Category Archives: WIPs

Mitre Progress

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Germs are once again invading our home. This time it’s a stomach bug, blargh. I guess this is what you get once you have a child that touches/licks/eats everything in sight. We are on the mend but during the worst of it I managed some knitting while holding a sick little Jellybean.

I was unhappy with my first attempt at the mitered square for my Cousins Mitered Square blanket. My travails are logged here. I went down to size US 5 needles and got to work. I also used a firm cast one (long tail cast on) to start the first square. I am much happier the fabric is firmer and squishy. I also knit the first stitch when I remembered. There are few stitches I slipped due to muscle memory and good TV. But those I can hide with the next square. I also did some YouTube research on picking up the bumps. Not to shabby if I do say so myself!

 Now I’ve only like 16 more squares to go….

Happy Knitting!

Establishing The Pattern

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I’m slowly working on my Zigzagular Socks. I’m converting these to toe up so I’m having to think through the construction and the pattern to wrap my over tired brain cells around that all.

  
I’ve knit the stockinette toe for the right sock and places stitch markers for the pattern section. When I get a minute to concentrate I’m going to try to work through a chart repeat to see how this goes.

I made a series of realizations whilst working the toe increases. A) this yarn is more of a light fingering B) the ideal stitch counts for my foot at this guage fall in between the pattern counts C) my sister’s shoe size fits the 64 stitch count and guage perfectly. So basically my knitting subconscious is telling me these need to be for my sister. I don’t have the warewithall to both follow the chart, work my first cables and modify this to fit my foot. Baby steps….I’ll get the pattern in my fingers/brain first and then do another pair for me. Besides it will knock an item off my Christmas to do list!

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday: Mandrake Vanilla Socks

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I’ve made some reportable progress on my Mandrake Vanilla Socks!

  
The first sock is done. This is a 68 stitch toe up vanilla sock with afterthought heel. I like the afterthought heel for preserving the stripes but I’m not sure it’s the best fit for me depending on my gauge/stitch count. But it works well enough to keep using for now.

  
I’ve started the second sock. When I wound the yarn I made sure to get two matching balls that started with the same stripe. However, I didn’t even use close to 50% of the yarn for the first sock so I’ll have lots of leftovers. But I’m really enjoying the cashmere content in these socks so leftovers would be the worst thing ever!

Happy Knitting!!

Blanket Countdown

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I’ve pulled out my Dad’s crochet blanket from the WIP pile. I want to get this done ahead of Mother’s Day because that is the next major family gathering and I really want to get it delivered. Because why wouldn’t you need a super bulky blanket in the blazing May heat!?

  

This one I’m working across 60 inches instead of the 36-38 inches of my mothers. Those are some LONG rows! But I’m making progress…

  

WIP Wednesday: ALL THE SOCKS

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I literally have a tote bag full of sock WIPs…

  
In this bag:

  
These socks are all in various stages and it’s really nice tone able to pull out whatever project suits my knitting time/place. I truly have sock knitting ADD!

Happy Knitting!!

Just A Swatch

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A few days ago I pulled out the yarn for my Cousins Mitred Square Blanket and made some decisions.

  • I’m going to do solid squares because it’s easier not to change yarn and I will like the look better
  • I picked a tentative color layout: one row pink then light blue and one row yellow then brown
  • The edge will be done in the bright blue/teal

I even started the first square. 

 
I pretty much hate it. It took two hours and 24 grams of yarn. So at the very least I know how long each piece will take. But the cast on was too loose and stretchy. The fabric is too loose as well. Not to mention I can’t tell if I should slip the first stitch or knit it in order to make the best surface to attach the next square. Wise blogger/podcast knitters always say to not slip stitches on seam edges but the knit edges of garter stitches just look terribly cuddly to pick up! I’m terribly conflicted. I knit these on 7US and I’m going to try 6US by frogging and re-knitting this square. 

This was just a swatch right?

Dreaming Of Spring Colors

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I am dreaming of spring. In Kansas that usually means lots of wind with an extra side of wind. But the colors are tugging at my heart strings. Deep in my stash are several balls of  Bernat Cottontots Solids that is now discontinued. I really enjoy this yarn for baby projects. And I have been hording this yarn…but no more!

I’m going to cast on the Cousins Mitre Square Baby Blanket. It’s modular and join as you go. So it’s perfect for instant gratification and making decent progress on a larger blanket. The only thing is that I’m not sure I have enough yarn in the various colors to knit the colors as the pattern has laid out. But I know I can make something work. I have pink, white, yellow, brown, light blue, and teal. I’m thinking of doing the pink with the white, the yellow with the brown, and finally the teal with the blue. Or plan B will be to just make solid squares of each and play with laying out the colors. I know I will be using the teal as the border as I have the most of that.

I’m not making this for anyone in particular just for the joy of using this yarn.

  

 

Finally…Mama Vertebrae

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A long time ago I set a goal for my Mama Vertebrae. I wound the yarn and got a project bag all set up. And then….nothing. I just got caught up in instant gratification projects and quick finishes that I just couldn’t be bothered with this sweater.

Well no more! I had some toddler free time the other day and pulled project out. I may  have only started and completed a few rows. But it’s a start!

  

 
Happy Knitting!

Beach Glass Vanilla Socks

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Earlier I mentioned that I was winding all the things while my sister was visiting. Another skein I wound up was my Mint Rain sport weight sock yarn in Beach Glass.  My sister babysat so we could go see Whisky Tango Foxtrot. Firstly the movie was AWESOME. It was funny but real and touching at the same time. I highly recommend it.

I was able to get my toe started before the movie so I could just cruise. I kept getting so wrapped up in the movie that I would forget to knit! But I did manage a couple of inches.

The yarn is pooling/flashing. I’m not sure which is which but you can see below. I can’t wait to work farther and see how this continues! It’s so different from the cake. (This is going to be one of my 2016 Sock Yarn Experiment.)

Happy Knitting!