FO Friday: One Pain In The Rear Sock

Posted on November 15, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I’m so over this project. Your guys’ wonderful comments last week were amazing and wonderful. Not to mention, full of great suggestions! But I just had to be done. I worked a few more stripes of color changes, did a 2×2 rib for a bit, and then bound off.

I didn’t even have the heart to finish the skein. It was just one of those projects! It’s my stashbustin’ #41 for those counting and my Rav page is here. I did learn a lot:

Pros:
– I learned how to do a Turkish cast on
– I adapted the pattern to fit my measurements
– I turned my first heel
– This was my first fingering weight project
– I completed my first ever sock.
– I got to buy some neat sock blockers!

Cons:
– Dropping stitches was a pain on the rear to pick back up as I don’t own a small enough crochet hook
– My feet are big and therefore entail lots and lots of tiny stitches
– I should not and cannot do leg/calf increases on the fly…they just look bad
– I only ended up with one sock

After all this, I still want to knit socks. Next time I want to try two at a time, top down socks on circulars. I have the yarn, I have the pattern, just need to save up some moolah to buy the needles.

And because it’s Friday here is a pic of my solo sock on my giant lady foot 🙂

Finally FO Friday: Fingerless Mitts (take two)

Posted on November 8, 2013 by atangledyarn84

This Friday really is a FO Friday! I completed Stashbustin’ #40 or my second pair of finger less mitts.

I used the wonderfully simple pattern Simple Fingerless Mitts by Tink’s Knits. A perfect pattern match to my current dpn skill level. I used about half a skein of Berroco Vintage DK (135.4 yards or 47 grams for those of you who like hard numbers)

While I dearly love the color and ease of construction. I don’t like the stockinette section at the wrist. It bunches an doesn’t flex and stay fit to my wrists like my first pair. But that is by no means a dig at the author or pattern, more just a personal preference. And the mod to tailor this to me is SUPER easy to work in to the pattern. Going forward all my gloves will be ribbed right up to the bottom of the thumb gusset.

This pair is definitely one for my gift pile. I think I have a recipient in mind for them already….

As for my next pair, I think I am going to gather up my Berroco scraps from both these two pair gloves (I still have 20 yards of orange left) and my Brick sweater and attempt a mixed color combination. If my idea works I’ll have another pair for the gift pile!

I have to switch gears, like right now….I have a craft fair to set up tonight! My momma is going to do it with me and we have lots of goodies to sell tomorrow!!!

Happy Friday and Happy Knitting to All!!!

FO Friday: Warm Hands

Posted on October 25, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I managed to overcome “SSS” or “second sock syndrome” and I have completed my fingerless gloves for fall!

These Simple Fingerless Mitts were very easy to make, despite being on DPNs. I had a single skein of Berroco Vintage DK in orange with a few slight tweed flecks. I knit on size US 6 needles because I didn’t have any 5s. Gloves still turned out and fit pretty well. They might have been too small on the smaller needles.

I probably only have 8-10 knitting hours in these gloves. I like to take my time and make sure to keep my dpns from getting all boogered up. I used 46 grams or 132.5 yards of yarn. And I did make one significant mod:

knit 20 rows total of ribbing at the cuff

I wanted to make sure the gloves were long enough to tuck inside the sleeves of my coat. And I was very happy with this mod. And the best part is that I only used half a skein, so I can knit a whole second pair for a Christmas gift.

Now I’m off to refill my cup. I wish everyone a very happy Friday! And as always, Happy Knitting!!!

FO Friday: Brick

Posted on October 18, 2013 by atangledyarn84

Stashbustin’ #33 is complete!

Love love love this sweater!! Despite all the ups and downs it came out wonderfully. And after a bath and some drying time it’s ready to wear just in time for fall!

Nice and roomy and I had just enough yarn for the project. Only have a skein left! I used 452 grams or 4 1/2 skeins of Berroco Vintage DK. That’s about 980.8 yards of yarn in one garment! Start to finish I think this garment took about three weeks?

My one complaint is that the sleeves are still pretty loose even with knitting the tapered instructions. As I have said before my arms are not necessarily proportional to the rest of my body, lol. So as I was knitting I noticed the sleeve getting very long and I still have an entire decrease section to do before the ribbing. I measured and confirmed my fears. So I only worked five total decreases in the tapered sleeves with the final decrease having only 8 rows of stockinette following it. This solved my length problem but I feel the sleeves deserved to be tapered more to fit my arms.

I managed to make both sleeves match this alternation. So I didn’t have the heart to rip out and re-do. Besides this is going to be my cozy winter sweater anyway!

P.S. Totally wish I was headed to Rhinebeck and this was my sweater….

TGIF and Happy Knitting!!!

A Special Request Revisted

Posted on October 12, 2013 by atangledyarn84

Earlier this week I completed a very special request for any old friend. While she was thrilled with the results…I felt the need for a few tweaks

I knit a 2×2 ribbed brim instead of the rolled brim
I knit at looser gauge to give the fabric some stretch
I only knit half the required row for the “nipple” portion to make it less “perky” as one other blogger put it, lol

All in all I was happy with the results! Sorry for the i-Phone shots. I finished the hat late one evening in a rush to get both hats in the mail to Momma before she popped. I’m hoping she’ll send me some action shots once the wee one gets here.

I used a smidge more yarn on this one, 63.1 yards or 32 grams. And I made the thing in one night! Not bad for a quickie 🙂

A Special Request Completed!

Posted on October 7, 2013 by atangledyarn84

Tah dah…my special request Breast Beanie is done!!! This is Stashbustin’ #35.

This hat was super simple and super easy. Only took a couple of hours over a few days. I opted for Caron Simply Soft for the durability and easy care. This wee hat is knit from the brim up and finished on DPNs.

I used 53.6 yards or 28 grams of Caron Simply Soft in soft pink and 7.6 yards or 4 grams of Caron Simply Soft in dusty rose. And the finished size is definately newborn to 3 months old. The fabric is pretty solid, but does have some give/stretch.

My only criticism is that the nipple portion is very pointy for my taste. And I don’t like the rolled brim. Just a personal style choice. I am going to cast on another version in white/pink. And I will make the brim in 2×2 ribbing and the nipple shorter. I think I will wait to see how that version turns out before I show the momma to be. Who knows…she may just get both!

Happy Knitting

A Princess Turns 1!!

Posted on October 4, 2013 by atangledyarn84

FO Friday!

I interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you a super adorable FO…

A very special little princess turns one year old on October 31. Her momma asked for a sparkly K-state purple tutu to complete her fairy costume for her birthday.

I was only too happy to oblige! It does a knitters heart good to see their knitted bits go to good homes. Happy Friday to all!!

FO Friday: A Couple of Sweaters

Posted on September 27, 2013 by atangledyarn84

Wahoo!!! My sweaters are done!

I give you Stashbustin’ #30 or Little Coffee Bean sweater #1

I used Knit Picks Dishie cotton and this first one is made in the 6 mo size. I chose to knit a solid body with the collar and bands in accent. I ended up using 85.5 yards or 45 grams of the Creme Brûlée (yellow) and 180.5 yards or 95 grams of Jay (blue).

And by popular demand the blue buttons won!

And Stashbustin’ #31 or Little Coffee Bean Sweater #2

For this sweater, I used the same pattern but knit a 12 mo size to use up the rest of my yarn. I also followed the instructions and knit the stripes. I used 104.5 yards or 55 grams of Creme brûlée and 199.5 yards or 105 grams of the Jay.

And the yellow buttons were the obvious choice!

Two more stash burning projects in the books and three less skeins in my craft room! Not to mention two more adorable FOs for my emergency baby gift stash!

Happy Friday!!

FO Friday: Snug #2

Posted on September 20, 2013 by atangledyarn84

My second attempt at Snug is done!! This pattern is by Hinke.

This is not my first swing at this pattern and it won’t be the last! I used 212 grams or 288.3 yards of Knit Picks Brava Bulkly in Peapod. That’s just about 2 skeins plush a little of a third skein. The body is worked flat. The sleeves are done on DPNs. And the hood is knit flat and closed withe Kitchener stitch.

I was not has happy with this sweater as I was with my first sweater. The shoulders are ugly to me. For whatever reason, I didn’t get the arm decreases placed very well. They are visible along the top. And the the sewing I did on the seams on the shoulders is not as clean as I would like. But I am assured by my husband that he can’t see it. Oh…#knitter problems

The part of this sweater that I really love is the buttons. I spotted them at JoAnns and I was in love!! The watermelons really save this project for me. I deviated from the pattern a bit and added four buttons instead of the pattern request of three.

Into the FO stash this one goes. I love having some cuteness hidden away for a rainy day! Happy Friday to all!!!

Git R Done….Knitting Style

Posted on September 17, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I AM DONE!!!! This made this balaclava my b*tch!!! This multipurpose project is finally a FO.

Introducing to you, Garter Stitch Chunky Balaclava/Beanie by Christine Grant. This has been one of the few patterns I have actually paid for. And for the most part it has lived up to it’s price.

I used Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Lost Lake Heather. I used 126 grams or about 278.3 yards of yarn. That is about 2 1/2 skeins of yarn.

I had a few bumps along the way with this project here , here, and here, oh and here! But I managed to Git R Done (to paraphrase a certain Cable Guy)! This took me far longer to knit that it should have. But sometimes good projects have to have time outs once in awhile!

As you can see you can wear it as a beanie or as a balaclava. I kind of like the dual purpose of the project. And the yarn is a wool blend that will be very warm. Did you know that wool still keeps you warm even when it’s wet? How cool is that? I really hope this keeps my coworker warm this winter.

Oh and a big thank you to my husband who modeled for me after I was done knitting…..this last picture pretty much says it all, lol

My Tangled Yarn Knitting Adventures

Ramblings from an obsessed knitter

Category Archives: Finished Objects