Monthly Archives: October 2023

Golden Hour

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Jellybean really wanted someone to play outside with him last night. Or more specifically watch him play outside. So I poured a lovely glass of wine and headed out to wind down the busy weekend. Jellybean added to his stick collection and I picked up my coworker hat.

The golden hour did not disappoint! My bag, my knitting and my wine were all on theme. I only added a few rows to the hat before we had to go inside for homework and shower. But it was the peace both Jellybean and I needed before getting ready to face the week ahead!

Happy Knitting!!

Bones To Broth

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I did a freezer restock this past week and had to shuffle around some items. This led to the discovery of some frozen turkey bones. I really needed the freezer space so what better time to use this up. Plus soup season is upon us!!

Into my instant pot went the bones, two kinds onions (they needed used up), chopped garlic, baby carrots, salt/pepper, and a little chicken bouillon to boost the flavor. I pressure cooked this for 90 minutes and then ran everything through fine cheese cloth.

I intend to freeze this so I cleaned and sanitized canning jars for the broth. I made sure to leave lots of room for expansion and popped into the freezer. I think some of this will come out for this Thanksgiving for gravy and the rest will find its way into soups and stews this winter.

Yum!!

Dueling Labs

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Gosh I loved worsted yarn, it practically knits itself! I blasted through the 2×2 rib and got the brim folded up and moved to stockinette in the round. This hat is for my coworker who is leaving soon.

I couldn’t resist the cuteness that was dueling labs. I have my yellow lab snuggle buddy right next to my chocolate lab hat. The universe made this moment feel right!

Happy Knitting!!

Racing to The Finish: A Coworker Hat

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My Coworker Hat is complete! I couldn’t love this chocolate dream any more. The subtle color variegation really looks like a lovely marbled chocolate.

Pattern: My own 88 stitch basic beanie with a folded brim (Rav Link)

Yarn: Lilliput Woof Worsted in Chocolate Lab

Needles: US 8s

I ended up using 80% of the 100 gram skein of yarn. That is roughly 176 yard of yarn for this medium sized hat. I was really tryin to use the full skein and probably could have made the brim bigger. Oh well! It is still beautiful.

I still have a little time before they leave so I may try to make hats for the whole family! Wish me luck 🙂

Park Toes

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Mother Nature gave us a beautiful fall day on the same weekend the stomach bug rolled around our house. After the kiddos felt a little bit better we meandered over to a local park to get some sun and fresh air. The kids were still tired but had a great time collecting leaves and acorns as “treasure” and I got some knitting time in.

I got the second toe started on my Emotional Support Socks and drank a rare Coca Cola in the warm sun. I really want to get the fiddly bits done on the toe as I have some all day training on Zoom coming up and this would make great pass the time knitting. I knit the first sock on the FlexiFlips so I guess I will also do for the second? Better to not tempt the gauge gods….

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: A Coworker Hat

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I found out last week that one of my coworkers and fellow managers is leaving to move his family to Oregon. I’m super happy for him to have a cool new job and be closer to his large family. But I am sad I will be losing my partner in crime. So I decided to channel my energy into a hat.

Digging in my stash I found two skeins of Woof Worsted from Lilliput Yarns. This first one is Chocolate Lab and perfect for a hat! Bonus points that this yarn was made in Oregon and seems a fitting parting gift to go back to Oregon.

I am using US 8s and my basic toque recipe of 88 stitches. I am thinking a folded brim on this one? My gauge might be getting tighter. I noticed my hats are coming out smaller these days. I will need to either add more stitches or go up a needle size me thinks.

Happy Knitting!!

Finished Spotted Circus

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My Spotted Circus spin is complete!

The larger skein is my 2-ply intended spin. I got 255 yards to 100 grams so I’m likely in the light worsted arena. I think this was 12 (ish) wraps per inch but I forgot to write it down. Based on the singles I was hoping for a finer yarn but it really plumped during washing. Probably should have suspected based on the alpaca and nylon content. This yarn came out barber poled/marled and its lovely

The smaller skein was the singles I had leftover chain plied back to them selves. This skein was 18 yards over 17 grams so a worsted/bulky. It’s finish is more self striping since the colors folded back in on themselves.

These are off to a nice nap in my handspun bin while I plan my next spinning project! Happy Friday!

Cast On: Mom’s In The Light

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This past summer my mom went a quilt shop hop and ended up finding yarn. She has been wanting a shawl to wear at church or in her basement sewing room when it gets a bit chilly. I admit, I did some pattern research and then lost all track of this during the last 6 months of crazy.

So to get past decision fatigue, I decided to knit something I knew I love and could do. I am knitting another In The Light. I have already made three of these and love them all. I asked my mom if she wanted color blocks or marling. She said “whatever I want” so I picked marling to make color management easier.

She picked a nice forest green and pale variegated yellow in the Barefoot base by Laneras. this yarn is 100% Polworth and should make an execptionally warm shawl. I am a little light on yardage so I might have to tweak the pattern. But that is a problem for later!

Happy Knitting!!

A Warm Sock

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My first Emotional Support Sock is complete thanks to a long weekend in Missouri wine country. I only made a few mistakes that I had to rip back after a glass or two of wine. These were perfect to work on beside the outdoor fire with a sparkling glass of wine!

Before the trip I did end up weighing my yarn and the sock together to find “half” so I could break the yarn and have roughly an equal amount for sock #2. This sock is my own recipe for a toe up vanilla sock with a gusset heel. I use 68 stitches and the Wendy Johnson heel pattern.

It’s a great fit in the foot and heel and a teensy bit tight in the leg. I have had some swelling from getting back into competitive volleyball and also all the walking on my trip. I’m hoping a return to a healthy diet and some extra water will help flush everything out!

P.S. This was my first fire of the season and I am SO EXCITED!!

Happy Knitting!!

Dark Humor

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I was recently at a bakery and found the perfect gift for my former work bestie. She has moved to another company and I miss her dearly. She and I enjoy self deprecating humor and the occasional cocktail. This towel fits her PERFECTLY.

I think I am going for work up a little “new job” basket and add this towel, a bottle of wine, some chocolate and a fidget toy. We don’t really do birthdays or Christmas and prefer random acts of kindness.

Happy Tuesday!