Category Archives: cast on

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!!

Cast On: Dragonfly Hat

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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

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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

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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

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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!!

Cast On: Emotional Support Chicken #3

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I still have some Emotional Support Chicken mojo after finishing #2. So here comes #3!

I had PB and Jellybean pick out the the next handspun. PB picked some Romney 2-ply and I grabbed the leftover of the unknown brown 3-ply and the creamy romney white leftovers. I managed to get the tail feather completed and connected.

I think I am going to mix the accent colors of the white and dark brown colors against the main medium brown color. I have enough to play around with color on this one. And still have leftovers for #4.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Emotional Support Chicken #2

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I am still feeling the mojo for the Emotional Support Chickens. I decided to cast on #2 with the opposite colors of #1.

This cream color handspun is much more consistent than the darker color I from the last one. I am hoping I will get a more consistent fabric? This chicken will be for Aunt Barb, who helped me make jam this year, to give to her best friend who loves chicken. I am on a bit of time crunch as this ladies birthday is coming up so I need to get knitting!

Happy Crafting!!

Cast On: Handspun Emotional Support Chicken

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I am finally getting my Emotional Support Chicken on the needles. I have a whole bag of crunchy woolly and rough handspun that will be great for this type of project.

I chose not to swatch as I am not aiming for a specific size of finished toy. I am just making sure that I have a tight gauge to keep the stuffing on the inside. I chose US 7s and this handspun is worsted to bulky weight.

This is a lot of my early handspun that is pretty thick and thin. The dark brown is unknown wool and the lighter is romney. We will see how this knits up. I still need to track down some yellow and red accent for the beak and comb.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Bibliophile 2

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One of the tasks I accomplished at SSK was casting on the Bibliophile 2 that I was swatching. Swatch #1 was not succesful but I tried another size of needle.

My second swatch was more successful. I am within half of a stitch of the pattern gauge. My swatch was a little unconvential….but it works.

I didn’t realize the yoke of the sweater is worked flat for a minute. Not ideal, but I guess I can manage a few purl rows. In an SSK class I realized that I am a combination knitter and purl the English way. Hit me like a lightning bolt that is why my decreases lean opposite ways sometimes!

The more you know!! Happy Knitting!