Monthly Archives: September 2023

Fancy Finished Hat

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My Basic Dude Beanie is FINISHED and oh so pretty in the setting sun.

Pattern: My own “recipe” for a beanie with 96 stitches

Yarn: Ella Rae Classic Wool in brown/tan

Needles: US 8s

Mods: For this version I used a folded stockinette brim

I still need to give this hat a bath to even out some of the stitches. But I didn’t want to miss the golden hour vibes for photos. I worked star like crown decreases in a “traditional” fashion. The finished hat used 87 grams or 174 yards of yarn for the whole hat. Once again I missed the mark a tad on using the whole skein.

All in all, this was a great knit and felt great to get an orphan single skein out of my stash. This hat will 100% be a gift and I need to work on the washing and finishing touches. And then find the right occasion to gift.

Happy Knitting!!

Spotted Circus Finished Bobbin

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I’m slowly getting back to my spinning. It’s not been as enticing as the knitting. I did manage to finish my first bobbin of singles for my Spotted Circus 2-ply.

These ended up spinning VERY fine and thin. So this could be very interesting when I ply together. This project I did design to be a 2-ply. All of that depends on me finishing the second bobbin of course.

For now, I am just going to delight in the pretty!! Happy Spinning!!

FO Friday: Punch Bug Beanie Take Two

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My Punch Bag Vanilla Beanie is complete and ready for their glamour shots!

Pattern: None, just my own beanie “recipe” over 88 stitches (rav link)

Yarn: Knit Picks Felici Worsted in Punch Bug

Needles: US 8s

Mods: For this version I used a ribbed folded brim for extra warmth.

This project is 90 grams of a 100 gram skein of yarn. So I missed the mark on using up all the yarn. But not by much! I added this tiny ball of yarn to my leftovers bag. It fits really well on my head but it was a little tight on the husband’s head.

This hat matches my Punch Bug Vanilla Socks so they will either stay with me or go as a matching set. This finish really has helped reinforce my craft mojo. I have turned all my focus on to the Basic Dude Beanie.

Happy Friday and Happy Knitting!!

A Folded Brim

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The hat I’m calling the Basic Dude Beanie is flying off my needles this week. I am at yet another kid lesson this week. Such is our life now. But at least I am passed the folded brim!

I ended up with roughly 8 inches of stockinette that folded in half for a 4 inch brim. I am now working up the main body of the hat. Just tons of roundy round stockinette that requires zero brain space.

I will do rounded “typical” decreases for this one to make more of a traditional hat. I know this coworker’s wife and I am thinking about asking if he has any patches I can add to the brim for extra flair. But we will see what is possible before I commit.

Happy Knitting!!

Spa Day

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I took some time for myself away from work and away from family this week. I scheduled a cool spa soak followed by a massage and then dinner by myself.

My Basic Dude Beanie came along with me on the trip. I managed to knit above the water and keep the skein dry in my bag. I am really coming along with the brim!

For dinner I wandered down to a Ramen shop where I got dumplings in chicken based ramen and fried wontons. I couldn’t eat anywhere near the whole thing but It was GLORIOUS to enjoy a meal and not have to parent anyone. I just ate and read my latest book.

It’s nice to find time to remember who I am aside from my output! Happy Self Care!!

Cast On: Basic Dude Beanie

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Golf lessons continue into the cooler weather of fall. This led me to want to start another beanie. My Punch Bug Vanilla Beanie is at the brim decreases and not conducive to traveling.

I had a single skein of Ella Rae Classic wool from a mystery grab bag I purchased. It’s pretty toothy wool and just 200 yards of worsted. Made perfect sense to make a hat. This time I decided on a folded stockinette brim. I am hoping this type of construction can help me maximize the full skein. No science, just gut instinct and going to knit until I get close on yarn.

The last hat was a little snug on the husband so I went up to 96 stitches on US 8s instead of 88. This should make it a better fit for a dude. I think this hat will go to live with a coworker who often works out in the cold at all hours.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Emotional Support Socks

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To keep my needles warm, I cast on another pair of socks straight away after finishing my 2023 GFOA Socks. I went for an easy one and yarn that was already caked up. I had the full skein of BFL from 2020 AGirlandherwool advent calendar. Ravelry said I have 300+ yards left so that should be a good pair of socks!

I managed a wee toe cast on with FlexiFlip needles. I may switch to my 9 inch circulars after a bit. But I do find I like the flexible DPNs for cast ons.

Fall golf lessons have started for Jellybean so I get 3 hours a week of patio knitting while he golfs. Win win!

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: 2023 GFOA Socks

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My 2023 GFOA Socks are finally done and properly photographed!

Pattern: None, my own 68 stitch toe up vanilla sock with afterthought heel (Rav link)

Yarn: KirbyWirby Old Faithful Sock in Rose Apothecary Remix

Needles: US 1s

I used about 75 grams of sock yarn to make these. Which makes them roughly 340 yards worth of yarn. They come past my ankles and a decent amount up my calves. Should make nice boot socks!

These just turned out beautifully. I am super pleased with my neutral heel choice. It just fell so beautifully inside the rainbow progression. It’s still crazy hot here in Kansas so I don’t have much a chance to wear them yet but I can’t wait!

Punch Bag Progress

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Worsted weight yarn feels gloriously fast when you have been working on sock yarn.

I got the brim done and folded on my Punch Bug Vanilla Beanie. So now that bottom part is double thick. Plan is to keep working the hat portion until I run our of yarn. I can’t decide if I wanted shaped crown decreases or just knit and square it off? The squared off closure would make it look vaguely cat ear like where the crown decreases get a traditional hat shape.

What does this hat what to be when it grows up?

MudPunch Always Gets Me

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I once again was wooed by the siren song that is my email newsletters. I get the MudPunch email newsletter and I just couldn’t resist her shop.

I have really been feeling the sock mojo here lately so some self-striping felt just right. Do I have a three whole storage bags of sock yarn? Yes I do. Did I still buy this? Yes I did and I don’t regret it.

The pinky brown skein is outside my normal color zone but I’m excited to see how it works up. The yellow and blue skein is 1,000% in my zone as those are my high school alma mater colors and my current employer’s color scheme. I think these will go into the stash for a minute but I foresee them hitting the needles yet this year.

Happy Stashing!!