Springtime Tutu

Let me tantalize you with this pretty spring tutu before I tell you I’m a bad knitter

 This tutu was supposed to be completed before Valentines Day for a beautiful little girl who turned one. I had a bit of knitting ennui and just couldn’t bring myself to start this project. It’s now almost April and I have poked myself in the rear with some DPNs and got started. I’m ridiculous because these tutus take no time at all. The pattern is great and I highly recommend it.
 I’ve got the package all wrapped ready to deliver. I did make the biggest size in the pattern so maybe the sweet little girl can get the most wear out of it possible. Or at the very least use it for dolly dress up as she grows.

Happy Knitting!

FO Friday: Donna’s Fingerless Gloves

My second set of gloves are DONE!!

 Pattern: My own, Rav notes here

Yarn: Two Windows Dye Co Knitty Bits Sock 2 in semi-solid purple

Needles: US 1 1/2s

Size: 60 stitches for average size hands

 I used just over 1/3 of the skein of sock yarn or roughly 168 yards. So this entire skein made my first pair and this pair with enough for a third pair. These have a great feel to the fabric and the yarn was nice to work with. I even entered these in the Down Cellar Studio 12 months to Christmas knit a long. This was my March entry!

Now I just need to stow these away carefully to Christmas and remember where I put them…

Happy Knitting!

FO Friday: Rachelle’s Fingerless Gloves

As promised I have my fingerless gloves fixed in no time! They hit the FO pile :O)

 Pattern: My own (rav notes here)

Yarn: Two Windows Dye Works (Hutchinson, KS) in variegated purple

Needles: US 2s

Size 52 stitches total
 I ended up using only about 36 grams or 155 yards of fingering weight. So they don’t take much yardage at all. They are very snug with a fair bit of negative ease. Very nice fit for my bony wrists but probably a bit small for the average sized wrist. I’m still going to make a matching pair for my mother-in-law but I’ll need to go up to 58 or 60 stitches I think. They yarn was very lovely to work with. I think I should have enough left after the matching set of gloves to work a short pair of socks. That is I can find a coordinating color for the heel and cuffs.

That’s all for now! Have a great weekend and Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Active Vanilla Socks

My Active Vanilla Socks are done!

  
Pattern: my own toe up vanilla sock

Yarn: Regia Active 6-ply

Needles: US3

   
 
These were part of my 2016 sock yarn experiment. This yarn is supposed to keep your feet from getting too hot or too cold due to the outlast fiber content. It’s a fairly thick yarn and it’s not terribly soft. But it made a sturdy sock. I haven’t washed these to see how much they soften. But either way these will be awesome boot socks. They don’t fit in my dress boots but I’m thinking more of snuggly socks for shoveling snow.

Overall I was okay with this yarn. It held up well to being ripped and reknit. It makes a nice fabric and the color really pops. But I’m not sure I would knit more socks from this, at least right now. The yarn just didn’t feel good running through my fingers. Maybe I’ll change my mind after wearing these. I’ll keep you posted!

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Mere’s Lacy Cowl

The cowl is done! My second attempt is much improved and I’m much happier!

Pattern: Mere’s Lacy Cowl (my own improvisation)

Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun in a purple ombré

Needles: 10 1/2 US

Size: 14 inches by 12 inches 

I’ve put both of these in the mail and they are winging their way to the knit worthy recipient. The cowl is perfect and stretchy and squishy. Not to mention very close to her original. I didn’t expect the color shirt as the yarn in skein was deceiving. But I thinks it’s pretty!

One thing I’ve learned….. I don’t like Homespun as much as I used to. The loose wavy plies have a tendency to split and snag on the needles. I’m seriously considering de stashing the remainder from my stash. Now, don’t get wrong, I think it’s perfectly respectable workhorse yarn. It’s not great for my hands and knitting style. 

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Mere’s Eyelet Cowl

 I surrender, this project defeated me! It’s done and while it’s pretty….it’s not the fabric I was wanting to create.

  

Pattern: My own, Rav notes here

Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun in Black

Needles: US  10 1/2

Finished size: 19.5 inches long and 10 inches tall.
 

I had previously blogged about slogging through this. I should have realized that it was a slog because the fabric created did not match the original. I finally gave in and bound off just to be done. I used 70% of the skein or 129.5 yards. I am going to start another cowl in a deep purple in a stitch pattern that better matches the original. I will still probably gift this cowl to Mere as well. There is nothing wrong with it as it’s very soft and pretty. I’m just disappointed in myself for “forcing” the knit.

Oh well, I guess I have to knit more!

FO Friday: Sarah’s Dino Hat

I finished one of my knit worthy gifts!

  
Pattern: (modified)  Dino Cap by Kris Hansen

Yarn: Caron Simply soft in Dark Sage and Brown

  

This is a toddler pattern I made for Jellybean last summer. I knew I needed roughly 100 stitches to make an adult hat at my guage. So I just did the math to upsize the pattern instructions to fit. It was fairly easy using excel and some critical thinking.

  
The ear flaps were a tad long for my taste but the 15 year old loved it. I opted not to continue the spikes onto the forehead, it just looked weird on the adult version. Overall I’m very happy. The double thick brim and ear flaps makes a cozy hat. I might need to make this hat for myself in wool minus the Dino spike of course.  

Happy Knitting!

Cashmere For The Win

First up, Happy Valentines Day to all!!

I had one more project finished just in under the deadline for the #dcspigskinparty2015….my Cashmere Vanilla socks are done!

  
These are just a pair of toe up vanilla socks with afterthought heel in Dream in Color smooshy. My Ravelry details are here. I’m counting this towards my 2016 sock experiment even though I’ve had this yarn in my stash for a while because this is a new to me yarn.

  
I quite loved knitting these because well cashmere, duh! The fabric is just perfect for petting. The one thing I noticed was that the color/dye rubbed off on my fingers. I started noticing dark stains on my fingers but it took awhile to associate those with my knitting. It washed off fine and I made sure to citric acid soak these socks and the leftover yarn. Better safe than sorry!

   
 The socks didn’t quite come out with as much negative ease as my other 68 stitch socks but they fit nonetheless. Maybe the glorious nature of the cashmere relaxed my tension, lol. I adore these socks for the softness alone! 

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Go Patriots! Socks

I did it! I finished my Go Patriots! Socks and just in the nick of time!

Pattern: Toe up Vanilla Sock with Gusset Heel

Yarn: Berry Colorful Yarnings Pats self-striping sock with Premier Sock in Black for the toes

Needle: US 2 nine inch circular

Ravelry notes here.

I had to put my hustle pants on but these socks made the #dcspigskinparty2015 KAL deadline. And my husband even wore then last week during the Patriots/Broncos game. My husband is not superstitious so he held no ill will towards the socks after the Broncos loss thank goodness.

   
 The hubby now has two pair of hand knit socks. One afterthought vanilla pair and this vanilla gusset heel pair. I’m going to make him wear them both for awhile and decide which fit he likes better before I got knitting him many more.

Happy Knitting!

Little Roses For A Little Princess

Another crochet blanket has hit the finished pile! The Baby Beinhoff Blanket is complete! 

I made this one bigger than my previous attempts. I used two skeins of Bernat Baby Blanket in the colorway Little Roses. It looks more like Neapolitan ice cream to me but I guess no one asked me to name it!

My stitch tension is fairly even and I am having to not stare as intently at the work as much as before. I’m able to read the stitches and feel where things should go. This little blanket is intended for a baby girl due this summer to an old coworker I miss very dearly. She lives 4 hours away and we don’t see much of each other. I guess I’ll just have to settle for swaddling her little princess in yarn!

Stayed tuned for another blanket I’ve been sneaking under the radar to finish strong with the #dcspigskinparty2015!