Monthly Archives: April 2020

A Second F Bomb

Posted on by
1

In an attempt deal with my current load of stress..I’m knitting more F Bombs! My second one is off the needles!

I really think my duplicate stitch needs work but is improving. This time I held the red yarn held double double to see if I can improve the coverage and making the F more pronounced. I think I like how the stitches stick out, but I think I can make the stitches more cohesive.

I’m giving myself a break considering I’ve been a supervisor for 60 days and a worldwide pandemic has hit in the meantime. I’m going to keep knitting through adversary and strife! I think I’m going to start a third F Bomb…..

Happy Knitting!!

Some Sweet Baking

Posted on by
6

The baking desire has not abated in this house. I have been wistfully pawing through my bread book and daydreaming about recipes. This week adventure is about sweet rolls with cream cheese frosting!

I made the dough in my bread machine and added the filling.

The proofed quite nicely despite my inconsistent size of roll.

This baked perfectly to a lovely golden brown. This might be my greatest baking achievement ever. I mean I texted my mom these photos because I was so proud.

After adding some homemade cream cheese frosting these rolls lasted approximately three days. Jellybean and I enjoyed splitting one everyday for breakfast. We both agreed this recipe needs to happen again…and soon!

Baking and cooking has really been a great source of comfort and stress outlet for me. I just need to find a way to work off all these calories!

Happy Baking!!

Prism Progress

Posted on by
12

Hallelujah…I have finally reached the recommended four inches of 2×2 ribbing for my Prism Break Hat!

I’m loosely following the Sockhead Slouch by Kelly McClure. This has been my go-to conference call and zoom meeting knitting. I find that I can keep easy knitting in my lap and knit while I listen and it’s impossible for anyone to tell.

I’m just now starting the plain stockinette part of the hat. So just a ton of round and round for miles. And I’m not mad about it. It’s the perfect easy knitting in a fun yarn to make this time and please a little easier to handle.

What is making your life happy?

Cast On: Antagonist Vanilla Socks

Posted on by
3

I was feeling the pull of socks again after I finished my Dark Side Vanilla Socks. I pulled out some of the sock yarn I wound up during my winding frenzy and just cast on. This is the BFL/Nylon sock blend from Stranded Dyeworks and it felt like some basic toe socks were a great pattern match.

This is my own “vanilla” recipe of a 68 stitch toe up vanilla sock on US 1s. A whole lot of round and round in soothing stockinette. Working from home and having all my meetings being virtual….I have made great time on this sock! I’m planning on a toe up gusset heel from Wendy D Johnson’s pattern. I almost have that heel memorized and it fits my foot really well.

This yarn is making a really nice fabric. It’s not merino soft but its soft in a sturdy way. The BFL really makes this feel like a sock that should wear really well. I can’t wait to get these finished and into my drawer. I really want to see how these work out. I might need to add more BFL sock yarn to my stash!

Happy Knitting

FO Friday: Dark Side Vanilla Socks (Take Two)

Posted on by
4

Just a little cheery rainbow to cap off the week. I finished my Dark Side Vanilla Socks (Take Two) and got them washed and ends woven in.

Pattern: 72 stitch vanilla sock made from machine cranked sock snake

Needles: US 0s

Yarn: Knit Picks Felice in Dark Side and Cascade Heritage Sock in Grey

My stripes are reversed and the toes are a little squared off. But the socks are soft and warm and the perfect rainbow to brighten up any shelter in place order.

The next question is…what should my next socks be??

Happy Knitting

Canadian Stash Enhancement

Posted on by
12

This week’s self care is brought to you by Canada! I opened the Gauge Dyeworks newsletter at the exact right time for a shop update and the wrong time where I was feeling down about the state of the world.

This is the classic merino twist sock yarn in a self striping set of greens. The official name is Colour Study: Green. It’s 443 yards and 115 grams of the plumpest most glorious sock yarn ever. I have been letting this yarn sit out on my work at home desk so I can admire and pet before I add it to my stash.

Has the current state of affairs led you to pad your stash or use your stash? I’m somewhere in between the two….

Happy Knitting

Basic Failure

Posted on by
7

Well….I got kicked in the teeth by not swatching during what is a very stressful time. My Everyday Slouchy Beanie is TIGHT y’all. Like squeeze my brain out my ears tight.

I made enough fabric in the hat portion to try it on. I had been having a niggling feeling that brim was maybe tight after I had turned and joined the cast on edge. But I just kept knitting and damned if my instinct wasn’t correct.

Now, I have knit a TON of stitches into this thing. Andafter knitting both halves of the brim…I’m not ripping out floofy yarn for that many stitches! This hat will fit someone when I’m done. I might just have to be sad that it doesn’t fit me.

Note to self: Next time you are extraordinarily stressed….check yo gauge!

Turning The Brim

Posted on by
2

I’ve overcome my dropped stitch problems and busted through the entire brim! My Everyday Slouchy Beanie is soooo soft, I can help but stop and pet the fabric!

This is yarn I picked up from Winter Woolfest 2020 from Apothefaery Fibers. I’m holding brushed Suri alpaca and fingering weight sock yarn to make my fabric. It’s melted butter soft and doesn’t shed like mohair. And the best part is now I’m on to the bigger needles and the at is just FLYING!

Happy Knitting

Dropped Stitch Drama

Posted on by
7

I am cruising along through the brim of my Everyday Slouchy Beanie. This has been my Zoom meeting and assorted work from home conference call knitting that I keep in my lap. I looked down tonight after I had created about an inch of fabric throughout the day to discover a d*mn dropped stitch….

So I took a fortifying drink of chamomile tea and laddered back down in floofy suri alpaca lace weight held double with sock yarn. I didn’t feel like working the dropped stitch back up as it’s own column so I just worked a K2TOG with the stitch next to it. And then worked the single column of stitches all the way back up.

The fix was pretty seamless aside from you can see the decreased stitch. The floof of the suri silk really hides a on of sins. And now I’m back on track to almost be done with the brim. This hat has a folded double brim instead of ribbing. I am almost the point I can pick up my cast on edge and work into my live stiches.

Happy knitting!!

FO Friday: F Bomb

Posted on by
4

My F Bomb turned out to be a quick knit! I have a teeny tiny (slightly rude) finished object for this week.

Pattern: The F Bomb by Jenifer Spock-Rank

Yarn: Bernat Satin Solids in black and some scraps of Caron Simply Soft for accents

Needles: US 5s

The knitting of the bomb portion went pretty well. I was getting a nice fabric on the 5s and none of the stuffing is showing through. My crochet for the fuse could be a bit tighter but I think it looks very fuse like. Now, my duplicate stitch is ATROCIOUS but at least successful for my first go at it.

I have looked at several tutorials now for the duplicate stitch and I think having this piece being in the round and the fact that there is stuffing on the inside makes this process not as simple as it would be for a flat piece. All I really need is more practice and I think I can improve.

I really liked this pattern and I think I’m going to crank out a few more to give out to coworkers and family once it’s safe to be in the same place at the same time again. I am finding this kind of knitting to be very cathartic!

Happy Knitting!!