Monthly Archives: March 2018

Cast On: Smooth Operator Socks

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Hi, my name is Rachelle and I’m a bit a of selfish knitter. I have felt the siren’s call of a special selfish project for weeks but have put it off in favor of finishing some WIPs and baby knits. Now, don’t get me wrong I loved working on those but my deep deep down knitters heart was still yearning to be free.

So while Jellybean had some quality grandparent time I culled my stash and my Ravelry wish list and came up with the perfect pairing!

My Bam! Zap! Pow! skein of Fibernymph Dye Works Bounce sock yarn told me it wanted to be a some Smooth Operator Socks by Susan B Anderson. Now I normally knit my socks toe-up, I am going to give this pattern the full whirl the first time around. I will work cuff down and follow the pattern as closely as possible. I read the ENTIRE pattern and decided the only mod would be the stitch count. Susan tell you to go down to the nearest stitch count when your measurements fall in between sizes. Well fine blog readers…I have nice muscular volleyball shaped calves. I know using that stitch count and my standard sock gauge will result in a VERY tight leg.

So I’m working the cuff and the leg in a stitch count I know will fit and before I get to the heel I will reduce down to the pattern recommended count for the heel and foot. I feel like this is the best plan to avoid tears and cursing down the road. And you know what? It’s just knitting, if the first sock fails I can always rip out and try again. I’m the boss of my knitting after all!

Wish me luck! Happy Knitting!!

A Pair of Tutus

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While not so patiently waiting for my baby sweater yarn to arrive I decided to crank out another wish list baby item.  I managed to make two tutus for PB!

The top soft pink and purple tutu is the standard newborn size from the Lexi’s Knitted Tutu pattern. It’s a good size but I wanted something for my hospital bag and photos so I made a “modified newborn” in the circus/rainbow colors that took the stitch count down a bit. I’m really pleased with both! The bottom rainbow one will fit for like three seconds but that’s all I really need it for anyway, lol.

And it was super satisfying to scratch something off my pre-baby to do list. We didn’t find out Jellybean’s gender so I didn’t have any cute knits tucked into my hospital bag. Not that it mattered one way or the other at the time. But this time it feels right and special. I’m one happy momma to be!

Happy Knitting!!

Yarn Chicken Fail

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My Baby Vertebrae for PB officially has two sleeves!

I can’t help but keep thinking the speckles of this yarn paired with this pattern are just so sharp looking! And the fabric has quite the soft hand to it even before washing. It’s 100% merino and a nice plump 4-ply DK. I just love it so hard. I have forbade the husband from even THINKING about washing this in fear of felting it. I might even make a dark red HAND WASH ONLY tag and affix to the inside, lol.

I’m very clearly ready for button bands. But guess what guys…I lost at yarn chicken….

All I have left is this TINY ball of yarn and an entire button band to knit on. I broke down and ordered another skein from Apothefaery Fibers in her Etsy shop in this same color. I know the skeins won’t likely match. But I only have the button band left and I’m okay if that color difference shows. I can totally spin that as intentional! Now I just have to sit and wait for the mailman to bring me my pretty!

Happy Knitting!!

A Fine Ruler

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I tucked another knitting wish list item into my KnitCircus purchase…why not while I was at it??

I picked up the Ann Budd Knit Gauge Ruler. I have seen this thing ALL over the knitisphere. It’s so simple and effective….tis genius and witchcraft at the same time. I tried it out on my recent finished socks.

Turns out I knit these puppies at nine stitches to the inch. The ruler was easy to use and I just kept sliding the gauge until I found my little Vs lining up with the marks.

My inner OCD accounting brain wants to go back and MEASURE ALL THE FINISHED THINGS just to see what my gauge is like. But my pregnancy brain tells that part of my brain to shush and go eat ice cream. I likely know which one will win right now, lol. But I can tell you for darn sure I will be using this going forward!

Happy Knitting!

Yarning Again

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My knitting mojo has been a bit illusive lately. Even though I have lots of things on the needles and I love them all….I just can’t quite get excited about them. I’m in my third trimester and outside of ice cream or a nap not a lot make makes my heart go pitter patter, lol.

I got a small boost in my knitting realm the other day, I was the lucky recipient of a giveaway on the Bede Sisters Podcast and the host Kay. She’s a delight to listen to and the giveaway win is just the pick me up I needed! I received this special package in the mail…

And in it was two skeins of Felici Sock in the Soft Serve colorway. They are the most delicate Easter/ice cream colors and this yarn is my sister’s FAVORITE to receive hand knit socks in. She loves the soft fabric it creates. I’m not sure given my impending due date that these will hit the needles right away, but it’s nice to tuck away some yarn that I know will have an enthusiastic recipient.

I was also weak…..my job has really stunk here lately. Like it’s been super stressful and busy and just a hot mess where I may have actually cried one day. I sort of self-medicated with some super super duper wish list yarn. I have one pair of KnitCircus socks from their gorgeous rainbow gradient and I have been craving their yarn since then. And having an internet enable smart device while pregnant and stressed is a heady mix.

I picked up some KnitCircus Greatest of Ease 75 gram matching sock set in the Electric Mayhem color. These will need to be on my needles SOON! They are a pregnancy dream….already matched and wound into ready to knit cakes. Now I just need needles and a bag and I’m good to go. Soon my pretties….soon….

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Accidental Travel Socks

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Tah Dah……the Accidental Travel Socks are in the FO column and I’m in love!!!

Thanks to Daylight Savings time (the only time I will EVER type that, lol) I got some decent photos of my finished socks. You guys…this yarn is so fantastic that it practically glows in the sunlight. I would have taken photos on my feet but my ankles are starting to grow in all their pregnancy glory, lol.

Pattern: 68 stitch cuff down vanilla sock with contrasting afterthought heels and toes

Yarn: Kirby Wirby Hand Dyed Self Striping Sparkle Fingering yarn in Poly Pigtails colorway

Needles: US 1 nine inch circs

I used 69 grams or 300 yards of the self-striping and 10 grams or 44 yards of the solid contrasting color. So just around 80 grams of yarn or 344 yards. The foot is my standard 9 inch length and the leg is right at 7 inches. They have a lot of negative ease….whether that is due to the actual sock or my hormonally enhanced ankles is to be determined. For now these pretties are going to be tucked safely into my sock drawer for a cold and blustery winters day.

Happy Knitting!!

P.S. Stay tuned for Saturday morning where I will post the 1,000 Giveaway winner! 🙂

 

Matching Heels

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The toes are installed on my Accidental Travel socks…squee!!!

I literally cannot put these down. Jellybean hasn’t been very consistent about sleeping and PB is growing like a weed making it not easy to find a comfortable pregnancy position. These socks have been like salve to my soul. Who needs sleep when you can knit pretty yarn?

Today I’m going to cut in the true afterthought heel and try to get them knit up. I do a little bit of my own flavor of afterthought heel that adds the depth I need for my foot/heel. I’ll try to remember to put notes on my Ravelry page on what I do. If I work a heel like a “standard” toe its NO WHERE NEAR deep enough of a pocket to fit my foot.

Happy Knitting

WIP Wednesday: Accidental Travel Socks

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My Accidental Travel Socks have officially reached the toe.

I would like to say that I carefully did math and made sure I had enough tube for both foot and leg. But that would be a bald faced lie. I knit the tube until I couldn’t stand it anymore and then knit up the tandem sock to match. I did measure and the tube is 14 inches so I’m probably okay.

I am pleased at how well the stripes matched up. I did intentionally try to do that but I was worried because the cuffs were slightly different from the beginning. I’m guessing that one sock is every so slightly shorter/longer than the other one because of the different initial yellow stripe difference. But I don’t care….if you are that close to my foot to notice then you deserve a kick to the schnoz. These are sparkly and just my everything right now!

Happy Knitting!!

The Best Laid Plans

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PB’s due date is marching ever closer. I had grand plans to knit this baby girl a little trousseau to herald her entrance into this world. But guess what….I’m a working mom with an active 3 year old who stubbornly refuses to sleep consistently or potty train and a husband who is well…..a typical husband. I’m quite frankly going to be lucky to finish her Baby Vertebrae, a hospital hat, and maybe one other thing.

One item that is important to me is a tutu. I know we will take newborn photos of her and I really want yarn to be involved a little bit for this one. I was too in the weeds of new motherhood with Jellybean to have this thought. So I am going to make up at least one if not two Lexi’s Knitted Tutu by Ashlee Lackovic. I have literally made this pattern 20 times already so I know it’s a good one.

I’m thinking a bright rainbow one and a more subtle gold/brown one. I pulled the yarn from stash already. Now I just need needles, project bag and the mojo to crank these out before PB’s arrival, lol! Wish me luck!

Happy Knitting!!