Finished: 2018 Advent Socks

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The 2018 Advent Socks are done and dusted!

Pattern: My own 68 stitch toe up vanilla sock “recipe”

Yarn: The Cozy Knitter 2018 Advent Stripe skein and The Cozy Knitter Bliss Sock white mini skein

Needles: US 1s

I used about 15 grams of the white contrast for the toes and heels. While I used exactly half of the advent skein. The Cozy Knitter sends hers with two full repeats of the 24 color design. So I can get two pairs of socks out of these skeins for my US 9 womens shoe size. I did mess up one sock slightly as the heel and toe are just slightly off alignment. But that doesn’t affect their wearability so I’m rocking it.

I do have the remainder of the skein to do something with. I think I will move on to the 2019 skein and save all the second halves. And then I will take all the seconds and send off to be cranked into sock snakes. Then I can batch create the second pair of each color.

Seems simple right? Happy Knitting!!

Projects and Project Runway

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I’m in a project lull and a little bit of an end of summer funk. I don’t want to start major things until the Pigskin Party KAL starts next month and even then I don’t know what I want to plan besides some hats.

So I have grabbed my Super Scrappy Granny Stripe Blanket and I am working on this hibernating project. I am currently focusing on using up the teeny tiny scraps of yarn. Those that don’t even get across a full row. I want to finish out a ziplock of those scraps before opening any new mini skeins or the larger leftovers. And it’s pretty zen working the same stitch over and over and over again!

I have been listening to audio books and crocheting at night instead of TV or playing Switch games. These are the whims of mojo and I’m just following it.

Happy Crochet!!

Grafting The Heels

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The 2018 Advent Socks are extremely close to being done.

I cut the heels in last week and got the live stitches on the needles. I have just been avoiding knitting the actual heels. I do a modified afterthought heel where I add extra plain rows when I start the heel and methodically work down to the alternating decrease row/plain row pattern. This creates a deeper heel that fits my specific foot better. The fabric doesn’t slip down into the foot portion nearly as badly.

Both of these are ready for Kitchener and I’m feeling the task avoidance….

Happy Knitting!!

Book Binge

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I was having a really rough week. And I took some time to myself to step away from work and home. I ended up sipping a coffee and walking around Barnes & Noble. And then I fell down in the mystery section….

I know purchasing things is not great self care (at least as a primary source) but I have been finding myself more drawn to books this summer. Mostly due to the Summer Reading contests at my local library. And I’m on a huge detective novel kick so give me all of the Sherlock Holmes and Jessica Fletcher.

I picked out these six books because the synopses looked great and the covers caught my eye. Most of these are new to me, except for the two in the bottom right. Three Bags Full is the book that the Hugh Jackman movie “The Sheep Detectives” was based on. That was a beautifully done movie and I can’t wait to read the book. Who doesn’t love animals solving crimes?

Happy Reading!!

Finished: Bibliophile 2

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The Bibliophile 2 is finally off my needles after almost exactly one year on the needles.

Pattern: Bibliophile 2 by Alicia Plummer (Rav Link)

Needles: US 7s and US 5s

Yarn: Berroco Vintage DK in Blue

Mods: I didn’t knit the cuff ribbing as long as called for. And I lengthened the body to have a finished length that hit below my hips, also a pattern deviation.

This ended up being a nice comfy sweater. Just slightly oversized without swamping me. The sleeves are slouchy and cover my knuckles. I used just under four full skeins of the Vintage DK. Finished weight is 372 grams of yarn or 1,078 yards of yarn. I have a little numb and one full skein left over.

I literally tried this on and took photos in the 100+ degree heat. So I didn’t linger in this FO for very long. It will be a minute before I need this sweater for warmth. The pattern was fairly easy to follow and the finished look is good. But I likely wouldn’t knit this one again, once is enough.

Now I need to plan my fall sweater knit and what I want to work on for the 2026 Pigskin Party KAL! Happy Knitting!!

Cutting In 2018 Heels

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The tubes are done for the 2018 Advent Vanilla Socks!

I measured and cut in for where my heels need to go. It’s so hot here in Kansas that I plan to skip the wool and do some reading in the basement where the air doesn’t hurt my face. But I think another evening of swim lessons or indoor gymnastics and I will have finished heels. And therefore finished socks!

I will have half a skein of the self striping left. I am formulating an idea where I save the second halves of all my advent skeins and send them off to be machine knit into snakes….stay tuned….

Happy Knitting!!

Last Dregs of Summer

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Okay, I am soaking up the last dregs of summer. It’s all about sunshine and poolside vibes.

I found the LAST lounge for the shade and hit the pool as soon as we could. And it was still easily 92 before the hottest part of the day. I cooled of in the water and then sat with my book to supervise the waterslide.

I am reading The Wedding People and it is book 7 of 10 for summer reading challenge for the library where I work. I already completed the book challenge for my hometown library. Only two more and I get some cool prizes!

Happy Summer and Happy Reading!!

Casting Off, Finally

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It just finished storming here in the Midwest and is forecasted to start to reach temperatures close to the surface of the sun. So why not finish a DK weight sweater? The Bibliophile 2 is almost done!

I have in fact used my measuring tape to figure out when to stop instead of just using up all the rest of my skein that is attached to the work. I don’t need a knitted dress.

This thing is cast off and I did a quick bath in the sink. Bright side to the heat? This thing is drying quickly in the constant flow of A/C from the floor vent. Plus I popped it outside in the sun for a couple of hours to speed up the process.

Next up, I just need to weave in the rest of my ends and take FO photos. In 100 plus degree heat…..Sigh

Happy Knitting!!

Hemming Along

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The 2×2 hem is growing on my Bibliophile 2. I’m on the home stretch, I think? I have over an inch thus far on these tiny needles.

PB has passed level three swim and I got to enjoy an only sort of hot Saturday morning in the shade. My ball of yarn is shrinking but I’m also making growing progress on the hem. It’s just a race now!

Happy Knitting!!

Fell Down In The Library Sale

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I took the kids to the library to collect our summer reading prizes. And it just so happened they were having the library book sale.

I might have fallen down in the mystery section. I grabbed six books that just sounded good. Turns out I had already read one of the six books so it’s going into little free library in my neighborhood.

And one of these was actually on my Goodreads FYP page so I feel like my instincts are good, lol.

Happy Reading!!