Author Archives: atangledyarn84

Stashbustin’ #12 – Sweater Fever

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I didn’t end up swatching for Mud Season this past weekend….

Instead I cast on another cotton raglan sweater! I have named her Sweet Cream Striped Raglan Cardigan. It my Stashbustin’ #12 project!

In getting the house packed for our move I realized just how much cotton I have. In the spirit of spring I wanted a longer version of the cropped cardi I just finished. I freeze my butt off at work because I share a work area with a lady who has, as she calls them, “hot moments”.

I don’t blame her, it’s way easier for me to put on a sweater than her to strip to her undies! So I grabbed more of the Lion Brand Natures Choice Organic Cotton in Cream and Macadamia and off I went.

I don’t have any photos as we were CRAZY busy this weekend with winery trips, BBQs, and getting ready for the new house. But I’ll try to snag a few tonight and update tomorrow!!

Happy Knitting!

Weekend Hangover

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I have the pleasure of going to school with Bob and Julie DesRuisseaux of Prairie Fire Winery. They are two of the smartest people I know and their wine is amazing!! Last spring I helped them plant almost 600 vines on their vineyard….I was sore for a week, lol.

I decided to load up some girlfriends and go see their new store front. We also got to do a tasting…

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I may or may not have come home with 2 or 6 bottles…

Then we headed off for some antiquing and browsing the old shops!

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I was so enamored with all the old bits and peices that I didn’t snap many photos. I did find some tatting and other handmade bits.

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The weather was warm, the wine was chilled, and the company was great. It was much needed relaxation even though I came back exhausted! Now I’m on to face Monday….with a weekend fun hangover…

May the Force be with me!

Mud Season

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I have several skeins of Berroco Vintage chunky in teal burning a hole in my stash! It’s a birthday splurge purchase from last year. I really really really want to Mud Season by Elizabeth Smith!

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How cute is this!? Its very much spring and mud season here in Kansas! I’m crazy though. We are attempting to pack our house to move by May 11th. I’m in the middle of rehearsing a play. And my big kid day job is crazy right now.

Maybe I’ll just pull the yarn out and feel its squishy goodness and work on swatches? Oh and maybe mark up the pattern for the size i want? That can’t hurt me right!?

FO Friday: Two-fer

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TGIF!! I have a two-fer FO!!!

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My first beanie for Knitters Helping Knitters is done and I used up a partial skein from my stash! Thanks to the hubs for posing. I’m currently working on beanie number two and hoped to be done soon.

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Finally, completed Stashbustin’ #11 is done!! After great feedback from you guys I decided to scrap the zipper. I picked up and knit the band on both sides. I didn’t knit it as wide as indicated on the pattern because I didn’t want the edges overlapping.

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I’m very happy with this project. I proved to myself that I can in fact make a sweater!! I very much feel like a big kid knitter looking at my FO, lol. My Ravelry page has all the details if you need.

I may or may not be planning a longer and striped version of this construction in some more of my stashed cotton…

Happy Knitting!!

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A Good Project Gone Bad

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Remember this FO?

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It was a frustrating project and I was NOT happy with the end result. It’s just a very odd shape! I literally finished it and shoved in a box.

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Based on some awesome advice from knittingwithheart I think there is a “fix”!

Folded over the blanket is a nice Snuggly size….

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I am going to snip the yarn in the middle and rip back a few rows on each side. Then pick up the live stitches and re-knit a matching border. This way I have two Snuggly sized blankets instead of one weird sized one!!

Wish me luck and Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday: Baby Girl Chevron Blanket

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Stashbustin’ #10 Update!

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I’m in the second stripe!! This is the last of my WIPitis projects. And represent 4 skeins used from my stash. This was supposed to be fished by this coming Saturday for a baby shower….oops! But the baby’s not due until May and the mommy to be and I have been friends since we were 5. I think I’m ok!

I just have to keep knitting along. A few trips to rehearsal and some TV knitting time and I’ll have this project licked in no time! I’m in love with chevrons and making baby blankets out of buttery soft cotton.

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My brain may or may not be buzzing with what my next bout of WIPitis should involve…

Happy Knitting!

Inspiration!

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I read A LOT of blog posts every week and I enjoy them all. But I was inspired by pdxknitterati’s post Knitters Helping Knitters this past week. Follow the link to read the full story, it’s a good one!!

Basically a knitting community in Portland is gathering hats for an auction to raise money for a sweet little 9yr old boy with cancer! Cancer is a mean and ugly thing. So what better than to fight it with hand knits full of love!

I pulled some one skein wonders from my stash this and I want to cast on at least two hats this week. I recently lost my grandmother cancer so this project had touched a special place in my heart. And it will get some single skeins out of my stash! The deadline is April 15th and I want to finish at least 3-4 hats to mail off.

If you want to join me here is the mailing info I pulled from FB event, Please send your completed hat by April 15 to:
Cathy Woodcock
c/o Lantern Moon
7911 NE 33rd Drive Suite 140
Portland, OR 97211

Lets kick cancer in the butt!!!!

Dinner For Two: Tom Yum Soup

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In an effort to throw some vegetarian meals into our ongoing healthy lifestyle I picked up some soup bases that were recommended by a friend. Last night’s experiment: Organic Tom Yum Soup!

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I followed the directions on the box except for I doubled the mushrooms and onions. I like lots of “stuff” in my soups. It pretty much consists of soup base/broth, sautéed onions, sautéed mushrooms, salt, and pepper. My husband is not a huge vegetarian fan and likes his meals to be filling. Solution, I steamed some rice!

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This way we could pour some soup over a portion of rice to add fiber and something filling. I thought it also needed a bit of color and crunch, so I quick chopped some green onions as a garnish!

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And tah dah, dinner!!!

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The broth was slightly spicy and gingery. The mushrooms were okay but I’m not sure I cooked them correctly (I don’t use them often). The sautéed onions were sweet and heavenly. And the green onions were a nice and fresh pop to the soup.

It was a good dinner. The husband and I both felt full and satisfied. Will we cook it a lot? Probably not, but it was a nice change up from our normal meal routine.

Happy Monday (and no April fools here…it’s snowing!)

FO Friday: Simple Raglan Cardi

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Stashbustin’ #11 is complete!

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I LOVE this project and its easy to follow construction! I don’t know why I had been afraid of sweater construction. This top down raglan was so super easy!

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I added the zipper. Now I can’t decide if I like it? (Please ignore the awesome pony tail, lol)

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The 18 inch zipper fit perfectly but it makes the fabric pucker a bit. And due to my less than amazing hand sewing skills you can see the white zipper in places. Should it be ripped out and knit the ribbing instead? Should I rip out the 18 and resew in a 16 or 14?

I can’t decide…..

What do you guys think?