Monthly Archives: February 2023

Self Care Essentials

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This past weekend held the KnitGirllls monthly Patreon zoom. My family had just come home from a 4 hour circus that had everyone over loaded from the spectacle of it all. The rest of the family opted for a movie where I opted for wine, cheese and knitting.

I’m making ever so slow progress on my Chromatic Yarns ZigZag Blanket. I think I have added at least five more garter ridges since last I showed you. I had a lovely 2 hours of self care time before diving into dinner and bathtimes.

What’s your favorite self care?

Fire And Targhee

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My primary focus this past weekend was the Targhee spinning project. I am SOO close to finishing the singles on this one. The weather has turned back cold for this week so it’s back to fire spinning.

Only one more ounce and I can tee up for plying! My mojo has been ALL spinning lately and I’m not going to complain as its turning out some beautiful handspun. I should really start knitting with some of it, lol!

Happy Spinning!!

Starting Targhee

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We are getting peaks of warmer days here in Kansas. It was about 60 degrees so the whole family got outside to play. The kids played soccer and I peddled on some new Targhee Singles.

This fiber is a gorgeous aqua colorway. The targhee is not as soft as the polworth I just finished. Again I’m going with my default spin of short forward draw and two plies.

With some concerted effort on drafting, I am achieving some very thin singles. This could end up being a lighter weight yarn. Which is very exciting to see I am going more control of my technique.

Happy Spinning!!

Finished Floofy Polworth

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I officially adore Polworth. This fiber was a dream to spin and literally FLEW off my wheel. I finished all four ounces of the fiber in an evening and then managed to rest and ply the singles last night.

I gave the skein a wash and put out to dry near the fire last night. It was sooooo floofy this morning when I checked it. The fiber really plumped up in the bath to make a nice full worsted. I mean I probably lost some yardage to this but its so smooshy that I don’t mind.

This turned out to be just under 160 yards in length and weighs about 113 grams. It was pretty consistent at 9 wraps per inch throughout. I can’t wait to get this labeled up and delivered to my coworker at her March retirement party!

Happy Spinning!!

A Quick Baby Shower Hat

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One of my staff at work recently found out she is going to be a 1st time grandma to a little baby girl. She is BURSTING with excitement. The staff are going to throw a staff “grandparent sprinkle” so I needed to whip up a little hat.

I had some leftovers of worsted in my hat stash. The pink is some Woof Worsted from Lilliput Yarns and the silver is from K-Zip knits. I think the two tones work really well together. It’s 64 stitches on a US8 needle.

I did a 2×2 rib until it looked like enough and then switched to stockinette. And then I made up the crown decreases as I went. And it felt super great to eek out this hat and completely use up these scraps. Now I just need to make at least two more hats for other new grandparent coworkers.

Happy Knitting!!

LONG Rows

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I traveled to see my GG for her 90th birthday. I pulled out my hibernating Chromatic Yarns ZigZag Blanket. It was great car knitting. The pattern is getting easier but with 300+ stitches it takes me over an hour to work the pattern and return row.

I think I am about halfway through the first skein of this DK yarn. This blanket will be a fade of my hoard of Chromatic Yarns DK stash. I love her speckles and color sense. I just need like 1,000 hours to get all these stitches done!

Happy Knitting!!

Spinning Mulch

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I found out recently that a dear colleague is retiring. She is fellow crafter and knitter. Her primary hobbies are glass, wood burning and knitting. I decided to make her some handspun as a retirement present.

I have 4 ounces of Polworth from Three Waters Farms. Its CRAZY soft and I’m really keen to see how it feels spun up. Going with my standard let my hands just spin and make a 2 ply.

I have REALLY been enjoying spinning in front of the fire lately. It’s warm, cozy and quiets my brain at the end of the day. I even catch my kiddos watching the wheel instead of the fire some days.

Happy Spinning!!

A Finished Second Sparkly 2-ply

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My plying session this week was super fruitful! I finished my second skein of sparkly alpaca 2-ply.

This was 5 ounces of fiber that ended up turning into a 144 yard skein with 138 grams total weight. It worked out to a light worsted/heavy sport type skein. And the best news ever is that it is pretty darn close to the original skein so they should work together nicely!

I already have new fiber on the wheel and I will show you the awesomeness that this Targhee wool is doing! Happy spinning!!

Fiber to Warm Up Winter

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My dad surprised me this last week. He caught me after a weekend visit with a shipping bag. He admitted that some of my Christmas didn’t ship in time and it had arrived in February. He was a little embarrassed but I was excited!

This was 4 ounces of Rambouillet in the “Shiver” colorway and 4 ounces of a 70%/30% merino/nylon sock blend. The sock blend are little bits and bobs of mixed colors. I think I would break each nest into half or thirds and try to make matching singles.

I have a finished skein to show you tomorrow and now fiber already on the wheel that I will show next week. So for now, this fiber will need to wait its turn. But I am always happy for surprise fiber and adorable dads.

Happy Stashing!!

Tiny Socks #6

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PB may be close to ending her gymnastics journey so I’m cherishing the last few sessions of knitting in peace. This week I focused on starting my 2020 Chromatic Yarns advent mini #6. I managed to crank out the first sock and start the second before we had to hustle out the door.

I am using an Erin Lane bag from her Hank does the Olympics line. It’s purple and makes Jellybean smile so this bag is a regular in my rotation. I need to possibly look for more size 1 US needles as these metal JoAnn needles are getting bent under my tension.

I am also holding PB’s hair tie on my finger because while PB likes pony tails, they only last 20 minutes tops, lol. Happy Knitting!!