Author Archives: atangledyarn84

Cast On: Annapurna Scarf

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It’s the day after Christmas and I’m blogging from an over crowded mini van on its way back to post-christmas reality. I’m finally casting on my Cornbread and Honey advent minis project. Jellybean is watching a movie and PB is snoozing (for now) so here goes nothing! Come along with me and let’s see what I can accomplish today.

I’ve already seen all 12 minis but here is the first one! It’s a gorgeous tonal purplish pink. I put on some knitting podcasts with my headphones and hand wound my yarn. I’m casting on Annapurna by Aspenknits. This pattern is specifically designed for 12 or 24 advent type mini skeins.

I’m back! The three hour car ride is complete and the kiddos are asleep in bed after a terrible sugar crash. I managed to knit half? of the first color section. It’s a pretty wide scarf so between the purling and number of stitches this is taking me a bit to make progress.

For now, I’m off to bed. It’s back to reality tomorrow with work and daycare. This momma is happy and tired. I hope everyone else is re-entering from Christmas safely and slowly!

Happy Knitting!!

12 Days of Christmas Advent

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Merry Christmas to all!!! It’s just before noon and we have thoroughly exhausted ourselves with snuggles, brunch and presents. I opened up my second advent Christmas box after the kiddos crashed for nap to start my “12 days of Christmas”. This one was from Teal Torch Knits in Oregon. I learned about them from the Pigskin Party KAL and they had an affordable 12 day option for advent mini skeins.

You guys, this one was beautifully packaged! It’s gold and cream tiny boxes with neatly wrapped treats…

My kids are going to want to steal these boxes HARD. I think I might need to keep these under wraps until they are empty of yarn, lol.

Because it’s Christmas I made the executive decision to open all the treats at once. I got nibbles, sips, some yarn soak and a beautiful christmas tree progress keeper. I think I may slip away and slip some whisky into the peppermint cocoa and just watch the fireplace

May each one of  you have a peaceful day full of the things that bring you joy. Merry Christmas!!

Cornbread and Honey Advent Box

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Merry Christmas Eve to all!! I finally jumped on the advent mini train this holiday season. I couldn’t fit a full 24 day advent into my yarn budget this summer but I did find two indie dyers who were doing “12 Days of Christmas” boxes for a much more affordable option. So I got two 12s to add up to 24.

Here is my first box from Cornbread and Honey. They box was a little worse for the wear by USPS but it was intact and on time.

Inside was a cute little project bag, 12 mystery bags and some delicious extra goodies. I did pick out a project to fit these little bundles. I purchased Annapurna by Aspen Knits because its a cute stole/wrap/scarf that was specifically designed for these minis.

I started opening these up on December 1st through the 12th but in the chaos and spirit of December I forgot to show you the yarn! Between stomach viruses and work drama I didn’t find the joy and the energy to start my advent project.  This yarn was so pretty I wanted to knit only good vibes into it so I chose to wait until it felt right. Right now it’s Christmas Eve day and I need to get my butt moving on some cooking and wine drinking!

P.S. I’m still can’t wait to cast on my special Christmas Eve cast on! It’s waiting under the tree for me with my warm snuggly PJs.

Happy Knitting!!

Preparing For Christmas Eve

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Christmas is almost upon us and I am once again preparing my family’s Christmas eve boxes! Mostly I get everyone in the family a new set of pajamas and special treat for Christmas eve. I like being able to open an early present. So I wanted to give you a sneak peak inside mine. (My box includes a special Christmas Eve cast on!)

I have a brand spanking new pair of Christmas pajamas, a bottle of wine, and brand new knitting project to start. This year I chose the Arya Shawl by Ambah O’Brien. It’s a two color shawl worked up in DK weight. And I just so happen to have those two coordinating skeins of Chubbs and Squeak in tweed DK from my Portland trip. It seemed just like kismet. Now I just have to wait for Santa to get here!!

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Zen Yarn Garden Baby Blanket

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I’m so pleased to keep my FO train rolling! This week I finished my Zen Yarn Garden Baby Blanket!

Pattern: Zen Yarn Garden Baby Blanket by Staci Perry

Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Bulky in Solstice Heather, Cobblestone Heather and Red.

Needles: US 13s

Mods: Cast on 144 total stitches and worked extra stripe repeats. I also added fringe/tassels. My Rav notes are here.

I really wanted to use up every last inch of yarn and I had pretty decent sized balls when I bound off. So I thought…tassels! I measured and broke up my remaining yarn and added them to the points of my chevrons. This took the yardage of this blanket to 1,006 yards! I know the tassels are the most baby friendly but I can always remove them later. But for now I adore them!

I haven’t taken finished measurements yet but I have washed and dried this blanket. The above photo is taken on our king sized guest bed and it covers a good sized portion of it. Most of all, I’m just beyond thrilled to have over 1,000 yards of acrylic out of my stash and put to proper good (and washable) use!

Happy Knitting!!

Let’s Helix This Thing

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My Weekender is joined in the round! I flew through the first hem like it was nothing. And then it took me a day or so to power up enough for the second tubular cast on for the back hem. But I managed quite nicely and have the whole project joined in the round.

My next new challenge is to use helical knitting to alternate my hand dyed skeins. This is my first go at it and I’m interested to see how managing the yarn cakes will go. I used a single skein to knit my ribbing because honestly I didn’t have the brain space to alternate while knitting flat and absolutely no one would notice if I had or hadn’t. I have markers in for the center front and center back slipped stitch detail.

I’m knitting the 48.5 inch bust sweater for roughly 4-5 inches of positive ease. Which is less than the pattern calls for but as I’m more average size than most knitting models I don’t want something so baggy that it will make me look bigger than I actually am.

I also would like to note that I have not gauge swatched either. I am going to gamble on this one because it’s an over sized sweater anyway and I hope to be able to block it a little either way if needed. Surely this will end in disaster but I’m doing it anyway!

WIP Wednesday: Sherwood Forest Wrap

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My Sherwood Forest Wrap has come to live in my purse. It’s kind of an odd purse project as it takes a very long time to work a single row but yet here I am. After an initial thrust of travel knitting progress this project is only getting a repeat or two every now and then.

But I guess that all adds up, I did manage to complete the first garter and stockinette sections. And I’m establishing the first lace section. With so much work bunched up on the needles I have to be careful to mind all the yarn overs and to remember the garter edges. But so far so good!

P.S. I have not heard back from the designer about the error on her paid for pattern. So that is less than encouraging but I will try to contact her again.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Bullseye Vanilla Socks

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My sock needles have been conspicuously empty. I was in need of a simple vanilla project for some travel/meeting knitting so I went rummaging in my stash. I have had this Biscotte Yarns Bis-sock self-striping wound up for way too long. But it was ready to go so I pulled my size 0 needles out and hit the road.

I did manage to do the figure 8 cast on and get some of the toe increases established before leaving the house. I much prefer if this had been been to the “round and round” stage but I’m sure I can manage. The yarn is a pretty thin light fingering with a three ply structure. It has a mix of nylon and merino but I still plan on knitting this at pretty tight gauge to make the socks as hard wearing as possible.

I’m not mad at the speckled sections of this self-striping yarn. I’m interested to see how this next solid/tonal section works out!

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: The Weekender

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Okay, here is my second birthday day cast on. I finally cast on the Malabrigo Rios in the Fresco y Seco color that I wound up in my last winding frenzy. I cast on the Weekender by Drea Renee Knits aka Andrea Mowry.

This sweater had a split hem and the front and back is cast on separately. I started the front hem and you guys….I learned the Tubular Cast On. It did take me a lot longer to slow down and learn this. I watched at least three YouTube videos and painstakingly did the first set-up TWICE.

It’s definitely not perfect but I can see how it makes a nice clean edge that seems to come out of now where. I’m hopeful that my second hem is a little neater. I need to work on keeping my gauge consistent across and slipping the correct stitches.

I’m excited to get this sweater going in the round so I can have a nice zen project that can just work endlessly in circles. Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Autumn League Pullover

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This FO feels like a LONG time coming. But my Autumn League Pullover is completed, washed and photos taken.

Pattern: Autumn League Pullover by Alexandra Tavel

Yarn: Lion Brand Heartland

Needles: US 6 and US 7

Mods: My sleeves are shorter than the pattern shows. I also knit a split hem at the bottom ribbing with the back being longer than the front.

I really am just “meh” about this sweater. I very much enjoyed the process and the ultimate look of the final garment. But I think the fabric is a little stiff so it doesn’t drape as nicely as I would have liked. And the yarn is 100% acrylic so its warm but doesn’t breathe well so it holds on to smells more than wool would.

But it fits my figure nicely and it took 1,091 yards or 4.4 skeins of yarn out of my stash that had been marinating since 2014! This will probably just be a kick around the house sweater or I might see if my sister likes it. Honestly, I’m just glad to have this off the needles so I can start knitting my next sweater!

Happy Knitting!!