Monthly Archives: January 2024

That’s More Shawl Like

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After some dedicated knitting time, my shawl has progressed past thong phase and into baby shawl phase.

As with my other In The Lights, I find myself splitting the strands or not getting both picked up. I mostly catch and fix these as I work the next row. But there are quite a few oopsies in this fabric. I am just thinking of them as character.

This was my gung ho project until I started my granny stripe blanket and I want to work on nothing else but that blanket. So I made an internal deal to work at least four rows on this a day before I can pick up my blanket. We will see how long that lasts. I’m just glad my mojo is back!

Happy Knitting

A Crochet Cast On

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I have been sitting on a 2021 advent calendar from Queen City Yarn circa 2021. I tried and failed to make a shawl with it. It has been sitting in a closet ever since. I have been full of new year energy, new project ideas and an idea of granny stripes WILL NOT GET OUT OF MY HEAD.

I have never made a granny square or granny stitch before. But I sat down in front of a warm fire and turned on YouTube and taught myself. I went down the Ravelry rabbit hole and found the Sock Scraps Granny Stripe Blanket from Leila McCullough (Rav link) to use as a pattern base.

I mostly used the pattern for gauge and stitch count. I am not 100% following it’s granny stitch instructions as I found the YouTube videos more helpful and intuitive for my crochet skill level. I started with the full 100 gram skein and worked a couple of rows and now I’m adding the first day of advent.

I will continue in this pattern of full skein skinny stripes in between each day’s color. Unsure how this will look in the end but it’s the only way I could contemplate using this full skein in this blanket in a meaningful way.

Happy Crochet!

A Modicum of Socks

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My OCD called to me and I had to make my 2023 Advent Leftover socks even. I found that I had been favoring one sock more than the other. And that just won’t do!

I counted and I have four daily stripes on each sock. The blues are just popping out of the balls. For sure these will work out to be shorties. I will absolutely have to dig out some scrap yarn to put in the afterthought heels for this.

Happy Knitting!!

Snowy Finished Socks

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A snowy finish to share this week! My 2023 Christmas Eve Socks are complete with frosty photo shoot!

Pattern: My own toe up 60 stitch sock with Wendy B Johnson gusset heel

Yarn: Lilliput Rudy’s Sport in Tail Wagging colorway

Needles: US 2s

Mods: very little but I did add some leg increases to accommodate my calves

These socks have the perfect amount of ease. I do find that the feet portion are maybe 3-4 rows too long. The toes have a little too much fabric to them in my boots. But they will work. The variegation really played out nicely in this FO. It kind of reminds me of some vintage Christmasy types of decor and ornaments.

I do have another skein of sport weight yarn picked out to start. I also have the advent leftovers on the needles. I should buckle down and finish those but I am going to follow my whims and work a little on both!

Happy Knitting!!

It Always Looks Like A Thong

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Yes, I still have lights up in my house. I finally took down Christmas decor but the lights just hit right with my seasonal effectiveness disorder. So I am leaning in. And I am getting on to my WIP pile. First up is my Mom’s In The Light.

This construction of shawl always looks like a thong at this stage. But I am moving along. I have made this pattern three times before so I’m pretty familiar. This version will not be faded and I might be playing yarn chicken. But this is what my Mom gave me to work with so I am going to figure it out.

Right now I’m just cruising through the garter in a two row repeat. Perfect for TV and fireplace knitting. Happy Knitting!!

Teeny Toe

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I have been focused on my 2023 Christmas Eve cast on socks, but my Advent Leftover Socks saw a little daylight this week thanks to an evening work meeting.

I think I added two color stripes during the 2 hour meeting? I did have to do some typing and working depending on the topic. I am keeping my socks from tangling by using skein sleeve aka ball sacks. This really helps to keep things tidy when these just get tossed into my backpack.

It’s been SUPER cold this month and I have been using lots of wool socks. I have found a flaw in my current sock mix. I have been wearing more skinny jeans and leggings and I don’t have nearly enough short wool socks to pair with them. My mid calf socks kinda ruin the vibe. So these socks will definitely be knit as shorties!

Happy Knitting!!

Well, It’s A Hat

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Well, the Teal Dreams hat is done and off the needles.

Pattern: My own 96 stitch “basic” beanie with folded stockinette brim

Needles: US 8s

Yarn: Lilliput Yarn Woof Worsted in the Tucker colorway

And now I present to you the glitch. When I was knitting together the folded brim, I developed a little pucker. My last few brims have been ribbed and easy to keep the edges aligned. I guess that is a little harder to keep track of in stockinette and I had more live stitches than cast on. Sigh

I didn’t notice this until I was three inches into the body of the hat. And I made the executive decision to just keep going. The hat will still stay on a head and keep it warm. It’s just not up to my exacting standards. This hat will live in the kid bin for school/sledding/etc.

I am going to start my next had to clear my palette of this oops! Happy Knitting!!

Dry Knitting

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I’m doing some health conscious practices this January. I’m not a big resolution person but I do believe in purposeful choices. One of those is dry January. So at night with my knitting I am choosing caffeine free soda, like this cream soda, or some sparkling lemonade. For me, its not about what the beverage is and it more about the ritual of my evening. Time alone, beverages I don’t have to share and just some quiet peace.

My rituals have (and the fact this is sport weight yarn) made significant progress on my 2023 Christmas Eve socks. I finished the foot, the gusset heel and part of the leg. If I stay on this track I should have finished socks soon!

I may or may not have pulled another skein of sport weight merino/nylon/cashmere from my Christmas haul to start my next pair of sport weight socks. 🙂

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Sparkle Handspun Mitts

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After knitting three darn gloves, my Sparkly Handspun Mitts are DONE!

Pattern: Loosely based off the Dreaming of Spring Fingerless Mitts by Joelle Hoverson

Yarn: My own bulky handspun

Needles: US 7s

Mods: Started at 44 stitches and ripped back to 40 for a better fit

The finished product ended up weighing about 100 grams which by some basic math worked out to 83 yards. Seems crazy to see how big these are but I guess that’s the magic of bulky/heavy worsted yarn.

I have a little bit left of this skein of handspun and a second full skein. I think I will try and Musselburgh all that I have into a matching handspun hat. But I need to clear some needles first, lol.

Happy Friday and Happy Knitting!!

Saturday Mornings

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This is pretty much what every Saturday morning looks like for me. PB has early morning gymnastics so I am the wrangler of the beverages and all assorted baggage. It’s coffee for me and water or powerade for her.

This past trip I took both my Teal Dreams Beanie and my 2023 Christmas Eve Cast on socks. I ignored the beanie and focused on my socks as I was able to get the second sock to where I was starting the gusset heel increases. And reaching that milestone felt really good.

I am supporting my choices that feel mindful and happy. And keeping myself sane during a 60 minute lesson is a freezing warehouse building, lol.

Happy Knitting!!