns, it's true.

The blanket has 8 sections total of varying widths. I should definitely finish section six this week as it's only 5 rounds.

Hubby & I are going to spend a couple of months in a warmer climate this winter and I'm thinking about taking the Quaker Tiles cross stitch as a project to work on since I'm not taking a sewing machine this time. I was wondering what count cross stitch cloth you used when you did it. I went back and looked at yours finished and it seems like a good size.

>115 dudes22: I'm 90% sure I used 16 count Aida, Betty.

Ok - Thanks. I'm trying to decide how big I want the picture when it's all done. I don't have a lot of wall space and need to decide where it might go.

>117 dudes22: Always the tricky part of making wall pieces.

I finished the wedding blanket for my step-daughter and her husband a couple weeks ago but only managed to take pictures of it this week. They'll be getting it at Christmas as that's the next time I'll see them both.



Pattern: Shell & Lace Throw
Designer: Leanna Haughian (craftybones on social media)
Hook: 5 mm
Yarn: Lion Brand Pound of Love in Cascade and Charcoal

That's really nice, Micky. I like the stitch in the light blue second in.

>120 dudes22: Thanks, Betty. It's a really beautiful design and one I'll probably use again for other gift blankets.

About what size is it?

Micky, that's beautiful! I bet they'll be thrilled to receive it.

>122 dudes22: I haven't measured but I think it came out pretty close to what the pattern is supposed to be which is 53" (135 cm) square.

>123 lauralkeet: Thank you, Laura! I hope they like it. 😊

That's a really nice size.

Your blanket turned out so beautifully!

>126 mabith: Thank you! ❤️

>119 MickyFine: Gorgeous! I love the colo(u)rs.

>128 norabelle414: Thanks, Nora. I'm crossing my fingers they'll like them too as the requested colours were black and green and I definitely took some liberties with that, lol. Although the teal is more green than it looks in these photos.

I'm unlikely to complete any other projects this year so I've set up a thread for 2026.