Monthly Archives: April 2016

FO Friday: Fantastico Vanilla Socks

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Another project for the 12 Months to Christmas KAL with BostonJen of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast is in the books! My Fantastico Vanilla socks are done…

 Pattern: Toe Up Vanilla sock over 68 stitches

Yarn: Regia 6-ply Fantastico

Needles: US 2s

I worked these toe-up with a gusset heal. I got feedback from my husband that this heel fits better across a wide foot. And my dad has is size 13 US wide. I managed to sneakily get my Dad to try these on pretending they were for my hubby. The fit was great and he remarked how soft he thought they were. I’ve given these a good wash and block and tucked away for Christmas. I meant to get my husband to model these for me but once out of sight…out of mind!

These turned out fairly tall and I only used 80% of the skein. Regia is a great yarn to work with and the 10 year guarantee doesn’t hurt. I see a lot more Regia 6-ply socks in my future for the sock worthy men in my life!

Happy Knitting!

Establishing The Pattern

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I’m slowly working on my Zigzagular Socks. I’m converting these to toe up so I’m having to think through the construction and the pattern to wrap my over tired brain cells around that all.

  
I’ve knit the stockinette toe for the right sock and places stitch markers for the pattern section. When I get a minute to concentrate I’m going to try to work through a chart repeat to see how this goes.

I made a series of realizations whilst working the toe increases. A) this yarn is more of a light fingering B) the ideal stitch counts for my foot at this guage fall in between the pattern counts C) my sister’s shoe size fits the 64 stitch count and guage perfectly. So basically my knitting subconscious is telling me these need to be for my sister. I don’t have the warewithall to both follow the chart, work my first cables and modify this to fit my foot. Baby steps….I’ll get the pattern in my fingers/brain first and then do another pair for me. Besides it will knock an item off my Christmas to do list!

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday: Mandrake Vanilla Socks

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I’ve made some reportable progress on my Mandrake Vanilla Socks!

  
The first sock is done. This is a 68 stitch toe up vanilla sock with afterthought heel. I like the afterthought heel for preserving the stripes but I’m not sure it’s the best fit for me depending on my gauge/stitch count. But it works well enough to keep using for now.

  
I’ve started the second sock. When I wound the yarn I made sure to get two matching balls that started with the same stripe. However, I didn’t even use close to 50% of the yarn for the first sock so I’ll have lots of leftovers. But I’m really enjoying the cashmere content in these socks so leftovers would be the worst thing ever!

Happy Knitting!!

KITHKC: Yarny Goodness

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Yesterday I tantalized you with hidden Yarny treasures from my Knitting In The Heartland trip. Well here now are the goodies!


Nerd Girls Yarn – Bounce and Stomp in the Mutatis color way. This is a fingering 4-ply that’s 80/20 SW and nylon. It reminded me of my school colors and it had to come home with me! 
Show Me Yarns Bootheel in Party Cake Peeps color way. This is a light fingering 3-ply and the speckles were just too hard to resist!

This was my ultimate purchase! It is a 600 yard skein of fingering weight MCN from Treasure Goddess in Pieces of Eight color way. This took most of my budget but was TOTALLY worth it. I’m envisioning a beautiful shawl or scarf!

  This is Nymph Sock from Supernatural Yarns in the Hermoine Granger color way. I’m not a super HP fan but the color was too much to pass up!


Finally I picked up some bling fromThe Sexy Knitter. I got some new stitch markets and a pair of tiny snips for my mom and her embroidery.

I’ve now exhausted my yarn find so I need to be good for while to rebuild my reserve. I should have plenty of pretties to knit on though!

Happy Knitting!!

Knitting In The Heartland Recap

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Oh, you didn’t know I was going to Knitting In The Heartland? Well neither did I! I was vaguely aware of its existence in Kansas City but my toddler addled brain didn’t retain specifics. On the Fridat it started I saw a FB post by one of my friends and I saw THE YARN HARLOT was going to be there. I just knew then and there I had to do. Unfortunately all the classes and Yarn Harlot pieces were long booked and I had family obligations as well. But I did manage to scrounge some time on Sunday to hit the market. (Many thanks to my husband for for the toddler free time.)

  
This is me super excited in the parking lot.

  
This is me being a dork and taking photos of the sign.

  
The glorious market of yumminess!

  
My t-shirt that made everyone laugh.

  
The damage I did in the market….

  
The t-shirt I got because I didn’t meet the Yarn Harlot but was super jazzed just to be in the same building. (I probably would have fan girled all over myself I had met her anyway, lol)

I truly had a great time at my first convention. It was small and comfortable so just the right speed for my first event. I did fan girl a tiny bit when I met Sarah of The Sexy Knitter etsy shop. Her items are gorgeous, her patterns are amazing, and she is stunning in person. I pulled my Sexy Knitter tin ftom her Cyber Monday Sale from my bag just to show her and she probably thought I was the crazy knitter my shirt advertised! 

Stay tuned tomorrow for details on my purchases!

FO Friday: Present Cowl

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I seriously love this cowl! It’s so rich and smooshy ❤️❤️

  Pattern: Present by Mademoiselle C

Yarn: Malabrigo Rios in Solis

Needles: US 8s

I used just a couple yards shy of this entire skein. This knitting was very zen and soothing even with the purl rows. I had trouble putting this one down. In knitting time I finished this in roughly four days! It has me itching to go out and get a sweater quantity and cast on a comfy open cardigan in a rich green or blue….maybe some day…

  Pardon my cheesy selfies, I have to snag toddler free photo however I can. I washed and blocked this just in time to photograph and put this away for spring, lol. No worries though because this will be waiting for me next fall!

  
Happy Knitting!!

Blanket Countdown

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I’ve pulled out my Dad’s crochet blanket from the WIP pile. I want to get this done ahead of Mother’s Day because that is the next major family gathering and I really want to get it delivered. Because why wouldn’t you need a super bulky blanket in the blazing May heat!?

  

This one I’m working across 60 inches instead of the 36-38 inches of my mothers. Those are some LONG rows! But I’m making progress…

  

WIP Wednesday: ALL THE SOCKS

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I literally have a tote bag full of sock WIPs…

  
In this bag:

  
These socks are all in various stages and it’s really nice tone able to pull out whatever project suits my knitting time/place. I truly have sock knitting ADD!

Happy Knitting!!

Just A Swatch

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A few days ago I pulled out the yarn for my Cousins Mitred Square Blanket and made some decisions.

  • I’m going to do solid squares because it’s easier not to change yarn and I will like the look better
  • I picked a tentative color layout: one row pink then light blue and one row yellow then brown
  • The edge will be done in the bright blue/teal

I even started the first square. 

 
I pretty much hate it. It took two hours and 24 grams of yarn. So at the very least I know how long each piece will take. But the cast on was too loose and stretchy. The fabric is too loose as well. Not to mention I can’t tell if I should slip the first stitch or knit it in order to make the best surface to attach the next square. Wise blogger/podcast knitters always say to not slip stitches on seam edges but the knit edges of garter stitches just look terribly cuddly to pick up! I’m terribly conflicted. I knit these on 7US and I’m going to try 6US by frogging and re-knitting this square. 

This was just a swatch right?