Monthly Archives: December 2015

Sweater Incentive

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Yesterday I blogged about my Cuff to Cuff sweater and wanting to finish this long term WIP. I technically don’t have a deadline but if I do finish it by Christmas then I get some bonus points in the Down Cellar Studio pigskin party KAL. So I’m giving myself a little motivation!

I’m in the mood to KNIT ALL THE THINGS and CAST ON RIGHT NOW. I really want a Momma Vertebrae by Kelly Brooker. One with long sleeves in a nice warm cozy worsted yarn. I even have the perfect yarn! Berroco Vintage in Mushroom…

  
A neutral beige that would suit many of my tops for a great layering piece. Tons of people have knit this and I want to be wearing it already. But first I need to finish the cuff to cuff or I fear I never will! Thus this will be the carrot at the end of my needles.

Do you use knitting incentives to stay on track?

Sweater Resurrection 

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I’ve been on an organizing tear of late. I went through my wardrobe with a ruthless eye and got rid of the clothes that don’t fit post baby. And the ones that don’t make me happy or feel good. They will go to a good home to my sister or to a women’s shelter. And I also tore through my WIPs pile. It was time to knit or frog. I unearthed my Cuff to Cuff Sweater.

  I started this in 2014 but it stalled majorly after Jellybean was born. I was sorely tempted to rip it out as I’m not sure it will fit my new and improved mom hulk shoulders. But all it was missing was one sleeve and the collar/edging. Still a lot of knitting to do but it seemed a shame to undo. I can always gift it to my cousin or sister. 

It’s knit with Berroco Vintage in a teal/blue. I picked the yarn up for a song when a LYS sadly closed its doors in 2014. Also, if I finish this before Christmas I can count this as another WIP interception for the Down Cellar Studio pigskin party KAL!

A Warm Solution 

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So Jellybean is an active wiggling 15 month old and we are heading into the heart of winter. He has several jackets and coats but we never leave them on in the car seat for safety reasons. So that’s lots of on and off clothing wrestling with a marginally cooperative toddler in the bracing cold of the Midwest. I had a flash of inspiration…he needs a open cardigan much like the kiddy or momma vertebrae. Something to keep his arms/shoulders/back warm without anything on the front to interfere with the efficacy of the car seat straps!

Enter the Snugbug by Tiaga Hilliard Designs!

  
@Tiaga Hilliard Designs 

I pulled some Knit Picks Brava Bulky in red from my deep stash. I’ve already cast on and worked down to the armhole divide. I’m in love and may have to make more than one!  

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Reverse Rib Mitts

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Thanks to a very delayed and drawn out legal meeting last week I finished my Reverse Rib Mitts!

  
Pattern: Reverse Rib Mitts by Holly Terrell

Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in Maple Leaves

Needles: US 2

Mods: none

  
I used about 60% of a 50 gram skein. They are fraternal but that’s not a problem for me. I did misread the pattern and the ribbing at the fingers is 2×2 instead of 3×1. But I made both gloves match so no one will notice but me. I really tried to love these but I don’t. I loved knitting them but not the FO. (#knitterproblems) I think these will hit the gift pile for Christmas. My sister is going to be one lucky lady this year!

Happy Knitting!!

Black Yarn Oops

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I started up with my Mini Thermal Vest I started for Jellybean back in June. I got about this far…

  
And I hated the fabric which is why I set it down. It was too loose and open on the US 8 needles I was using. So I put my big girl panties on and swatched. The magic number turned out to be US 7s. 

  
I’m flying now, gotta love big yarn on big needles. There is a pattern there I promise. It’s just impossible to photograph this inky black yarn. It’s knit picks shine worsted. I’m hoping to have this ready for church on Christmas Eve with the family!

Happy Knitting!!

OCD Level: Expert

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Jellybean took an extra long nap this past weekend so I had a few extra minutes to myself. I felt the need to organize!

  
That my friends is my entire sock history all neatly laid out in one pile. I took some old business cards and my pile of sock leftovers and went to town. Each card holds several yards of yarn neatly labeled by date, project name, and yarn name. These cards will be stored in a file card box in case of darning or other necessary sock repair. All the rest of my leftovers went into a baggy for a future leftover project. 

Does anyone else keep leftovers for repairs?

Stress Socks

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Here in the Midwest we had a rather dicey Thanksgiving with rain/sleet/ice. I was away at the inlaws. And though lovely people they are, I was ready to go home after three days. The weather was still dicey but we struck out for home on Saturday!

I had my Flying North socks in the car. So with my husband at the wheel I manned my needles. I stress knit across the watery icy roads. We had a couple of tense moments but made it home safely.  I managed two inches and an afterthought heel.

  
My gauge might have been a wee bit tighter in the most recent section but progress is progress!

  
I do so love this simple pattern and the yarn is a knitters dream. (It’s Plucky Feet by the Plucky Knitter.) I can’t wait for them to be on my feet!

Happy Knitting!!

WIP Wednesday: Wool Free Vanilla Socks

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Yay for self striping yarn!

  
My Wool Free Vanilla Socks are swimming along. I did have a run in with yarn “barf” coming from my center pull ball. (Aka a tangled mess of yarn from the middle of my ball.) I tried in vein to untangle the mess but alas I had to resort to cutting….sigh

  
The cutting meant I was disrupting the stripe pattern. I salvaged as far as I could and knit till I ran out of yarn without messing up the order. Those two tiny balls are the remainder of the skein. It’s still a proper sock but shorter than I had planned. 

To soothe my soul I started sock #2 and after a few inches I noticed this…..

  
Two drastically different dye lots! The second is much more muted and I do so love the first sock. I’m still forging ahead as the color difference won’t affect how warm they are. This is what I get for not checking the dye lots of the sale bin, lol.

Happy Knitting!

Christmas For Toddlers

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We have a very active and “helpful” 14 month old in the house. And tis the season for for holiday decorations! I thought Jellybean deserved his own toddler safe tree.

  A little felt from Joanns and one nap time later….he had a tree!

  It was a huge hit! Until he found the 3M strips holding it up and took it off the wall. Oh well, it was an hour of fun anyway!

Only 24 more days to Christmas!