I kind of forgot I had a swatch drying in the laundry room. And I grabbed it yesterday after folding a load of towels. Good news….I got stitch gauge!!
I am short a couple of rows on row gauge. This means I get to use the size/stitch count I want but I need to be careful on the parts that say “Knit to XX inch length”. Shall we take on odds on if I remember this whilst knitting?
Now I just need to plan my cast on…heheheheheh!
Happy Knitting!!
I decided not to wait to install the heels on my second set of 2024 Cozy Knitter Advent Socks.
I might regret this. Picking up stitches with so little fabric on the leg portion…I dropped a stitch at the corner and it ran 5 rows before I noticed. ON BOTH SOCKS, sigh. I secured both with a lobster claw stitch marker and I will ladder back up.
Unfortunately I don’t have any loose ends on the inside of those respective corners to be able to secure that stitch. Which means I will have to grab some waste yarn and tack those stitches securely. But hey…..don’t my heels look great!
Oh! And I took out about 5 rows of my “recipe” afterthought heel and the work measures 9 inches from toe to heel which matches my foot. We will give it the ultimate test when I get to try these on!
Happy Knitting!!
The Hat for Jenn is off the needles and onto the hat form!
Pattern: My own 88 stitch beanie working in stockinette with a folded brim
Needles: US 8s
Yarn: Thelittlewolfknits Opti base in the color Prophecy
This hand ended up using 86 grams or 187 yards of yarn. I tried for a big brim and a tall hat as the recipient has a lot of long hair. I spent a lot of time admiring my stitches post blocking as they came out so even and balanced.
Now I need to dig out some tissue paper and a mailer to get this sent off to it’s recipient. I will have to text her to verify her address as she has moved. I am still going to try and be sneaky.
Happy Knitting!!
I think I might have made an oopsie on my second set of advent socks….
I am NOT ripping these back. As I have a high instep I normally work extra plain rows in my heel. I think I will just take out 4-5 of those plain rows to reduce the length of fabric that gets to the back of my heel. This could totally fail, but let’s see!
I installed a life line exactly where I put the heels in the first socks. And I didn’t account for the for the extra fabric that those flecks make up. My advent yarn went that many stitches farther so my foot is half to three quarters of inch longer than I would normally do.
I just finished stripe 15 so I am on the downhill half of these socks. Lord help me!
Jenn’s beanie has quickly reached the brim stage. This teal is such a bright pop to the dark winter moody vibes.
Cozy winter weekends and dark nights have fired the mojo for this hat. I am still coming out from cold germs so my brain finds this stockinette very soothing. This brim is the result of about three cups of tea and four naps. I really want to work on some more complicated things but I need the fog to lift first.
Happy Knitting!!
As I promised myself after finishing my huge crochet blanket, I want to start a sweater with some of the sweater lots I own!
The post Christmas germs finally got me so this swatching process is brought to you by cold medicine, duke snuggles and hiding in my guest room. I wound a skein of my Brooklyn Tweed Shelter and got started.
The Synthe sweater is worked in the round with a purl row breaking up the stockinette. So I decided to swatch the proper way….in the round. I knit my swatch and then moved the work around my circular needle to leave a span of yarn across the back. This means that I should get a truer picture of my pattern gauge in the round.
Once I had my swatch done, I gave it a good wash/rinse in the sink and then bravely cut the strings in the back to get a flat swatch. That was nerve wracking!! The tails are long enough and the yarn is “sticky” enough that they didn’t go anywhere.
The swatch is now pinned out and drying. Once it dries, which should be quick, I can then measure my gauge and determine how close I am to the pattern. I know what size I want to knit based on my bust measurement. I’m hoping I don’t have to adjust too far!
Happy Swatching!!
I have a hoodie addiction and I can’t help it. I just love the feeling of being cozy so much! At Christmastime I got some cash in lieu of gifts and I put that to work on Etsy….
Jellybean helped me model these. But first up was a crewneck with the cutest font saying “Coffee & Knitting” in a nice neutral cream color. This was a XXL and is the perfect slightly oversized fit.
Next up was a full on XXL hoodie about knitting super powers. I have been working on changing my health for the last 6 months and I am a smaller human than I used to be. I could have probably taken this down to an XL. But I am still learning to trust my body and the mirror. It’s a struggle for real!
Do I have enough hoodies to wear a new one for every day of the week? Yes. I would be happy if I could live in hoodies all year round. I’m all about the hygge. Stay cozy friends!!
I have my second worsted skein from Thelittlewolfknits in my stash. That dyer is a Pigskin Party KAL sponsor so this yarn gets me extra points in the game. I also had this thought that my friend Jenn would love this yarn. She is ALL things teal.
Over a cup of yummy coffee, I started a basic beanie. My typical 88 stitches on a US 8 needle. I do NOT feel like ribbing this hat so stockinette it is. Jenn also has a March birthday so I could make this an early birthday present. She doesn’t know about this plan and I kind of like the idea of a random surprise gift in the mail!
Happy Knitting!!
I am flecking right along on my second 2024 Advent Socks!
I am doing my best to work these in tandem to keep the mojo going on this project. Keeping the tension even and workable between flecks takes some concentration. Not all of my flecks are coming out the same size as I work. I think that is just due to my newbie status at colorwork. It should block our right?
Happy Knitting!!
I have a few days left of the 2024 Pigskin Party KAL and I decided to cast on another football themed hat. This is some malabrigo singles I got last fall.
I am going to make my normal beanie recipe. I am starting with 88 stitches and the yellow. The base is Malabrigo Worsted in 022 Sauterne and then the red is 102 Sealing Wax. I also still have some Chiefs logo patches that I can sew on as well.
This base is a singles and I’m not wild at the moment of how I am struggling with snagging. I think my needles are too blunt. I need to switch to my Chia Goo needles? I do love the hand of the finished fabric as it is very very soft. Therefore I will persevere!
Happy Knitting!!
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