It’s December 1st and that means it’s time to cast on advent socks!
True to my habits, I grabbed the Cozy Knitter 24 stripe advent for 2025. I prepped both toes with the contrast skein and I’m ready to start the first stripe later today. I do plan to use the contrast yarn to add flecks in between color changes.
This may mean I won’t be able to do the heels in the contrast. And that is a future Rachelle problem 😝
Happy Knitting!!
I had a successful swatch yesterday. But today is not as lucky. Swatching for my Rock It Tee was a total fail
I checked the pattern like 5 times and measured three different ways. I am just way to big at my gauge and needle size. And I can’t fathom going down to much smaller needles and knitting at that gauge. I am also not willing to do the math to pick a pattern size in this pattern to work up a garment that fits me.
I am going to take this swatch and do a Ravelry search to find something that works at this needle size and gauge. Going into the holidays, I don’t want to think that hard!
Happy Swatching!!
I am far enough along on my Round Yoke Pullover that I wanted to start swatching for a Cozy Classic Raglan.
Using my Nomad Yarns DK tweed, I was able to get pattern gauge with the recommended needles. I honestly did a little happy dance. I was swatching over the weekend as I recuperated from a nasty cold. I needed the win!
Now I just need to find more hours in the day to knit. I think this will be the carrot to keep plowing through my current sweater WIP!
Happy Knitting!!
I do love a good cozy cast on. I was traveling recently and after finishing my Firepit Hat and my Dragonfly Hat, I needed a new hat for on-the-go knitting. I grabbed some Yarns Northwest Silk & Merino from my stash because it didn’t need wound. I was low on prep time before traveling.
This is finer yarn than the worsted that listed on the label. I feel like this is closer to a heavy sport or sport weight. Therefore, I chose to go down in needle size for my beanie “recipe” and up in stitch count. I cast on 112 stitches with US 5s. And I snuggled into a fluffy hotel bed with my complimentary glass of wine. What could go wrong! 😛
Happy Knitting!!
The Firepit Hat is DONE!
Pattern: My own basic vanilla folded brim beanie. I didn’t even count stitches on this one
Yarn: Isager Yarn Ararn Tweed in Black
Needles: US 10 and 8s for decreases
Turns out my fears about using smaller needles on the brim were unfounded. I really don’t think you can tell a discernable difference. This yarn is SUPER rustic and will definitely end up in the gift pile. I do not think this is a yarn I would buy again or work with by choice. It’s just too rustic for what I am used to.
I used up most of the skein as this hat turned out to be Large. Not surprising based on the fact I didn’t count my cast on or worry/calculate gauge. I let the yarn chicken gods figure it out and I won. This hat is 89 grams or 140 yards of yarn in the finished object.
Happy Knitting!!
The Dragonfly Hat is complete!
Pattern: My own basic beanie recipe with 88 stitches and vanilla turned brim
Yarn: Abstract Fiber Dakota in Dragonfly
Needles: US 8s
This hat turned out pretty decent and I think the flashing/pooling ended up being very aesthetically pleasing. I used 58 grams of yarn or roughly 150 yards of yarn. This hat did end up more in the Adult Medium size versus some of my past ones were Adult Larges.
I think I would work with this yarn base again. I don’t normally use a ton of variegated yarn for hats but this was a nice departure from solid or tonal yarn. I am not sure if this will stay in the house or go in the gift pile but it will be nice regardless!
Happy Knitting!!
I made the decision on my Round Yoke Pullover to go ahead and work on sleeve #2 before going back to the body.
This particular set of sleeves is feeling like a slog. Is it me? Is it the shorter and darker days? It is just normal knitting mojo? I can’t tell but I am going to keep knitting through it and hope that two finished sleeves make me want to power through the very long stockinette body.
Happy Knitting!!
I am in meetings this week in large rooms and I am FROZEN. I firmly believe the facility I am in is running the AC. It’s wild. So I am knitting faster so I can be warm!
I shouldn’t be surprised that this Aran weight yarn is working up faster than worsted does. And this hat is also ready for decreases. The downside is that I don’t have (or can’t find) any DPNs in 10.5 US. I have 8s and 9s….
I think I will end up using the smaller needles in the interest of being done with this hat. I either lean into trying to actively make my gauge looser or just go with the crown will have a tighter fabric. Either way, I really don’t think it will make a jarring difference on the hat. And my brain is ready to move on to the next WIP 🙂
Happy Knitting!!
I love how quickly a basic beanie moves after turning the brim. Basically you knit twice as far to just get halfway when you make a folded brim.
The Dragonfly Hat is ready for decreases now. I was pleased to see that the micro stripe didn’t change much when I got into body knitting. And the fold worked perfectly. I do need to remember where my DPNs went so I can close out this hat, lol. The time change has my brain chemistry a little lagging lately.
Happy Knitting!!
This Bonfire Hat is going to be RUSTIC. This yarn has tooth to it, especially knit up.
I managed to get the brim knit and folded up. It was not the easiest to do with this incredibly blunt needles and this thick yarn, but I managed. I can now cruise on the hat body and see what I can get done.
I have some travel coming up and I think I will take my Round Yoke Pullover and several hat options to work on.
Happy Knitting!!
Michele plays with yarn, food, and music in Portland
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