Category Archives: WIPs

Sweater Incentive

Posted on by
10

Yesterday I blogged about my Cuff to Cuff sweater and wanting to finish this long term WIP. I technically don’t have a deadline but if I do finish it by Christmas then I get some bonus points in the Down Cellar Studio pigskin party KAL. So I’m giving myself a little motivation!

I’m in the mood to KNIT ALL THE THINGS and CAST ON RIGHT NOW. I really want a Momma Vertebrae by Kelly Brooker. One with long sleeves in a nice warm cozy worsted yarn. I even have the perfect yarn! Berroco Vintage in Mushroom…

  
A neutral beige that would suit many of my tops for a great layering piece. Tons of people have knit this and I want to be wearing it already. But first I need to finish the cuff to cuff or I fear I never will! Thus this will be the carrot at the end of my needles.

Do you use knitting incentives to stay on track?

Sweater Resurrection 

Posted on by
3

I’ve been on an organizing tear of late. I went through my wardrobe with a ruthless eye and got rid of the clothes that don’t fit post baby. And the ones that don’t make me happy or feel good. They will go to a good home to my sister or to a women’s shelter. And I also tore through my WIPs pile. It was time to knit or frog. I unearthed my Cuff to Cuff Sweater.

  I started this in 2014 but it stalled majorly after Jellybean was born. I was sorely tempted to rip it out as I’m not sure it will fit my new and improved mom hulk shoulders. But all it was missing was one sleeve and the collar/edging. Still a lot of knitting to do but it seemed a shame to undo. I can always gift it to my cousin or sister. 

It’s knit with Berroco Vintage in a teal/blue. I picked the yarn up for a song when a LYS sadly closed its doors in 2014. Also, if I finish this before Christmas I can count this as another WIP interception for the Down Cellar Studio pigskin party KAL!

A Warm Solution 

Posted on by
9

So Jellybean is an active wiggling 15 month old and we are heading into the heart of winter. He has several jackets and coats but we never leave them on in the car seat for safety reasons. So that’s lots of on and off clothing wrestling with a marginally cooperative toddler in the bracing cold of the Midwest. I had a flash of inspiration…he needs a open cardigan much like the kiddy or momma vertebrae. Something to keep his arms/shoulders/back warm without anything on the front to interfere with the efficacy of the car seat straps!

Enter the Snugbug by Tiaga Hilliard Designs!

  
@Tiaga Hilliard Designs 

I pulled some Knit Picks Brava Bulky in red from my deep stash. I’ve already cast on and worked down to the armhole divide. I’m in love and may have to make more than one!  

Happy Knitting!!

Black Yarn Oops

Posted on by
6

I started up with my Mini Thermal Vest I started for Jellybean back in June. I got about this far…

  
And I hated the fabric which is why I set it down. It was too loose and open on the US 8 needles I was using. So I put my big girl panties on and swatched. The magic number turned out to be US 7s. 

  
I’m flying now, gotta love big yarn on big needles. There is a pattern there I promise. It’s just impossible to photograph this inky black yarn. It’s knit picks shine worsted. I’m hoping to have this ready for church on Christmas Eve with the family!

Happy Knitting!!

Stress Socks

Posted on by
6

Here in the Midwest we had a rather dicey Thanksgiving with rain/sleet/ice. I was away at the inlaws. And though lovely people they are, I was ready to go home after three days. The weather was still dicey but we struck out for home on Saturday!

I had my Flying North socks in the car. So with my husband at the wheel I manned my needles. I stress knit across the watery icy roads. We had a couple of tense moments but made it home safely.  I managed two inches and an afterthought heel.

  
My gauge might have been a wee bit tighter in the most recent section but progress is progress!

  
I do so love this simple pattern and the yarn is a knitters dream. (It’s Plucky Feet by the Plucky Knitter.) I can’t wait for them to be on my feet!

Happy Knitting!!

WIP Wednesday: Wool Free Vanilla Socks

Posted on by
3

Yay for self striping yarn!

  
My Wool Free Vanilla Socks are swimming along. I did have a run in with yarn “barf” coming from my center pull ball. (Aka a tangled mess of yarn from the middle of my ball.) I tried in vein to untangle the mess but alas I had to resort to cutting….sigh

  
The cutting meant I was disrupting the stripe pattern. I salvaged as far as I could and knit till I ran out of yarn without messing up the order. Those two tiny balls are the remainder of the skein. It’s still a proper sock but shorter than I had planned. 

To soothe my soul I started sock #2 and after a few inches I noticed this…..

  
Two drastically different dye lots! The second is much more muted and I do so love the first sock. I’m still forging ahead as the color difference won’t affect how warm they are. This is what I get for not checking the dye lots of the sale bin, lol.

Happy Knitting!

So Close

Posted on by
6

Due to the unfortunate circumstances of a funeral I had a three day weekend back in my hometown. Just Jellybean and I made the trip but Aunty, Grandma, and Grandpa were there waiting. I took full advantage of the free babysitting and snagged as much sleep and knitting time as possible. My goal was to wrap up my Neon Vanilla Socks. I only needed the leg, cuff, and afterthought heel to be done…

  
I got sooo close. Like justan inch of ribbing and the bind off left. I’m just itching to get these done to turn in for #dcspigskinparty2015 points! I guess they shall be done soon enough and I’m not going to look the gift horse in the mouth for the extra knitting time.

I snuck in a couple extra stitches on sock #2 to see if that eased the snugness I had in #1. And to hedge my bets I sneakily had my sister try these on to see if they fit her. They did…..so these might be destined for the Christmas tree…

Happy Knitting!  

Wanted: Warm Hands

Posted on by
11

It’s finally starting to get cool here in the Midwest. And I have pulled out all our coats and woolies. I’m sadly lacking in the glove department. What’s a knitter to do but knit of course!

I trolled my queue and found the Reverse Rib Mitts by Holly Terrell.

  
Photo @ Holly Terrell

I pulled some Knit Picks Felici leftovers from my stash in the maple leaves color way and got started. I even used my new Hiya Hiya sharps and project bag!

  
The beauty of this design is that you work it inside out so no purling! All the beauty of reverse stockinette without slowing me down!! 

  It’s supposed to be in the 30s on Saturday so I better knit faster…

Happy Knitting! 

Frogs and Toes

Posted on by
7

I was so excited about my Flying North socks. The plucky feet yarn is to die for!

  
I was cruising along until that niggling started in my brain. Something didn’t look quite right…and then it hit me I was working the pattern across the wrong number of stitches! The pattern is written for 64 stitches which is too small for my feet at my gauge. So I went up to 70 stitches total but failed to redo the math for the pattern to account for the extra stitches. Doh!

  
So I frogged back to the plain toe and started over with the correct math. (I was too lazy to get out of bed so yes, that is a Bobby pin as a stitch marker.) I lost a lot of knitting time redoing this but I learned two things. One, the stitches were very easy to pick up and I pulled the needles completely out. Second, I’m happy with this decision to frog. This yarn is just to special to have sloppy work!

I guess I’m just getting more mileage out of this fabulous yarn!

Happy Knitting

Sock Update 

Posted on by
9

I’m on a sock jag lately as on can tell from my last few blog posts. So I decided to combine a couple of socks into one post so as not to bore the pants of you all with the never ending socks.

First up….Neon Vanilla Socks

 
I finished the first sock in a frenzy of World Series glory of my Kansas City Royals! It’s my standard 68 stitch vanilla sock but honestly it’s a bit tight. Not uncomfortable but definitely a LOT of negative ease. Time will tell if these stay in my drawer or hit the gift pile. I’m already halfway up the foot of sock #2! These will most certainly be fraternal and it doesn’t bother me one but! I can’t wait to finish these to count for #dcspigskinparty2015 and #operationsockdrawer!

Next up are some new socks!

  
These are another pair of vanilla socks in Premier Yarns Wool-Free Sock Stripes. It’s an acrylic and polyester blend. I have no clue how they will hold up over time. But the self patterning and colors are making my knitting heart happy. The fabric is also quite soft and smooth and very pleasant to feel. This is my current car project.

I have one more pair of socks on the needles but they had a bit of a hiccup that deserves a post on its own. Stay tuned…

Happy Knitting!!