Author Archives: atangledyarn84

2024 TBR

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PB asked me to go to the Library so she could play ABC mouse and Library toys. I happily obliged as it has been SUPER cold this winter and we are all getting cabin fever at home. By luck or coincidence, it was Library sale day!

I found seven books that needed to come home with me. I found a new series to start (top 5) and old series to revisit (2nd from bottom) and a random book I picked because of the cover (bottom). All of these cost $14….

I don’t know when I am going to find time to read between my craft goals, working hours, raising kids and taking care of my health. But I am going to put these on my bedside table to motivate me 🙂

Happy Reading!!

A New Tool

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A package arrived this week with a new crochet tool. I did some looking around on Etsy for an ergonomic crochet hook and I found this one local-ish to me. I found the AMysticalFarm out of Missouri and loved how quickly the hook would get here.

The hook really feels good in my hand and fits better than the metal one. It also warms as I work and that is nice as well. Not to mention it is gorgeous.

The hang-up is that this hook is not a great fit for this granny stripe project. I am having trouble with grabbing the yarn and splitting the yarn. I am a lot slower with this hook. Probably just need more practice with it or need to dry a different yarn? But for now I want to ZOOM on this blanket so I am going back to my metal hook and going to find a cushion grip to slip on it.

Happy Crochet!!

Halfway (Ish)

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My blanket mojo is making it hard to work on other projects but my Mom really wants this shawl so I am making sure it gets some love as well.

This is In The Light and I have made it three times before so I am very comfortable with this pattern. Normally this would call for fading but I skipped this to use the yarn my Mom bought. I may be playing yarn chicken…so I am keeping track of my balls of yarn and where I am in the pattern. The edging starts at like 180 stiches and I am at 90 something.

I probably won’t be able to knit the full pattern but I should be able to knit to a stitch count that fits the multiple needed and still add the edging. This will just mean it will be a tid bit smaller, which won’t affect its warmth at all. I just need to keep knitting!!

Happy Knitting!!

Moody Blues

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Progress is slow on these socks for the second go around of this yarn. But I have reached the moody/blue section of the fade.

I got a little irked as I found a dropped stich on one these back in the greens. I had knit SO FAR past it that I could not possibly ladder it back up. I slipped a stich marker on it and during a lunch hour I dropped down the row next to it to fix it. I combined that dropped stitch with a good stitch and then laddered back up. And on the next round I just increased one where I lost that stitch.

One stitch won’t affect the overall fit. Just a little mad that I didn’t notice. I will give myself grace that these live loose-ish in my purse and take a lot of abuse. They are faring well considering all that!

Happy Knitting!!

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop

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This granny stripe blanket is quickly becoming an obsession. It it literally the only thing I want to work on all day long.

This new skill is really itching something in my brain that is brining so much dopamine. I have just started the day 3 mini skein. And I actually really like how the red/green/white stripes are looking between the minis.

I am working on this so much that my hand is hurting a little bit. So I have added some stretching, compression gloves and I have looked online for more ergonomic crochet hooks than this Joann’s $2 special. But in the meantime….I’ll be crocheting!

Dusting Off The Wheel

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Finally getting back to my spinning wheel after months long hiatus. My last spin was some Spotted Circus and so I am going back to some of the 4 ounce fiber I had from a club.

This is some WoolFiend fiber in a 85/15 Polwarth and Silk blend. It’s name is called Lovin’ Feeling but I am calling it Frosty Roses as it looks like lovely red roses and it’s currently colder than a witches elbow.

    I split my braid in half and I am spinning half on on bobbin and I’ll take the second half and flip the other way and spin. Then take both halves and ply for a lovely barber pole. Again, I’m not a trained spinner. I just do what my fingers and body know how to do and I take the yarn as it comes.

    I was a little rusty at first, but the muscle memory came back quickly. I just need my blanket fever to subside so I have time for all my crafts!

    Happy Spinning!!

    Getting The Hang Of It

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    I am so proud of this blanket. I have really dug in and focused on this new skill and made great progress in just two days. To say I am obsessed is an understatement.

    I have the first advent mini added and the second (super Christmas-y) separating stripe. The second mini is wound and waiting for me. I just need life to quit with the adulting of work and house chores so I have more time to craft!

    Happy Crochet!

    That’s More Shawl Like

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    After some dedicated knitting time, my shawl has progressed past thong phase and into baby shawl phase.

    As with my other In The Lights, I find myself splitting the strands or not getting both picked up. I mostly catch and fix these as I work the next row. But there are quite a few oopsies in this fabric. I am just thinking of them as character.

    This was my gung ho project until I started my granny stripe blanket and I want to work on nothing else but that blanket. So I made an internal deal to work at least four rows on this a day before I can pick up my blanket. We will see how long that lasts. I’m just glad my mojo is back!

    Happy Knitting

    A Crochet Cast On

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    I have been sitting on a 2021 advent calendar from Queen City Yarn circa 2021. I tried and failed to make a shawl with it. It has been sitting in a closet ever since. I have been full of new year energy, new project ideas and an idea of granny stripes WILL NOT GET OUT OF MY HEAD.

    I have never made a granny square or granny stitch before. But I sat down in front of a warm fire and turned on YouTube and taught myself. I went down the Ravelry rabbit hole and found the Sock Scraps Granny Stripe Blanket from Leila McCullough (Rav link) to use as a pattern base.

    I mostly used the pattern for gauge and stitch count. I am not 100% following it’s granny stitch instructions as I found the YouTube videos more helpful and intuitive for my crochet skill level. I started with the full 100 gram skein and worked a couple of rows and now I’m adding the first day of advent.

    I will continue in this pattern of full skein skinny stripes in between each day’s color. Unsure how this will look in the end but it’s the only way I could contemplate using this full skein in this blanket in a meaningful way.

    Happy Crochet!

    A Modicum of Socks

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    My OCD called to me and I had to make my 2023 Advent Leftover socks even. I found that I had been favoring one sock more than the other. And that just won’t do!

    I counted and I have four daily stripes on each sock. The blues are just popping out of the balls. For sure these will work out to be shorties. I will absolutely have to dig out some scrap yarn to put in the afterthought heels for this.

    Happy Knitting!!