Author Archives: atangledyarn84

Spa Day

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I took some time for myself away from work and away from family this week. I scheduled a cool spa soak followed by a massage and then dinner by myself.

My Basic Dude Beanie came along with me on the trip. I managed to knit above the water and keep the skein dry in my bag. I am really coming along with the brim!

For dinner I wandered down to a Ramen shop where I got dumplings in chicken based ramen and fried wontons. I couldn’t eat anywhere near the whole thing but It was GLORIOUS to enjoy a meal and not have to parent anyone. I just ate and read my latest book.

It’s nice to find time to remember who I am aside from my output! Happy Self Care!!

Cast On: Basic Dude Beanie

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Golf lessons continue into the cooler weather of fall. This led me to want to start another beanie. My Punch Bug Vanilla Beanie is at the brim decreases and not conducive to traveling.

I had a single skein of Ella Rae Classic wool from a mystery grab bag I purchased. It’s pretty toothy wool and just 200 yards of worsted. Made perfect sense to make a hat. This time I decided on a folded stockinette brim. I am hoping this type of construction can help me maximize the full skein. No science, just gut instinct and going to knit until I get close on yarn.

The last hat was a little snug on the husband so I went up to 96 stitches on US 8s instead of 88. This should make it a better fit for a dude. I think this hat will go to live with a coworker who often works out in the cold at all hours.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Emotional Support Socks

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To keep my needles warm, I cast on another pair of socks straight away after finishing my 2023 GFOA Socks. I went for an easy one and yarn that was already caked up. I had the full skein of BFL from 2020 AGirlandherwool advent calendar. Ravelry said I have 300+ yards left so that should be a good pair of socks!

I managed a wee toe cast on with FlexiFlip needles. I may switch to my 9 inch circulars after a bit. But I do find I like the flexible DPNs for cast ons.

Fall golf lessons have started for Jellybean so I get 3 hours a week of patio knitting while he golfs. Win win!

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: 2023 GFOA Socks

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My 2023 GFOA Socks are finally done and properly photographed!

Pattern: None, my own 68 stitch toe up vanilla sock with afterthought heel (Rav link)

Yarn: KirbyWirby Old Faithful Sock in Rose Apothecary Remix

Needles: US 1s

I used about 75 grams of sock yarn to make these. Which makes them roughly 340 yards worth of yarn. They come past my ankles and a decent amount up my calves. Should make nice boot socks!

These just turned out beautifully. I am super pleased with my neutral heel choice. It just fell so beautifully inside the rainbow progression. It’s still crazy hot here in Kansas so I don’t have much a chance to wear them yet but I can’t wait!

Punch Bag Progress

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Worsted weight yarn feels gloriously fast when you have been working on sock yarn.

I got the brim done and folded on my Punch Bug Vanilla Beanie. So now that bottom part is double thick. Plan is to keep working the hat portion until I run our of yarn. I can’t decide if I wanted shaped crown decreases or just knit and square it off? The squared off closure would make it look vaguely cat ear like where the crown decreases get a traditional hat shape.

What does this hat what to be when it grows up?

MudPunch Always Gets Me

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I once again was wooed by the siren song that is my email newsletters. I get the MudPunch email newsletter and I just couldn’t resist her shop.

I have really been feeling the sock mojo here lately so some self-striping felt just right. Do I have a three whole storage bags of sock yarn? Yes I do. Did I still buy this? Yes I did and I don’t regret it.

The pinky brown skein is outside my normal color zone but I’m excited to see how it works up. The yellow and blue skein is 1,000% in my zone as those are my high school alma mater colors and my current employer’s color scheme. I think these will go into the stash for a minute but I foresee them hitting the needles yet this year.

Happy Stashing!!

Spinning Sunshine

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The oppressive heat has finally broke for a brief minute here in Kansas so I broke out my dusty AF wheel. I still have my Spotted Circus fiber on the wheel from this past June.

I got several hours of peaceful spinning in whilst watching PB splash about and throw reusable water balloons. We literally had to drag her in for bath and bedtime at the end of the day. I managed to get almost all of the first bobbin spun up.

Duke even got in on the action and got VERY wet by getting too close to PB’s splash zone.

Nothing beats the last rays of sunshine in the day and some simple family fun. Happy Spinning!!

Reengaging Self Care

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Life has been kicking right in the yarn balls lately. And I haven’t been great at taking care of myself or taking time for myself. Last night we had no kid events and the hubs was putting the kids to bed so I secluded myself in the basement for the evening.

I have my 2023 GFOA Socks where I cut in my heels. And then I have a nice Cab Sav with do it yourself cheese and cracker. I literally bit off some cheese and then add a cracker, lol. And I put on a face mask and foot mask while I binged Only Murders In The Building Season 2.

Won’t solve all my problems but it sure was nice to take a breath for a minute! Happy Self Care!!

Punch Bug Vanilla Beanie: Take Two

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I found my Chia Goo interchangeable needles and managed to get my Punch Bug Beanie back on the needles. I am calling this one “Take Two”.

I am still casting on 88 stitches for this redo but this time its on 8 US needles. So the fabric is not as loosey goosey as it was on 10 US. This is a pretty fat skein of worsted therefore I think I will knit the ribbing doubly long and fold it over. In hopes of maximizing using up the full skein.

Happy Knitting!!