Monthly Archives: January 2021

Procrasti-Cleaning

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One of my greatest skills is something I call “procrasti-cleaning” aka cleaning or organizing something in my life so as to avoid work or a task I really don’t want to do.

This week’s target? My home office. I had been collecting boxes and files just on the floor under my counter and it was annoying. So a few dollars at online Wal-Mart and some pictorial assembly instructions I have a five cube shelf. I have just enough space for my bags to the side and all the junk from the counter now lives nice underneath.

The cleaner and more organized space really helps me feel calmer and more productive. And then I can usually get back to the task I was avoiding. Anyone else out there have skills like this?

Happy Organizing!!

Cast On: Mycroft

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I finally carved out time to get my Mycroft on to the needles. This was supposed to be my birthday cast on but after reading the pattern I quickly realized I didn’t have the brain space on my birthday to deal with the short rows.

And I was correct, this was a brain bending cast on and first rows. I had the printed pattern and I had cross out tiny sections of the written directions as I went. That, and I counted ALL THE TIME. And this is only the first short row. I have like so many more to do.

I have put this back in the bag for when I can come up for air and work on this one uninterrupted. Totally invested in this project and it looks to get easier after the short rows….but I gotta get there first, lol.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Dumpster Fire 2020

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I couldn’t help myself. I may have ordered a Dumpster Fire kit from Frabjous Fibers/Wonderland Yarns. And now I have knit all the pieces to the Kino Knits 2020 Dumpster Fire ornament. (Rav link)

This yarn is simply wonderful and the pieces very much flew off my needles in a single evening. I have soaked and blocked them into their respective shapes. Now I just have to wait for them to dry so I can assemble. Not really looking to the duplicate stitching of the year but I shall persevere!

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Sand Castle Cashmere Vanilla Socks

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One finished pair of snuggly socks coming at ya! My Sand Castle Cashmere Vanilla Socks are complete and I even wove in the ends!

Pattern: My own 68 stitch toe up vanilla sock

Needles: US 1s

Yarn: Leading Man Fiber Arts Showstealer base in Sand Castle

I tried for longer legged socks and ended up using 71 grams of yarn or just over 300 yards. So I have plenty enough leftover for my memory blanket and maybe another small project? The fit is good in the heels and I definitely needed the leg increases.

And the completed fabric feels really good on my feet with the cashmere content. So off these go into my sock drawer. I haven’t delved too deeply into my sock drawer this year. Its a combination of a warmer winter and not really leaving the house. I really haven’t needed socks as much. Maybe February will bring us some cold snaps?

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Baby Dreams Blanket

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In the new year I let myself cast on another crochet blanket. I’m calling this one Baby Dreams blanket. I have ten skeins of Knit Picks Biggo in the Garnet Heather color and I’m going to crochet until I have a crib sized blanket.

I don’t have anyone in particular in mind for this blanket. I am just enjoying the softness of the yarn and the simplicity of the half double crochet. I think I chained 100 stitches? This project is one of my mental health projects for the new. I’m slowing down and enjoying the process to try and cope with all the craziness in the world.

Happy Crafting!!

Almost There Sand Castle Cashmere Vanilla Socks

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I’m down to the last few rows of cuff on my Sand Castle Cashmere Vanilla Socks!

The heel turn is complete and I muddled my through the second leg. The increases may not be in the exact same places as sock number one but there are for sure the same number of increases.

I’m already scheming my next sock cast on for when these are done! Happy Knitting!!

My 2020 Advent Calendar

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I have completely unboxed my 2020 Advent calendar from A Girl and Her Wool. I ended up with the quite the collection of minis!

I have hemmed and hawed over what to do with these. I did some pattern searching and pulled down some possibilities. I had been leaning toward a cowl of some sort because the minis are all 10 grams I need something small-ish so that I can see good sized blocks of the different colors.

But then I threw that all out the window and I decided to make my own “advent” socks. I am going to use the full skein to make the heels toes and cuffs. And for each mini I will split in half and knit concurrent socks on two different needles. I think I won’t attempt any color management and will just use them in the order the dyer presented them.

And to keep myself motivated I am going to make myself finish my Carbon Sprinkles Vanilla Socks before letting myself cast on this new project.

A Second Sand Castle Sock

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After all the fiddly toy knitting and seaming last week I wanted to get back into my plain old relaxing sock knitting. So I picked up my Sand Castle Cashmere Socks over the weekend.

I have the second sock to a place where I am ready to start the second heel. I made sure not to over run or over knit this time. No tinking back! This has been my evening knitting project here lately so it is getting most of my knitting time. Maybe I’ll have finished socks soon?

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Baby Yoda

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I have a finished Baby Yoda! And the hubby loves it. I am really pleased with the whole project. The eyes could be a little bit bigger but they were all I had without going to the store and my husband didn’t seem to notice/care.

Pattern: Baby Yoda by Kim Konen (Rav link)

Yarn: Malabrigo Rios and Knit Picks Swish Worsted

Needles: US 8s

One of my husband’s online gaming friends already asked if I could knit another one and he would pay me. I replied that “knitting is like sex, if I like you then its free. If not, then you can’t pay me enough”. That got a pretty good hearty internet laugh. But in all honestly I told them that I have enough on my plate and I don’t have the bandwidth to work extra projects at the moment. Felt good to be honest! Life is to short for obligation knitting.

Happy Knitting!!

Two Eyes Short Of A Yoda

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Baby Yoda now has arms and hands! This whole toy is knit flat seamed up which makes it easy to knit and fiddly to assemble. The arms turned out pretty good but I am considering starching the ears to make them more “yoda-like”.

Next up….I need to dig through my odds and bits to figure out two eyes and a nose. Then this can be wrapped up and gifted!

Happy Knitting!!