Just a little love and sunshine to start your day! May your day be sunny, bright, and merry!!
(Rav link here)
Happy Knitting!
Just A Little Love
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Category Archives: Finished Objects
Something For My Husband
I never knit for my husband. He proclaims yarn to be “too scratchy”. I’ll pause for the gasps of horror…..
He grew up with those horrible acrylic afghans that everyone had in those awful colors. Never fear yarn devotees! I’m working on converting him, I thought I’d start small and make something cute/fun. In the last year he has fallen in love with Dr. Who the British television show. I saw a blog by Knittyfordrwho where the author, Lorenia Lemas, posted a pattern for a tardis washcloth. I had some bright blue Cottontots Solids in Little Boy Blue, so off I went!
The pattern was easy and fast! I knit the whole thing up watching two TV episodes. The pattern only uses knit and purl and practically flies off the needles. Interesting enough to keep my attention but not complicated enough that I couldnt watch TV. It was a nice break from my Chevron Blanket and the never ending garter stitch. I even used yarn from my stash! Finished project was pretty smart looking if I do say myself.
Upon presenting it to my husband he immediately snapped a photo and sent it to his Dr Who buddies. I think I picked up a few cool wife points and got him to dip his toe into the yarn pool!
Happy Knitting!
FO: Waves and Ripples Blanket
First destashing project complete!!
Waves and Ripples Blanket is complete! This blanket is destined for my cousins Josh and Amy (saying this because I’m very confident they don’t follow this blog) who are due in April. They aren’t finding out the babies sex so I went with unisex colors of cream and white.
Josh is my cousin and I absolutely adore his wife. She and I are very much alike and have been known to let our hair down together at more than one family wedding. They got married only a few months after my husband and I five years ago. We had a pact for a long time to hold out with having kids (much to our respective parents chagrin). Now she has left me high and dry. With the birth of their child my parents will be the only ones without grand kids…and I haven’t heard the end of it yet.
Such is life! Despite her betrayal (kidding) I really wanted to make her something special!
I used five skeins of Brava Bulky and an improvised design of my own.
I used left and right leaning decreases and increases to create chevron stripes. See my Rav notes for the details. I simply worked one skein clear to end and then changed colors. Easy peasy! I did run out of yarn as reported in a previous blog post. Luckily I was able to source enough in the right dye lots online.
This project was hard to put down and took no time at all (even with waiting for yarn). Loved the texture of the yarn and I felt very connected to the project of my own design. This blanket will be washing machine and dryer friendly and super duper soft for baby.
I cannot wait to give it to Josh and Amy and oh ya meet the newest addition! Now on to other projects…
Happy Knitting and may Monday be kind to you!
On the Subject of Trying New Yarn
Despite my recent destashing efforts….I still bought new yarn. I can’t help it! I had never seen or worked with it before AND it was on sale!!
I picked up some Boutique Rigoletto Sequins by Red Heart online from Knitting Wharehouse in red, black, white, and cream.
The yarn comes in 10 yd hanks and includes a pattern for Evening Sparkle Scarf. I have to admit even this seasoned knitter had to YouTube how to work with this mohair like tube if yarn. After some basic instruction it was ridiculously easy and EXTREMELY FAST. I knit up all four hanks in two hours total.
The yarn is a bit fiddly and like a boucle or mohair it’s very good about sticking to itself. Not a yarn for ripping back errors! But when the pattern calls for CO 2 sts and then knit every st until you run out of yarn…..it’s not very likely you will have to.
I was a little disappointed that it didn’t make a longer scarf. I like length so I can wrap and contort the same scarf 100 different ways so I never get bored. Also, I knit the same pattern four times with the same gauge and all four scarves turned out differently!
Rav link here.
Rav link here.
Rav link here.
Rav link here.
This yarn would be excellent for knitters who need instant gratification, a quick last minute gift, or even someone who is just learning. For me? Not so much, I enjoyed playing with a new yarn but its not a knit I’m likely to do again. Ill stick to my Boutique Sashay or Starbella Flash for scarves.
Happy Knitting and TGIF!
Stashbustin’ #5
I found a few skeins at the bottom of my stash that I procured at a garage sale. Mostly some Lion Brand Homespun, a skein of baby yarn, and a skein of sock yarn. It got me thinking of something that happened at my last fair.
I had the pleasure of meeting the director of the Topeka Crochet Guild at my last craft fair. She mentioned that they always take donations of yarn to make projects for local shelters and charities. So in the spirit of charity and needing to unclutter my life, here is what I’m donating!
The make hats, scarves, blankets, and much more for those in need! So I went through my bag of hand knits and found some of my first “projects”. Surely they will keep someone warm this winter even with uneven stitches and crazy yarn choices right?
I get the double whammy of the feeling of charity and the glow of reducing my yarn load! I think I might even join the guild, they even welcome us knitters! I’m always looking for new fiber friends 🙂
Happy Knitting!
Stashbustin’ Post #3
I love portable small projects!
The cold weather has put my knitting into overdrive. I have a lot of Loops and Threads Charisma and Premier Yarn Serenity Chunky Weight in my stash and I’m chewing through it!
I have blogged about this before, but I purchased a fun pattern Trinity Stitch Headband from Angela Juergens. About half a skein of either of the above yarns makes one headband. (I alter and take out a few pattern repeats in the pattern for a shorter headband.) I have been packing one of these in my purse every where I go and I’m knocking out some bulky FOs at a pretty good clip.
Still need to select and sew on buttons but I’m delighted to see my pile growing. So far my destashing is going full steam ahead….fingers crossed that it continues!
Happy Knitting!!
A Headband For Every Head
One of my favorite projects for winter is the Trinity Stitch Headband/Neckwarmer by Anglea Juergens.
(Ravelry link to my project here)
It’s so beautiful, yet a simple knit! I made like 10 of these things while watching the Olympics this summer. I had to even laminate the pattern page because it was getting so much use!
I knit all mine using Serenity Chunky Weight by Premier Yarns. Yes yes….it’s acrylic. But it washes well (important when you sweat like I do scooping snow) and its oh so soft and squishy. Plus with my great coupons from Joanns it can be affordable.
I can whip several if these out on a lazy Sunday for my “gift” stash. All though truth be told I have several in my own hand knit pile so I can where whatever color suits my fancy that day! The author is a super duper knitter and was so lovely to deal with on the purchase. I highly recommend this pattern!
Happy Knitting!
Cold Snap
Baby it’s cold outside! We finally dipped below freezing in the last couple of days in Kansas. No snow though 😦
Despite the lack of snow, I got to put on some of my warm (and stylish) hand knits. It’s a ruffle scarf knit from Starbella Flash yarn, Rav link here.
And grab some delicious coffee to stay warm. My office always has fresh and hot coffee every morning…
I found this ceramic mug with rubber lid at a clearance Easter sale at Hobby Lobby. It’s easy to clean and keeps my coffee hot hot! Couldn’t live without it.
T-minus 14 days to Christmas and I can’t wait! Hand knits always put me in the holiday spirit!!
Happy Knitting!
FO Friday: Baby Blanket Victory
(Sorry for dark iPhone shots…but I finished late last night and just couldn’t wait!)
Victory is mine!! My soft green baby blanket is done and represents the first of many (I hope) stash busting projects! You can find my Ravelry notes here.
I used Caron Simply soft in a light green color and held the yarn double. I wanted bulky yet super soft feel. I am in love with this pattern because its only one row to memorize and makes for great TV and car knitting. This is the third time I’ve made this pattern and probably won’t be the last. A sure sign of a great pattern!
Due to the holidays and my craft fair prep…..this blanket took a little under two months (ouch). This pattern is actually very fast, I just had to put the blanket on the back burner several times.
This shot does the best justice to the color. And schedule permitting I will try to take some better shots this weekend. This blanket is destined for a little baby boy due in April? and his wonderfully excited parents. I can’t wait to meet him!!
Snow is in our forecast next week. And I plan to knockout my Christmas shopping tonight. Hopefully this combination will put my holiday spirit and knitting drive into high gear!!
Happy Knitting!!
Knitting Rut
I am back (sort of) from the flu. I’m fine as long as I don’t eat too much or too spicy/greasy. One day at a time I guess…
I have my last craft fair of the season this Saturday. I wish I could say I was more excited. Thanksgiving was stressful, I don’t feel 100%, and my knitting has been in a rut! All I have been doing is cranking out scarves, dishcloths, and headbands for fair season.
Easy knitting to be sure, but it’s just not speaking to my soul. I really want to dive into some baby sweaters and blankets. Not to mention a circle vest I have planned for myself.
After this Sunday I pledge to knit what I want, when I want! At least schedule and health permitting 🙂
At least tomorrow is Friday!
My Tangled Yarn Knitting Adventures 