Category Archives: Knitting

All my knitting adventures

Stashbustin’ #11: Henry’s Sweater

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After yesterday’s disappointment I had the itch to try a different baby sweater. And having recently pruned and tagged my Rav queue, I did some easy and organized searching to find….Henry’s Sweater

P1050813_medium2(Photo credit to © jennicole01 and the Henry’s Sweater Rav pg)

This is similar to the Sophisticate with the stockinette and shawl collar. But it has more overlap on the chest and those adorable 4 buttons laid out in a square. I couldn’t wait to get started!

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Yarn: Bernat Cottontots in Country Taupe (I think this yarn has been discontinued and it’s a shame because it’s a very soft cotton and easy to work with!)

Needles: US 8s (Knits Picks Options Interchangeable)

Size: 3-6 months

Mods: None yet but I love the pattern so far!

Happy Knitting!

Sometimes It Just Doesn’t Work Out

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I finished my Simple Baby Pullover this week…..but something went terribly wonky. My sweater is huge!

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Pattern: A Simple Baby Pullover by Erica Kempf

Yarn: Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton in Pistachio

Needles: US 8

Size: 0-3 months (But this didn’t turn out)

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Now, before you ask, I didn’t swatch for gauge. But this is a yarn and needle size I use a lot so I was comfortable skipping that step. Now I don’t know if I should have done that or if something in the pattern is wonky. The pattern is the same for all sizes in the beginning when you are working the yoke section. The larger sizes get more raglan increases than the smaller sizes. And of course the lengths are different.

I should have come out with a 17 1/2 in chest. I came up with a whopping 22 inches (1-2 yr size). Then the pattern wanted me to work to a total sweater length of 8 inches. Well with my width that would have made this sweater a baby midriff, lol! So I worked to a total of 11 inches to match the 1-2 size that my chest measurement came out to.

I should have only used 1 or so skeins of yarn. But I consumed 2 full skeins! That translates to 206 yard or 170 grams. I had plenty enough yarn so it wasn’t a huge deal.

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It’s a pretty FO, but I was disappointed. Not sure if I did something wrong or the pattern needs to be adjusted for yarn/guage? I noticed on Ravelry (after the fact) that there were a lot mods in other’s projects. But at least 121 other people have worked this sweater so it can’t be all bad!

My verdict? It’s a nice sweater but not a pattern I would knit again. I have some others in my queue that need testing….(rubbing her hands like a disney villian)…..

Happy Knitting!

Is It Really A Blog If No One Reads It?

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My husband recently dipped his toe into the blogging world. He is a LIFELONG gamer to the core and has made a lot of gamer friends, especially in college. And one of our friends from college called Phil up the other day and asked him to contribute to this great space called Project Nerd. A great space for all things geeky! (Seriously check it out…but don’t blame me if you fall down the rabbit hole!)

The hubby reviewed Battlefield 4 that had come out for the PS4. He worked diligently on it, got it approved by the powers that be at Project Nerd, and it went live last week. I remember sitting next to him on the couch after it went live, he turned to me and asked “what if you no one reads it?” The question struck me as silly because it was a very well written post! (You can find it here if you were curious) Not to mention he is guest blogging on a very well trafficked site and writing about a very popular game. Of course it will be read!

But it brought to mind several posts I have seen on WordPress on the hundreds of knitting blogs I obsessively troll, ahem, I mean read. I see all kinds of bloggers post about how they want to increase their traffic and get more visits to their blog. Now, I had no clue how to blog when I started. I just wanted a place to keep all my knitting adventures and maybe get some feedback/advice/sympathy. I am an organizer and cataloger. I have a strong need to chronicle and archive things. So I started typing my adventures and quickly realized what posts got more hits than others (short posts, good detail, good photos). And organically I began to find my “tone” or “voice” as my high school English teach used to say.  And then I was hooked….

So back to my question, is it still a blog if no one reads it? OF COURSE IT IS! Keep blogging, keep crafting, keep expressing yourself! Get out on the blog-o-sphere and find blogs you love, comment on posts, follow other bloggers, and make friends. That is the fastest way to build a blog. And really if you think about it, its not just building a blog its building a community! A place to share the lovely handiwork you have slaved over to other like minded people who can truly appreciate what you have accomplished!

Keep writing about what you love…and the followers will come….passion breeds excitement!

Happy Knitting (and blogging)

FO Friday: Rye Socks

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Confession time: I love thick yarn on large needles. I am totally in love with the instant gratification of a quick project. They just fill me with knitterly glee! On Wednesday, I had one finished Rye Sock…..well now the set is done!

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Pattern: Rye by Tin Can Knits

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Yellow (I ended up using 211 yards or 113 grams of worsted weight yarn. Less than one skein of Simply Soft!)

Needles: US 4 and 5 dpns

Size: Large

Mods: I didn’t knit all the toe decreases as written in the pattern. I left out a few to create more room for my toes. It came out kind of square but very comfy!

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I may or may not have accidentally made one cuff longer than the other. It is only about 1/2 inch so I’m not going to worry about it! I also had marked improvement on my kitchener stitch! Look at the right sock (first attempt) and left sock (second attempt) pictured above, much improved!

And now that I have conquered this pattern I’m going to knit some different colors/versions in wool! This set was just a test using acrylic to see if I liked the fit.

Don’t forget to swing over to Knitting Sarah and follow #sockswithsarah on social media and Ravelry. There are some really cool things happening over there! At enrollment is open for this KAL, so join why don’t you??

Happy Knitting!

Stashbustin’ #8: A Simple Baby Pullover

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If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know I’m on a HUGE baby sweater kick. Most notably, Baby Sophisticates (evidenced here and here)

Well I decided to switch it up and try something new!

Pattern:  A Simple Baby Pullover by Erica Kempf

Yarn: Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton in Pistachio (I like to knit baby knits out of cotton or acrylic so new mom’s don’t have to worry about hand-washing)

Needles: US 8s

Size: 0-3 Months

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I love top down raglan construction. I could almost do this in my sleep now! I’ve already knit the yoke and divided for the sleeves. I think I will make one mod and knit short sleeves instead of long. I like to layer pieces and in my opinion give the mom/baby recipient a little more versatility and longevity of the sweater. (Not to mention I get to be finished and pet the adorable FO even faster!)

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I also find the the garter rib detail of the partial button band adorable. It’s a wee bit messy because I’m not the best at button holes). Not to mention this design detail helps the sweater fit over the giant noggins most babies tend to have. This button band does mean you have to work back and forth for the “yoke” section for awhile. But never fear, it joins in the round soon enough!

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday: Rye Socks

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My first Rye Sock is in the books!! After I got the hang of the pattern it went CRAZY fast!

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I opted to do a few less decreases at the toe section because I have a wide foot and dislike when sock “cut in” too far. Thus the finished sock has more a straight/square toe. But it’s delightfully comfortable!

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You can’t see it very well, but my Kitchener graft is sketchy and rough looking. Not bad for a first timer but definitely need more practice, lol!

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Now I’m off to cast one the second one to avoid the deadly SSS!

Happy Knitting!

Yarn Heaven

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Not to long ago I discovered a local Alpaca farm just down the interstate from me. Now I have discovered an Indie spinner/yarn merchant right here in the same city!!

I present to you, the Topeka Twister! She only has a Facebook page right now. But she does custom orders and sells her finished yarns in the local arts districts not far from where I work. She has some of the best yarn porn on my newsfeed!

If you will excuse me….I’m going to sneak off for an early lunch and have a “high fiber” meal….teehehehehe! I hope to find something and post some photos later this week 🙂

Where do you like to get your yarns?

The Quiet Spaces

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The house is quiet, the sun is peeking out, and I have yarn in my hands. These are moments I yearn for!

The laundry is started…

Dinner is in the crock pot….

Dogs have been been fed…

Dishes are put away…

The hubby is snoring away in bed…

With my crazy jam packed life, I live for these moments. I get to slow down and take a breath. No nagging chores or to-do list…nothing but me time. Time in my quiet corner of the world helps me keep maintain a healthy balance. My happy place is anywhere with yarn in my hands or camped out in front of my PC with knitting blogs and a cup of coffee. A few precious moments here and I can take on the rest of my day and week without fear.

Where is your quiet space?

FO Friday: Blackberry Cocoon

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Huzzah, the longest and most neglected WIPs of my life is done!!!20140119-084357.jpg

 

Pattern: Strawberry Cocoon by Bernat Design Studio

Yarn: Bernat Satin Solids in Plum Mist Heather and unidentified green

This project ended up using about 376 yards of yarn or 148 grams.

Needles: US 6s or 7s?

Time: FOREVER! I started this sometime back in 2010

Mods: I didn’t knit the full 17 or 18 inches of straight body. Seriously, I just got tired of knitting and stopped at 11 inches before moving the decreases section. This thing is knit plat and then seamed, so LOTS of purls! I also didn’t make the duplicate stitches or french knot looking dots on the leaves. Again this was because I was SERIOUSLY over this project.

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You have to gather or bunch up the leaves when you seam then to the main body of the cocoon. I’m not the best at seaming, but it didn’t turn out terribly!

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The one feature that I do love about this now that I’m done is that this is SUPER soft thanks to the satin yarn. And look at all those wonderfully nubby P3tog bits! I love to run my fingers over them!

I do have a great feeling of accomplishment getting this out of the WIP pile. No clue what I will do with this either. But for now it’s washed, blocked, dry, and folded in my FO storage bin in my basement.

What is the longest something has lingered in your WIP pile without being frogged?

 

Stashbustin’ #9: Close Knit Waffle Hat

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The never ending polar vortex and harsh Kansas wind have me reaching for a hat more times than I can count this year! And I’m craving something soft, warm, and luxurious!

This pattern caught my eye, Close Knit Waffle Hat!

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(Photo copyright to Leah Bandstra)

I have some Bernat Bamboo Natural Blends hiding in my stash. It’s a bulky and buttery soft bamboo. I had the choice of Linen (cream) or Almond Blossom (pink variegated)….totally picked Linen as this hat will look fabulous with my black peacoat!

I already made one modification, I cast on 72 stitches instead of 64. I have a big noggin and I have come to terms with this. So onward I trudge

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What is your go to knit this blustery winter?

Happy Knitting!