Monthly Archives: February 2024

Tubes For Jellybean

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Jellybean really hit my heartstrings this winter by asking to wear my handknit socks. Like full commitment….to school and everything. Even to the point I had to pull them off his feet to wash them. Now, he’s a kid so I don’t trust him with just any pair but I found a few that he could keep as his own and he was delighted.

Admittedly, my socks aren’t perfect for him. But his feet are still growing so it’s hard to invest too hard in his current size. I settled on finding some already cranked sock snakes on Etsy. These are 64 stitch tubes in hardwearing sock yarn. They are Jellybean approved colors and I just need to find contrast yarn for heels/toes/cuffs. This way we get to finished socks for him without hours and hours of knitting by me. Win win.

They are really long tubes so I should be able to get a few pair out of each tube. I tried to get Jellybean to tell me if he liked long/tall socks and how he wanted the finished pair to feel. He didn’t 100% understand what I was asking, so I will try again another day, lol.

Happy Knitting!!

Gotta Catch Up

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My advent leftover socks got a little lopsided this past week. I got so caught up in the conversation I was having that the one on the right got much farther.

I think the red one is stripe 14 so that sock is halfway and the other is just shy. I still really enjoy this yarn and this knitting project lives in my work bag for meetings and doctor’s appointments.

I am making these over 68 stitches instead of 72 like my December advent socks. My other socks fit but have neutral ease instead of negative ease. I don’t feel time pressure with this project so I just let it ebb and flow.

Happy Knitting!!

Starting Day 15

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Thanks to some time off work and time in medical waiting rooms, I am now ready to start Day 15 on my Queen City Yarn Advent Blanket.

The addition of the Amber Waves cashmere yarn is working respectably. It’s not 100% the same but I have tried a couple of different methods and I think I know what I like now. And this blanket is so busy that it’s not really going to noticeable in the end anyway.

The nurses and doctors were really impressed with my wizardry and I think they checked on me extra just to see the blanket!

Happy Crochet!

Cast On: Scrappy Cotton Blanket

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I gave into my cast on urge and started another crochet blanket project. And this one goes WAY faster than fingering weight, lol.

I had a random assortment of Lion Brand Nature’s Choice organic cotton from my early crafting days. It is an Aran weight 100% cotton that is VERY soft. I am just winging it with this project. I pulled out a size K hook and whacked a bunch of stitches in a chain and started granny striping.

I do have a general plan on how I want to color block the yarn. I don’t want to change yarns a bunch so there will be big chunks, little chunks and colors starting mid row. But I have a plan to make it progress somewhat logically.

It will feel really nice to get this out of my stash! Happy Crochet!!

Dog And Crochet

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This blog is now a crochet granny stripe blanket blog….for now. We are at Day 11 of my mini skeins and Duke is properly supervising my work.

He is adding just the right amount of dog hair dusting in my work. But he often sleeps on the job.

I recently lent some yarn to a friend for a photo prop and she returned it. It was a bunch of bulky cotton yarn in neutral colors. (See zip lock bag) And instead of putting this all away again I think I will start a chunky granny stripe baby blanket. It can be a gift or a doll blanket for PB?

I mean, why not add to my pile of active WIPs, right? Happy Crafting!

Book Time Machine

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Part of my 2024 plan for wellness is more reading. I joined a book club last year and picked up some new books at the library sale as well. I am trying to incorporate fun and professional reading as a part of my self care.

And I thought it prudent to clear some of the books off my night stand before starting new book. First up is #IMOMSOHARD. I think I started this book in 2022? And I only had a few chapters to go. So Duke and I turned off the TV and wrapped this one up this week.

And we found treasure. I found a printed knit hat pattern that I never made, a tooth fairy note about Jellybean and a crumply post it. Apparently I store things in books?

Happy Reading!

RSI Avoidance

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I have really been hyper focused on my Granny Stripe Blanket and crochet is not my normal craft. Those muscles are not as “in shape” as my knitting muscles. I did start to notice some RSI stress and soreness in both my hands this week. But I don’t want to stop working on this project.

So I went off to the local Walgreen and sourced compression gloves. They really do help with soreness and making my hands feel better. I do find it difficult to tension my yarn while crocheting. It doesn’t feel the same or slide the same. So I am alternating working with the gloves, taking breaks and working bare handed.

Hoping this keeps me making progress! Happy Crocheting!!

Mom Skills

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PB reached 100 days of school and celebrated by dressing up as a granny. Per my usual MO, I went to Amazon to help this working momma out. But alas the kit came WAY to big and way to late to exchange.

So it was my sewing machine to the rescue. I had to take up 10 inches which meant a 5 inch hem. I did not cut off any fabric so as she grows I can just pick out the stitches and let the “dress” down to fit her.

She was EXCITED. She had her cane, purls, granny glasses and dress. We skipped the skull cap and wig because I don’t hate her teacher. And bonus, she can now play Grannies like they do in Bluey. IYKYK

Happy Sewing!

Day 9 And A New Addition

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I am not up to day NINE in my crochet blanket of advent calendar past.

Duke decided he needed to be in on the photo this time so included are some tiny puppy toes. I have been monitoring my full skein of the Christmas red/green. I am using it WAY faster than I should be to make it to 24 stripes. So I am going to need some help.

I knew I had some other Christmas yarn in my stash from a gal’s gift last year. So I pulled it out to see if it would work. I think the colors blend beautifully. It is a different fiber content with a wool/cashmere/nylon blend. But the thickness and twist are consistent. I’ll just need to be careful with washing/drying.

I have a plan to alternate this in with the full skein I have already been using. I have a scale so I can keep track of how well I think this is working. I also have some mini skeins in solid red/green that I can use in a pinch.

Happy Crocheting!!

FO Friday: Mom’s In The Light

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The wooden coaster turned tassel maker works just fine. I got my tassels finished and temporarily on my Mom’s In The Light. We even got to see that yellow ball in the sky that was the sun for some good photos.

Pattern: In The Light by Casey Day-Crosier (Rav Link)

Yarn: Laneras Barefoot (100% Polworth) held double with yellow and green

Needles: US 8s

Mods: Omitted the lace section to conserve yarn as I only had two skeins.

I tried to style this shawl on my necklace holder. This photo was before it’s wash and blocking so it’s a little scrunchy. But I think it still looks nice. My mom is coming this week so I can get her input on the tassels before I do final touches.

I used every bit of each 400 yard skein for a total of 800 yards used. So this was a nice bang for my buck getting yarn out of my stash. And it will be nice and toasty with the fingering held double.