Author Archives: atangledyarn84

Halfway Happy Valley

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My Happy Valley socks are halfway there! (Don’t mind the dog hair…no matter how I clean it sticks to everything, sigh)

I’m copying the stitch count and measure from my Cygnus Vanillas with the exception that I’m working a gusset heel instead of an afterthought heel.

The yarn is Knit Picks Hawthorne Sport in the Happy Valley color. It’s playing quite nicely with my stitch count. I didn’t encounter any pooling or flashing, just some mild striping!

It actually went up farther than I anticipated based on how fast my yarn ball was shrinking, but not as far as my typical socks. But these are so lovely I’m just rolling with it. I used all but three yards of half of the ball…if that makes sense. I knit until I was scared I didn’t have enough to bind off and then stopped!

Now I need to get cracking on sock #2!

Happy Knitting!!

2016 By The Numbers

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Well, 2016 is in the books. I had a lot of grand plans for the year including the 2016 Sock Yarn Experiment. I think I did pretty well on that front! I made:

  • 18 pairs of socks, 17 adult and 1 baby sized
  • Used 13 new to me yarns (thought not the same ones I set out to use, oh well)
  • Three of those pairs were gift socks!

Given that I got a whole new pile of sock yarn, I plan to continue my sock experiment in 2017.

Let’s look at the overall 2016 numbers shall we?

  • I finished 46 projects blowing my 31 projects from 2015 out of the water.
  • I frogged four projects from 2015 and sent three into hibernation.
  • I knit my first shawl in 2016

As for the Yarn In versus Yarn Out….well that one was a little rough…

I knit:

  • 19,189.10 yards of yarn
  • 57,567.36 feet of yarn
  • or 10.90 miles of yarn
  • I used 67.48 skeins of yarn

I purchased or brought in:

  • 23,272.10 yards of yarn
  • 69,816.30 feet of yarn
  • or 13.22 miles of yarn
  • I added 91.96 skeins of yarn

That leaves me 4,083 yards, 12,249 feet, 2.32 miles or 24.48 skeins in the hole for 2016. Whoops! I really want to try to better next year. So I’m going to gear up for 2017, finish some WIPs and work from stash. Yeah, we will see how that goes…

Happy Knitting!!

A Mailbox of Minis

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Ready for some yarn porn? I received my mini skeins from my swamp partners in the Down Cellar Studio Christmas Mini Skein swap

It was such a joy to go the mailbox everyday. I received the yummy yarn above and a few extra treats thrown in by swappers. I hadn’t ever really done a swap before. And this was a nice easy one to start with. People were so kind and wonderful. It was the epitome of the holiday spirit. I cannot wait to add these to my sock yarn memory blanket.  But that probably won’t happen until after the Super Bowl when the Pigskin Party KAL is done. Until then, I have more projects to finish!

Happy Knitting!!

A Very Happy Valley

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My Happy Valley socks are swimming right along. But what does one expect with sport weight yarn on size two needles?

I’m working over 60 stitches so I’m getting more striping than pooling of these colors. Which suits me just fine. You can see even the heel turn didn’t pool things too badly. I’m ready to zoom up leg. I should have started the heel turn like maybe two rows before I should but the fit should still be fine….I hope.

I peaked in my project bag and noticed that I don’t have that much yarn left. My size 10 foot really eats yarn quickly at sport weight. I don’t think this sock will be as tall as I normally make but I can probably live with that, lol.

Happy Knitting!

Happy New Year and Happy New Yarn!

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For many reasons the end of 2016 was pretty crappy for me. Christmas not withstanding because Christmas with a two year old is just awesome. (And no it’s not because any certain celebrity died.) The last quarter of 2016 was just one personal gut punch after another and that’s all I will say. A dear friend from college, bridesmaid in my wedding (ahem…almost 10 years ago), and definitely a knit worthy friend mailed me a care package. And it was yarn of course! She is a resident of the Pacific Northwest and has at her doorstep some of the best yarns in the US. At least in my opinion

She sent me two skeins of beautiful Knitted Wit Victory Sock in the Fiesta color. When I opened the package I sent her this photo…

Since I have two skeins of this yarn I think I’m envisioning a pair of socks for me. And the second skein will become a set of matching finger-less gloves. One pair for me and a pair for her. 

My life is blessed and I know that. I have a warm house, food to eat, and people who love me. But during the crappy times it really is nice to know someone notices and takes the time to do something to try to make it better. So if you need it right now I’m sending you a digital hug right now……

Happy Knitting!

FO Friday: Cygnus Vanilla Socks

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Guess what I finished on Christmas Day? The Cygnus Vanilla Socks are done!

Pattern: 60 stitch toe-up vanilla socks with afterthought heel

Yarn: String Theory Orbit in the Cygnus color

Needles: US 2

I used 98 grams of the 100 gram skein leaving just enough leftover for future sock mending. They are snuggly and warm and boy, do those stripes just POP! String Theory Colorworks is definitely one of my favorite dyers!

These are also special because these are my 2016 birthday socks. I got the yarn from my husband and cast them on for my birthday cast on project. Bonus points for finishing them Christmas Day 🙂

Happy Knitting!!

A Quick Mini Project!

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Am I the only one who gets annoyed with tangled ear buds?  A long time ago I used some scrap yarn to cover my iPhone ear buds. Well I finally broke those ear buds and broke out another pair. After several weeks of annoying tangles I broke down and pulled out a crochet hook.

After:

Before:

Bonus part of this project? I get to count this towards the Pigskin Party KAL mini skein interception! I only used 2 grams of yarn so I don’t earn many yardage points but I get the bonus 25 interception points! I love when I can work yarn into my everyday life!

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Happy Valley Vanilla Socks

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I have a FO later this week to share but in the meantime I want to show you my Christmas Day cast on project!

I pulled the Hawthorne Sport in the Happy Valley color from my stash as we dashed out the door for our Christmas travels. I knew I had the right needles in my bag to start another pair of sport weight socks. So while Jellybean was taking a post-Santa coma nap (p.s. Christmas with a little person is SOOOO much fun!) I got my needles clicking on a vanilla toe up sock!

This is now my purse knitting de jour! I’m kind of in love with the speed and beauty of sport weight socks…

Happy Knitting!

Blanket Victory!

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I finished my Mighty Rainbow Blanket!


All glorious 2,080 yards of squishy garter stitch is done done done! I’m soooo happy with this project. It’s soft, it’s huge, and it’s warm!


I didn’t remember to measure this for a finished measurement but it’s all of 10 skeins of Knit Picks Mighty Stitch. This project scored me 600+ points in the Pigskin Party KAL too! I just can’t wait to cuddle under this while the snow falls!

Happy Knitting!!

Merry Christmas To Me!

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I sent Santa a wishlist this year. All I really wanted was yarn but my family doesn’t speak yarn. So I sent a list with web links. Santa did good…


Santa and the family hit my wishlist hard at the Loopy Ewe and I might have squealed out loud! I have Abstract Fiber, Into The Whirled, Berry Colorful Yarnings, and Fibernymph Dyeworks. I died and went to yarn fume heaven.

I hope you and yours had a safe and magical Christmas! Happy Knitting!!