Monthly Archives: September 2018

Wonky Button Bands

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My Leksak now has finished button bands. Are they still button bands when there are no buttons? Nevertheless, I had a great time working on this. But I do admit to plowing through them at a pretty good clip after the kids’ bedtimes. And that may have triggered a bit of wonkiness in the bands.

I for SURE did not county my stitches as I was picking up each side. Even though the pattern told me to, I thought “it will be fine”. And you know what? It’s okay but not great. I can totally tell one side has a few more stitches than the other. I kinda stretched the bands for this photo so it’s not as noticeable. I get so little knitting time these days I can’t really face ripping it out and re-doing it right now. I think I’m going to finish the sleeves and block it before I decide. I mean acrylic really isn’t known for “blocking out” problems. I just need time to think on it before I decide.

As for the sleeves, I have one done! And I made a happy accident. Instead of starting my round at the underarm when I picked up the live I managed to get distracted by Netflix and start at the back of the arm.

You know what? I kind of like it. I didn’t take the time to remember/look up/actually do any jogless stripe technique. So now the jog is at the back of the sweater where on a baby you won’t actually see it as much. (Honestly, jogs never really bothered me all that much.) This placement kind of made sense in my brain and I think I will repeat it on the second sleeve!

Happy Knitting!!

I Have A Problem

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You guys….I have a yarn problem. And Instagram is a horrible enabler! I fell prey to another destash sale on social media after a night of both kids waking up multiple times in the night. I need more yarn like I need a hole in my head. But I was feeling like I needed a little self care and it was being de-stashed at a nice price.

I did only pick up skeins of indie dyers that I had never used before. In order from left to right is:

  1. Lolodidit Spun Sock in the Hippos for Christmas colorway. This is a 75/15/10 Merino/nylon/tencel blend that is destined for socks.
  2. Junkyarn Boss 2 ply sock in the Luna colorway. This is a 80/20 Merino and nylon that has yet to tell me what it wants to be.
  3. Hue Loco Spun Sock in the Skip With Me colorway. This is a 80/10/10 MCN blend that might have to be some sort of hat and mitts.

When will I have the time to knit all this? I dunno maybe when I win the lottery or retire…which ever comes first. But for now they are going into my stash for a rainy day when I need a pretty project.

Happy Knitting!!

Leksak Stripes Complete

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My Leksak has a completed body!

I very pleased with the way the striping worked up in this sweater. Next up is a unique button band that involves not breaking the yarn from the garter hem. I’m intrigued! And now that I have completed the body work I am a lot more confident that I won’t end up playing yarn chicken. This Berroco Comfort is 50/50 Nylon and Acrylic but it actually has a nice hand to it. I’ll see how it wears but I might consider this for future kids knits….

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Dinosaur Jr.

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After dreaming of sweater for Jellybean yesterday I also decided he needed a new stuffy. He sleeps with the monkey I made him almost every night these days. And surely Monkey would like to have a friend?!

So I pulled the remaining Plymouth Encore Worsted left from the monkey and found I had enough yarn for a Dinosaur patter in my queue but only if I reversed the colors. So Dinosaur Jr by Katie Boyette hit my needles. I have only started the head portion but I’m hoping some good evening knitting will see this project chug forward in no time!

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Leksak

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I had finished PB’s Second Sporty Cardigan and I couldn’t stand the thought of not knitting cute baby girl sweaters. So I did some Ravelry searching and stash diving to find a good match.

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I found Leksak by Yarn-Madness. It’s a top down raglan style tunic (or pullover if you prefer) made for DK yarn. It has an interesting button band construction I found intriguing and I had two colors of Berroco Comfort DK languishing in my stash. Comfort DK is a 50/50 acrylic and nylon blend so very washable and very durable. And I like the idea of a tunic for my sweet PB. And I am for SURE making the open front construction versus the pullover closed construction. (P.S. Leksak is Swedish for “toy” and I am of Swedish decent so I that kinda hooked me as well.)

The colors are a minty green and bright blue I originally got for making hats. While not a a pairing I would normally make I think they actually work well now that I can see them knit up together. I will be playing a small bit of yarn chicken on this project but I think with some strategic order of operations and yarn management I can make it work.

Happy Knitting!!

Destash Score

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One morning I was perusing Instagram while waiting for my son at the dentist. And I saw one of the dyers I follow was de-stashing some of her personal stash. I though what the hey, I’ll go see. Guys….she was selling primo stuff! And for less than original purchase price.

I saw two wish list yarns and jumped on them like a lion on a wounded wildebeest.

I scored some Voolenvine yarn in her Smitten DK for a color called Mood Indigo. I never managed to catch her updates and had given up hopes of ever trying her yarn. So this was a big win. Next was some Leading Man Fiber Arts Show Stealer in a color called Sand Castle. I had been thinking about putting this yarn dyer on my Christmas list and now I don’t have to.

Guys….both these skeins have CASHMERE in them. They  are soooooo soft and wonderful. I have no idea what they will grow up to be. But I just knew they wanted to come live with me.

Happy Knitting!!

(Re)Cast On: Rainbow Pop Sockhead Slouch

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I had previously regaled you with the tale of many cast-ons and frogging of a Sockhead Slouch. I think I had “swatched” enough to be satisfied with a gauge and stitch count for the project and then I realized that the 2018 Pigskin Party KAL was starting September 6th. So I frogged what I had and waited to cast on my final iteration of the hat until it counted for the KAL. And then I knit like the wind!

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I’ve cruised through four inches of 1×1 rib and I’m into the stockinette section. I’m pretty pleased with how the color is dispersing. It’s almost a tad bit striped but it is definitely not pooling or flashing so I’m happy.

This project has been promoted to primary purse and bedside table knitting. Just soothing round and round and round knit stitches with no brain space required. I could go for a good movie so I could make some serious progress on this puppy!

I have one niggling thought….do I knit a slightly less slouchy hat and save yarn for some matching fingerless mitts??

Happy Knitting!!

 

Wishful Knitting: Sweaters for Jellybean

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I wrote last week about dreaming of sweaters for PB. She is cute and tiny and has zero opinion about what I put on her. So it’s awesome to make fast projects that I think are cute and have someone wear them without complaint. But my mom guilt got the better of me…Jellybean hasn’t gotten a new garment in awhile. He really liked the Storytime Scholar I made him last year. Not that he has noticed that he hasn’t gotten a new sweater. But I decided I need to dream about a sweater for him as well. My current options are:

  • Good Grief by Susie White. I won this sweater pattern in the 2018 PALKAL and it’s an adorable worsted weight pullover. The downside is that PB is at the top end of this patterns sizing.
  • Elwood by Jenny Wiebe. This is a nice striped old man style sweater and I think PB would really dig it.
  • Big Thom Jenny Wiebe. This is a nice mix of pullover with a nice button detail to allow for ginormous boy noggin.

What I learned from this Ravelry dive is that I may love everything Jenny Wiebe designs for boys and Jellybean may end up with a sweater collection….

Happy Knitting!!

 

FO Friday: PB’s Sporty Cardigan #2

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Well, ladies and gentlemen….PB has a new sweater! The Second Sporty Cardigan is finished, washed, blocked, buttons added and ends trimmed off. Now I just need cute baby photos to put the icing on the cake.

I went with the round two tone buttons. As you can see I really worked a lot of buttons into this sweater. And the top two turned out really close together. But I kind of like it. Now I can fasten the top two buttons and let the rest of the sweater hang open to show a cute onesie underneath.

Note: Blocking didn’t completely correct my buttons bands but it greatly improved them. I’m marking this a win and moving on.

Pattern: Sporty Cardigan for Boys and Girls by Cecilie Clark

Yarn: Frabjous Fibers Messenger Kit and Knit Picks Comfy Sport. I used roughly 266 yards or 89 grams of yarn to make a 12 month sized sweater. This included every last drop of Frabjous Fibers so no pesky leftovers hanging out in my stash!

Needles: US 4s (I forgot to switch to 6s for the body so I just kinda rolled with it. My gauge is just a little tighter and my sweater a smidgen smaller than I wanted but it’s still lovely)

Mods: See above or check out my Rav notes.

Happy Knitting!!

Choosing Buttons

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I raided (with permission) my mom’s button stash in my sewing room for buttons for PB’s second sporty cardigan.

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I came out with two nice grey/black neutral options. My mom suggested putting them in the button holes to really get a feel for what they would look like. She’s pretty smart you know. The ones on the left have a nice two toned look that I dig. But the ones on the right have a little bit of smoothness and sheen. I’m letting myself sleep on it but I’m kinda leaning towards the ones on the left.

What do you think?