Category Archives: WIPs

WIP and FO Object Wednesday: Appi Slopes #2

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My friend squealed over the sight of my first Appi Slopes hat. And the pattern is quite addicting, so I cast on another. It just flew off the needles!

Project: Appi Slopes (#2) by Melissa Mall

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Needles: US 4

Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy Sport in Duchess Heather

I used 196.8 yards or 60 grams. That is just about 1.2 of the teeny skeins.

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I did one mod this time. With all the trouble I had with seeing the brim closed last time, I elected to knit the brim together before moving to the stockinette section. My Rav notes on this are here.

It worked okay….but the plastic brim made it hard to knit around the first few rows and my stitches at the join are wonky looking. BUT….it’s very stretchy and flexible. I’m calling this one a draw.

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(Sorry about the photos…it’s dark too fast this time of year. So I took these in my guest bath because it has the best light I can manage in the house)

This was #4 for 2014 Stashbustin’

Happy knitting!!

A Blackberry In Winter

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A LONG time ago, my first attempt at following a pattern was the Strawberry Cocoon from Bernat Free Online. And I did it!! I made a strawberry (sorry no photos) that took forever….

And in a fit of knitting success inertia, I cast on another, this time for a Blackberry! This was probably 2010 or so? Guess what I found in my craft room…

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I had the leaves and most of the body done. It’s a lot of P3tog bobbly things…

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So along with finishing my Spiral Rib Leg Warmers from deep in my WIP pile, this blackberry needs to be done!! Several problems:

1) no idea where I left off in the pattern

2) my tension has changed A LOT

3) this thing is knit flat and I much prefer in the round these days!

I shall persevere…providing the knitting gods are kind to me! Come heck or high water….ye shall be done!!

Have you ever found a WIP you forgot about?

Back From Hibernation

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Remember my Spiral Leg Warmers from 2013? Ha, neither did I until I found them hibernating in my craft room. I put them away sometime in August or so. They were Stashbustin’ #34 for last year.

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This project was hiding in one of my favorite yarn holders…and I want that yarn holder for a 2014 project. Solution = finish the dang things! I only have 6-7 inches of pattern left to knit. (The second leg is a lot farther along than in this photo) How hard can that be? I hope to have them wrapped up by the weekend so I can have my favorite pink yarn case back!!

And on the plus side I can have some cute leg warmers to wear to the gym so I don’t look like the crazy lady wearing shorts or yoga pants outside in January! Not to mention….wouldn’t these look fab with some black leggings and boots?

Happy Knitting!

Stashbustin’ #5: Antrose

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I read too many knitting blogs for my own good, but sometimes I read about projects that I just fall in love with. Enter, Antrose by Shannon Cook

(Photo credit to Nicholas Kupiak and the Antrose Rav page)

My bread and butter when it comes to sweaters is a top-down raglan. I have a unique body shape and I like to try sweaters on as I knit. This way I can make alterations if I don’t like the fit. And this sweater is all that and more.

Top down with a reversible funnel neck. Lots of easy plain stockinette with great chevron details thrown in. Just enough to make you pay attention and not get bored. And worsted weight yarn should fly off the needles!

This will be my #5 stashbustin’ project for 2014. I have some Knit Picks Brava worsted in Dove Heather. A lovely cream/neutral color to be sure. I recently dyed my hair several shades darker and I have been craving some neutral pieces to set off my new hair.

Well, I’m off to swatch! Happy Knitting!

Stashbustin’ #3: Rye Socks

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I want to take another swing at socks. So for 2014 Stashbustin’ #3, I chose Rye Socks by Tin Can Knits! It’s a free pattern using worsted/aran weight yarn. Aren’t they gorgeous?

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(Photo from Tin Can Knits rav page)

I pulled the Caron Simply Soft in Sunshine (yellow) from my hibernating One Piece Pullover from back in 2013. It’s worsted weight and being acrylic will stand up to my beginner mistakes and subsequent frogging when it comes to making socks. If I like this pattern, then I may do it again with better yarn, lol.

I like this idea of socks knitting in heavier yarn. I find as a knitter I like instant gratification projects. Socks are fast anyway, but worsted weight yarn whooo boy! I might even whip up a pair for my husband and his giant feet 🙂

Happy Knitting!

’14 Stashbustin’ #2: Appi Slopes

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We are smack dab in the heart of winter here in Kansas. And I need more hats to cover up my noggin on my walks with the fur children. My Rav queue is LOADED with hats I want to try. So I closed my eyes and just clicked one…the winner is….

Appi Slopes by Melissa Mall!

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(Photo from Melissa Mall’s ravelry page)

This pattern calls for DK weight yarn on size US 3 needles. I just adore the stiffened brim! I pulled some Berroco Comfort DK in primary blue from my stash. I need a little pop of color in this the dead of winter. This yarn was fun to work with before, you may remember it from my lacy hats in 2013.

Now I just need to track down a bit of plastic canvas or other platic medium from which to cut the brim stiffening bit….I’m thinking milk carton…..I might have to think about this!

Happy Knitting!

Sometimes….It Just Doesn’t Work

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I have bad news for my Jericho Blanket….it’s hit the frog pond.

This pattern is gorgeous, but I just wasn’t feeling the yarn/pattern combo. I just didn’t feel the drive to keep working on it and I didn’t even get past my first color change. I didn’t want it to languish so I pulled the plug.

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Instead of a written pattern, I have decided to move forward with an improvised pattern of my own. I cast on a bunch of stitches (you like my exactness? lol) and started working back and forth in stockinette. I will work 3 inch stripes of each color (black, grey, wheat, and cream) until I run out of yarn or the blanket gets big enough.

Then I plan on picking up and adding a seed stitch border in black around the outside. I’m slipping the stitches on each side so that they are easy to pick up later. I feel much better about this project and I have the mojo to keep working.

And I will donate my blanket to the local animal shelter!! It’s cold out and every fur baby deserves a good snuggle blanket. Don’t you think?

Happy Knitting!

Progress: Abalone!

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Remember the other sweater I was going to finish on Christmas vacation? Yeah well, this is that I got done on my Abalone…

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I finished up the last of the stockinette body section (right at 17 inches) and promptly separated for the sleeves. God bless stitch holders!

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Now I get to work just under 8 inches of arm/shoulder sections. They are worked separately and then seamed together using a three needle bind off. I’m well on my way to meet my January 15th deadline. And this the second to last project I need to finish for my 2013 stashbustin’ projects, yippee!!!

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Now if you will excuse me, I have some quiet knitting and coffee sipping to do before I head off to my big kid job!

New Years Knitting

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Happy New Year!!! I hope every had a safe and fun celebration! I worked 13+ hours at my big kid job as I always do on NYE. The blessings of being an accountant at year end, oh wait! So I wasn’t feeling very festive, but I made it to Midnight for a smooch with my hubby. Then promptly off to bed 🙂

In knitting news, I have decided to do another year of stashbustin’ in 2014! And in honor of the first day of the new year, here is my first project…

Jericho Baby Blanket by Shana Schasteen

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(Photo from Shana Schasteen’s ravelry page) 

This is a center out blanket made with super bulky yarn. Awhile back I discovered I had several skeins of Wool Ease Thick and Quick in black, dark grey, and cream/off white in my stash. I can’t remember why I bought them…I dislike scratchy wool. So I gave the skeins a gentle tumble in my washing machine to soften them. Thanks goodness with only minimal tangling! And off to knitting I go…

I plan to make this pattern with alternating stripes of light and dark. The four row pattern repeats offer a nice way to change colors and keeping the stripes the same And the bonus side of center out construction, I can work until I run out of yarn! Not to mention this super bulky yarn on size US 11 needles should go CRAZY fast! What better way to kick off the new year?

I don’t know what I will do with the FO? Maybe donate to the local women’s shelter or homeless shelter? I have enough blankets in my house already to fill two tote bins. This blanket is wool so the offset to being very warm is that it will require special washing care. I hate giving people items that require a lot of extra special care. Most non-fiber people I know find this very annoying…what’s a knitter to do?

The End Is Near: Sophisticate

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I had the best of intentions to finish this sweater on Christmas vacation. Yeah right, lol!

I did manage to finish both sleeves whilst traveling. (Sorry about the low light, our days are too short to get good photographs!) Here is the back view. And don’t worry the sleeves are the same length, I just didn’t get the sweater laid out very well.

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And the front view:

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All that’s left is to pick up and knit the button band and shawl collar! All in glorious knit stitch so it should go fast!

I have been knitting the medium size as that is what fit my measurements and gauge. However, trying this on (pre-blocking of course) it’s a bit tight. It fits, but I was hoping for more of a loose cozy sweater. I probably should have knit the large size or gone up a needle size on the medium. Live and learn! It will still be a lovely sweater.

That reminds me, I need to find some coordinating grosgrain ribbon! I want to reinforce the button band so that my button holes don’t sag. I’ve never done this but I have seen it lots in the blogging world. It always looks so sharp and sneaky!

This is Stashbustin’ #38 for those keeping score. I hope to finish this in the next couple of days to wrap up my 2013 year!