Category Archives: cast on

Cast On: Rhiannon’s Socks

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A former coworker got a really cool new big kid job and I wanted to celebrate. She is always jealous of my handknits and is a genuinely kind human. So I decided to make some socks for her.

I had some Urth Uneek Sock from my 2023 Christmas yarn haul hanging out in my stash. Not going to lie that I chose this because it was already split for socks and wound up. Saved me those steps and I could get right to the knitting.

She has a size 7 foot, which is smaller than me, so I cast on 60 stitches for these. I haven’t decided if I am going to make an afterthought heel or do a heel flap and gusset. I think the latter would fit her better? It’s kind of nerve wracking making socks for someone else’s foot in so long, lol.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: 2025 Advent Take 2

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I still had the other half of my 2025 Cozy Knitter Advent left. And I have typically quickly cast this on instead of putting it back in stash. Figured why not do that again this year.

I am making this set specifically for a friend who is having a rough go this holiday season. Her feet are just slightly smaller than mine so I cast on 64 stitches instead of my 68. I used the last drabs of the contrast skein from the advent kit to do the toes. I just knit until that sparkly white ended and then started the stripes.

I’m hoping to crank through these fairly quickly to get her a TLC box mailed with her Christmas gifts and some extra care items for her.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Dumpster Fire 2025

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I am making a few New Years gifts from some colleagues at work. It’s been one heck of a finish to 2025 and I thought Dumpster Fires would be very appropriate.

I need to crank out two ornaments. The pieces knit up super quick and its the seaming that I am dreading. And to be honest, the duplicate stitch of the year at the end. I never really have mastered that part….

Happy Knitting!!

Casting On: Swiftie Hat

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I couldn’t help myself, I cast on another hat. I am staring a Touchdown Beanie by Katie Carlson with a Chiefs kit from TreasureGoddess and her fall sale. I am calling this one the Swiftie Beanie though. I have a colleague turning 50 next year and she both loves Chiefs and Taylor Swift.

I had just enough mojo to power through a TON of 2×2 ribbing for the brim. I extended the ribbing a bit so that she can fold the brim. But I do not plan to turn and sew it down, at least just not yet.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: 2025 Cozy Knitter Advent Socks

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It’s December 1st and that means it’s time to cast on advent socks!

True to my habits, I grabbed the Cozy Knitter 24 stripe advent for 2025. I prepped both toes with the contrast skein and I’m ready to start the first stripe later today. I do plan to use the contrast yarn to add flecks in between color changes.

This may mean I won’t be able to do the heels in the contrast. And that is a future Rachelle problem 😝

Happy Knitting!!

Failed Swatch: Rock It Tee

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I had a successful swatch yesterday. But today is not as lucky. Swatching for my Rock It Tee was a total fail

I checked the pattern like 5 times and measured three different ways. I am just way to big at my gauge and needle size. And I can’t fathom going down to much smaller needles and knitting at that gauge. I am also not willing to do the math to pick a pattern size in this pattern to work up a garment that fits me.

I am going to take this swatch and do a Ravelry search to find something that works at this needle size and gauge. Going into the holidays, I don’t want to think that hard!

Happy Swatching!!

Swatching: Cozy Classic Raglan

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I am far enough along on my Round Yoke Pullover that I wanted to start swatching for a Cozy Classic Raglan.

Using my Nomad Yarns DK tweed, I was able to get pattern gauge with the recommended needles. I honestly did a little happy dance. I was swatching over the weekend as I recuperated from a nasty cold. I needed the win!

Now I just need to find more hours in the day to knit. I think this will be the carrot to keep plowing through my current sweater WIP!

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: 2025 Fall Hat

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I do love a good cozy cast on. I was traveling recently and after finishing my Firepit Hat and my Dragonfly Hat, I needed a new hat for on-the-go knitting. I grabbed some Yarns Northwest Silk & Merino from my stash because it didn’t need wound. I was low on prep time before traveling.

This is finer yarn than the worsted that listed on the label. I feel like this is closer to a heavy sport or sport weight. Therefore, I chose to go down in needle size for my beanie “recipe” and up in stitch count. I cast on 112 stitches with US 5s. And I snuggled into a fluffy hotel bed with my complimentary glass of wine. What could go wrong! 😛

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Firepit Hat

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Friends invited us for a driveway hang with their new fire pit. And I didn’t have anything on hand that I wouldn’t mind to knit and have it smell like fire.

I grabbed my skein of Isager Yarn Aran Tweed I picked up on Looped DC this past summer. Mostly because it was already caked up. And I cast on a whole whack of stiches, I didn’t even count. Just went on vibes.

And after one good hang out and a couple of beers, I managed to get this much hat done. Just using my basic recipe of a vanilla beanie with a folded brim. No ribbing, just miles of stockinette. Love me some basic auto pilot knitting…

Happy Knitting!!!

Cast On: Vary The Gate

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For my next 2025 pigskin party cast on, I am doing Vary the Gate with some yarn from the Suburban Stitcher.

I don’t think I have made a shawl in YEARS. But this skein of neon green is languishing in my stash and this pattern is perfect for wildly variegated yarn. It’s a four row repeat and you work until you do a four row cast off.

I think I am going to make a little note card and stick in the bag as I don’t need the full pattern. It does feel a little weird to work on these small needles and yarn after so much worsted and DK. Probably not a bad thing for my fingers and hands….

Happy Knitting!!