Monthly Archives: December 2023

Christmas Haul

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Santa was very kind to this knitter. As the resident Santa in my home I did some knitterly things for myself.

I ordered some fiber and sock yarn from the Woolery during a holiday sale. I picked these out specifically but when the box came, I had forgot what I ordered so I left it in the box for my stocking. I also ordered a mystery box from KnitCircus to surprise myself and when it came I left the box closed.

On Christmas Eve, I opened the box and closed my eyes. Then carefully pulled the items out and put into my sock without peeking. I really really like surprises and this was about the best way I could manage it. I came away with the following

  • 250g of Bluefaced Leicester in Gray
  • 250g of Corriedale in Natural Stripes (brown/white)
  • Uneek Sock Set in Zebra
  • KnitCircus Greatest of Ease in a OOAK Prototype (pink)
  • KnitCircus Opulence in Prototype (Orange)
  • KnitCircus Spectacular in Clear Skies Ahead (Blue singles yarn)

Absolutely no plans for any of these items other than they brought me joy on Christmas morning. Does anyone else ever go to these lengths to surprise themselves?

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Handpun Mitts

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I could not get the idea of black sparkly handspun mitts out of my mind. So here I am casting on!

This handspun is thicker than the pattern calls for. So due to the rules of gauge, I am going up in needle size and down in stitch count to get a Women’s Med/Lg size mitt at the end. Did I swatch? No. But these are quick knits and I plan to treat the first mitt as a swatch.

If I have to rip back and start again? No biggie, just means more New Years knitting time for me! Happy Knitting!!

To The Finish Line

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I made it to Christmas Eve and all 24 stripes on each of my advent socks. I was smart and worked ahead and added the heels a few days before Christmas. Now they just need cuffs!

The KirbyWirby Friends Advent is on the left. I had the teensiest ball of the teal contrast left. So I unwound it, found both ends and doubled it over to find the middle. I wanted to take what scraps I had left and split them evenly across the two socks. The stripes on this dyer are smaller therefore resulted in shorter socks

The CozyKnitter 2023 advent is on the right. These produced much taller socks and more normal for my sock drawer. I have plenty of the cream contrast so I don’t need to split the remainder.

Due to how I chose to construct these, I will have a ton of ends to weave in. I’ll have to muster up a glass of wine and plow through those when my cuffs are done….

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Teal Dreams Hat

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I needed another easy project on the needles to kick around when I am tired or watching movies. Another hat it is!

I cast on this hat during a 90 minute customer care call with a work vendor. I added 96 stitches and then did a single row of 2×2 rib and then switched back to stockinette. Those few rib stitches are really helping the brim to keep from rolling all the way up.

I am going to work a folded brim for this one, but in stockinette this time. I just didn’t have the fortitude to work 4-6 inches of ribbing. My brain is still digesting the Christmas haze and carbohydrates. Other than that decision, I am just winging this hat. I’ll decide the rest as I go!

Happy Knitting!!

Christmas Eve Cast On – 2023

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Here is a little sneak peak of the package I will unwrap later this evening. A Christmas Eve present is a tradition in our home. Kiddos get bedtime snacks and new PJs….I get a knitted cast on.

Spicing this up this year with some mulled wine and a new stemless wine chiller I picked up on a girls trip. The cast on will be some sport weight socks. This is the skein of Lilliput Yarn yarn that I ordered thinking it was worsted weight.

It’s a merino/nylon blend so it will be a perfect sock and I need some heavier boot socks in my drawer. So the universe is telling me its meant to be. Now off to prep for Santa coming tonight!

Merry Christmas!

A Lovely Second Set of Gloves

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Made it to the finish line on my second set of Teacher Fingerless gloves! Not in time before school was out, but they still make a lovely gift.

All the Christmas hubbub is dying down and I managed to snuggle down last night and crank out the second mitt since we had nowhere to be. A single mitt takes me my full post-kiddo bedtime time.

I made these in the 48 stitch count which is Adult Large. I didn’t see much difference between these and the adult medium. Maybe two stitches per inch? The large size used 120 yards of yarn on US5s. I didn’t mess with smaller needles for the ribbing, I couldn’t be bothered.

This pattern is in my brain now and I am having the craving to make a set of these in my black handspun to put with my new winter dress coat…. so that may need to be a New Years cast on.

Happy Knitting!!

A Second Glove Cast On

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In an effort to avoid “Second Gift Syndrome” I decided to get the other set of teacher gloves on the needles so I wouldn’t be tempted to let them languish.

This pair I am going to experiment with the women’s size large for this go around. I am interested to see if the 4 stitch increase in pattern makes a big difference in size. I know I could measure gauge and do the math. But heck, it’s the holidays and I feel like throwing caution to the wind.

Now back to Christmas prep….only two days to Santa! Happy Knitting!!

A Matching Pair

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Still sprinting to Christmas and I finished first pair of fingerless gloves for teacher holiday gifts. I LOVE how they turned out.

Pattern: Dreaming of Spring Fingerless Gloves by Joelle Hoverson

Needles: US 5s throughout

Yarn: Good for Ewe Claddagh in the Abyss colorway

Mods: I didn’t use smaller needles for the ribbing. I just couldn’t be bothered and they turned out just lovely.

I unfortunately will not get a second pair made before class lets out later today for the other teacher. So I slipped a card with a treat and an IOU for the other teacher. Now I can chill a little bit and work on the gloves over school break.

P.S. I literally was finishing the second glove and lost the first one for like 20 minutes. I had a full on panic attack….10 out of 10 do not recommend.

Happy Knitting!!

A Cozy Pair of Emotional Support Socks

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My Emotional Support Socks are finished and ready to be all cozy for Christmas!

Pattern: My own 68 stitch toe up vanilla sock “recipe”

Yarn: Agirlandherwool BFL Sock. This is the full skein that came with my 2020 advent calendar

Needles: US 2 (Flexi Flips)

Mods: None! Just cruised on the socks until I used up all the yarn

These socks fit like cozy gloves. I have been making my socks with 68 stitches for years now. I think between my feet changing and my gauge changing….I might be cruising for a 68 stitch toe and then a 72 stitch foot and leg. It’s a fine line as I still want negative ease but I also want the finished objects to wear well.

These socks are reasonably tall and used 90 grams of yarn which is 360 yards. It felt great to get this stash completely used up and out of my stash! Now I need to game plan my next pair of sock. I am thinking they will be for my Christmas Eve cast on…..

Happy Knitting!!