October Knitting and Sewing Projects: Traveler Hood, Frogging Adventures, and a Handmade Wardrobe Update
It’s mid-October here in Arkansas, and even though the mornings feel cool and crisp, by the afternoon it’s back to feeling like the middle of July. The weather may be all over the place, but it hasn’t stopped me from dreaming up cozy knits and planning a few sewing projects for fall. In this post, I’m sharing my finished Traveler Hood by Andrea Mowry, some works in progress that are making me rethink my project list, a few frogging adventures, and the latest additions to my handmade wardrobe.
The Traveler Hood Finished Object
The star of this week’s making session has to be my Traveler Hood by Andrea Mowry.
It’s part of her Traveler series, which also includes a hoodie, a hat, a cowl, and a shrug. This newest pattern is a hooded collar that gives all the cozy sweatshirt vibes without the full sweater commitment. It’s perfect for layering under a jacket or wearing as a statement piece over a simple top.
What I love about this design is the practicality. It gives the look and warmth of a hoodie but doesn’t mess with your sleeves when you layer it under a coat. The clean details really stand out, like the beautifully grafted i-cord edges and the neat join where the back and front come together. The hood is shaped nicely too, so it lays perfectly when worn up or down.
I made mine using The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers Recollect, one of my favorite yarns to knit with. It’s a Rambouillet wool that feels soft and springy in the hands, a real treat after working with plant fibers. I paired it with a contrasting i-cord made from Salty Blonde Fiber DK that I had left over from another Andrea Mowry project. The texture is made up of alternating knit and purl sections, which gives it that sweatshirt feel while keeping it simple to knit.
Recollect blooms beautifully when washed, but it also stretches quite a bit, so don’t panic if your project looks small before blocking. Once it hits the water, it grows a lot. I knit the size 3 but would recommend sizing up if you want more room at the shoulders. I can already tell this is going to be one of those pieces I reach for all the time once it cools off.
Frogging and Making Decisions
Sometimes you have to take a step back and really look at what’s sitting in your project bags. That’s where I’ve been this week. I had a few too many WIPs on the go and decided it was time for some frogging therapy. Projects that no longer sparked joy or fit my current style got unraveled, freeing up yarn for things I’m genuinely excited to make.
One of those projects I reworked was used in my Ingrid Slipover by PetiteKnit. My friend Jessamy wanted to knit one for our Fish Girl Fall makealong, and I decided to join her. I didn’t have a lot of worsted weight yarn in my stash, but I did have some Purl Soho Hedgerow yarn that was perfect.
It’s a marled blend with a touch of silk, and I love the depth it gives the fabric.
The Ingrid Slipover features a double moss stitch and mock cables that look like tiny rope details. I’m making mine in a size medium to avoid the super oversized look. I’m also planning to crop it to hit right at my natural waist and change the collar to a simple one-by-one rib instead of the pattern’s folded neckline. It’s been a satisfying knit so far, and I can already tell this one will get a lot of wear.
Rediscovering the Norma Sweater
When I was sorting through my projects, I came across my Norma Sweater from My Favorite Things Knitwear.
I had completely forgotten how close I was to finishing it. It’s a raglan-style sweater with gentle striping and the kind of simple colorwork that’s perfect for beginners. The color combination I’m using might be one of my all-time favorites. The yarn is Sonder Yarn Co. Sunday Morning DK, a BFL and Masham blend that blooms beautifully after blocking.
The shades I chose are hot cocoa, personal space, and offline. They look earthy and rich together, and the fabric has this rustic charm I love. It’s not superwash, so it feels woolly and natural, but still soft enough to wear next to skin. I’m so close to splitting for the sleeves, and this one has definitely made its way back into my active rotation.
Soft Suri and New Sweater Cast-Ons
I’ve been knitting with more Suri alpaca lately, even though I used to avoid it for fear of it being too warm for our Arkansas weather. But after working on a few Suri projects, I’ve changed my mind. The drape and softness are unmatched, and they make such luxurious sweaters.
One of my current projects using Suri is the Cealliagh Sweater by Johanna Gehrisch
- (https://www.ravelry.com/designers/johanna-gehrisch-2), also known as Kolibri on Instagram. https://www.ravelry.com/projects/YoungFolkKnits/ceallaigh-sweater#
It’s a plaid sweater that combines stripes with crocheted grid lines for the woven look. I’m using yarn from The Lamb & Kid, one of my favorite dyers, in shades of Sleepover, Conversation Pit, and Vintage. The colors melt together in the most beautiful low-contrast way, and it’s knitting up on size 9 needles, so it’s flying off the needles.
Next on my list is the Rosie Sweater by Le Knit. I’ll be casting on with Melissa from Sonder Yarn Co. after she returns from Rhinebeck. This pattern is unique because it starts with a drop shoulder construction and transitions into a raglan once the colorwork begins.
I love that combination since it makes the colorwork easier to knit in the round. Because I can’t use mohair, I’m substituting with a strand of Suri alpaca held with Sonder’s Haven base, a delicate blend of Falkland merino, BFL, and Masham. My color combo includes the shades Offline, Erable, and Bear Hug. It’s going to be soft, drapey, and beautifully tonal.
A New Yarn Discovery
I also got some new yarn in the mail that I’m really excited about. It’s the Confluence Cotton base from The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers in the color Not Another Mauve. It’s a fingering weight blend of Rambouillet wool and cotton, which gives it this slightly tweedy look and a soft feel. I’ll be holding it with Suri in the color Bear Gulch for a new test knit. I haven’t swatched yet, but I can already tell this combo will be gorgeous once worked up.
Sewing: The Margot Skirt and Handmade Jeans
Knitting might be my first love, but sewing continues to hold a special place in my creative life. This month, I test-sewed the new Margot Skirt from Me + Kiddo Designs.
It’s a simple A-line silhouette that fits beautifully at the waist and hips while flaring out at the hem for plenty of movement.
I made mine using Merchant & Mills linen in a striped brown and green colorway called Solder Toddy. I skipped the pockets this time because sometimes side seam pockets can add bulk around the hips, but I think I’ll add them on my next version. The skirt has an elastic waistband, and I went for the faux drawstring option so it looks finished but stays simple to wear. It’s a pattern I’ll definitely sew again because it’s comfortable, versatile, and so easy to style.
I’ve also started sewing a pair of jeans using the Helene Selvedge Jeans pattern by Anna Allen, who designed the popular Persephone Pants.
I’m using a green-toned selvedge denim from Salt Lake Sewciety called Ashen, and I love the subtle color. The fly is finished, and even though I had to rip out my topstitching to fix the thread color, I’m excited about how they’re turning out. I’m sewing them alongside friends, including Meredith from Sew Liberated, who somehow already finished two pairs while I’m still on my first.
What I’m Reading and Watching
When I’m not knitting or sewing, I’ve been relaxing with a good book or some light TV. I just started The Impossible Fortune, the fifth book in Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series. These books are such a delight. They follow a group of witty, seventy-something friends living in a posh retirement community who spend their free time solving murders. The writing is clever, the characters are charming, and it always makes me smile.
As for watching, I’ve been keeping things light with classic comfort shows like The Golden Girls and Keeping Up Appearances. When I’m stressed, I can’t always commit to a long movie or series, so short, easy episodes are perfect.
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Wrapping Up
It’s been a full season of making, reflecting, and rediscovering projects I love. From the cozy Traveler Hood to the soft textures of Suri sweaters and the excitement of sewing jeans, this October has been filled with creative energy. I’d love to hear what you’re working on this month. Are you knitting something cozy for fall or diving into a new sewing project? Let me know your current makes, yarns, and patterns in the comments.
Until next time, happy knitting and sewing, y’all.
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