Cast On: 2025 Cozy Knitter Advent Socks

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

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

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

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

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

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!!

Cast On: Dragonfly Hat

I needed another hat for my work bag after I finished my Online Training Hat. I grabbed a skein from my abstract fiber haul and got started.

True to my broken record, this is my 88 stitch beanie “recipe” on US 8 needles. I am working a folded stockinette brim. At this gauge I am going to get big lime green stripes/pools and mini/micro stripes of the light blue and purple. Should be an interesting look when finished!

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Round Yoke Pullover

With my Love Note almost done and my swatch successful, I couldn’t help but start my next sweater. This creatively called “Basic Round Yoke Unisex Pullover” and I think I will just called my Round Yoke Pullover for simplicity.

I chose the 44 3/4 bust size for the pattern. I really like this starts with a knitted collar. I might have gone done an even smaller needle size for the ribbing. And this will be a nice easy/wide collar regardless. I can always go back and crochet a stronger foundation.

I had to get some work done on the Rachelle-mobile at the dealer. Dang kids denting my doors! So I managed to get a couple of increases done and several inches of sweater. I didn’t feel like lugging my huge Love Note so this got all the love.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Online Training Hat

I have two solid weeks of online training for my professional CPE. I am less than excited and I need a knitting project to keep my fingers busy and the snacking to a minimum. My needles have been empty since I finished the 2025 Conference Hat.

I grabbed some Big Sky Yarn Co Squish DK that I picked up at SSK 2024 and some hat needles. And in my haste, I may have made a misstep. This is DK yarn and I brough worsted weight hat needles. I hand wound the skein and pondered and still cast on.

This yarn is a heavier DK and I am going to knit some 1×1 ribbing and “swatch” to see if this would actually work out. At the very least I am working on something and it accidently matches my shirt….

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Love Note

I finished my Autumn Gold and it’s football season! Time for my first Pigskin Party 2025 KAL cast on for my Love Note.

Jellybean missed the Chiefs Brazil game when he was at a sleepover. He wanted to see all his favorite YouTubers making cameos….or that is my suspicion. So we watched the recording and I started my sweater! Was the not the Chiefs best outing but we had chili and snuggles. I’ll take that as a win.

I am getting a ton of fuzz in my face and it tickles but the Love Note is off and running!!