Category Archives: WIPs

So Close….Yet So Far…

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Frustration be damned! My Stashbustin’ #26 is rolling now!!!

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After a couple of miscues on the pattern (my fault not the authors) I powered through the remaining flat portions of the pattern.

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I found the brim portion to be a bid fiddly but I persevered. All I have left is to seam the back, knit the ribbed side face panels, and finally sew down the brim. I cannot wait to finish this one, both so I can give this to the recipient and so I can finally be rid of this knit!! I hope to have some later tonight to officially put this one in the FO column!

Oh and weave in all those pesky ends, of which there are a lot. Oh so close but yet so far…..

Stashbustin’ #30: Little Coffee Bean Sweater

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Earlier this year I made a Mud Season sweater designed by Elizabeth Smith (The Brown Stitch) and I LOVED it!!

Then I saw this….

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(Photo from elizknits / Elizabeth Smith Rav page)

This is the Little Coffee Bean Sweater from The Brown Stitch. I already have so many things in my WIP pile but I just couldn’t help it!!! I have some amazing Knit Picks worsted Dishie Cotton in my stash. I have two skeins of Jay (blue) and one skein of Creme Brulee (yellow).

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These are my old high school colors and so I am partial to this combination! I plan to stray from the pattern a bit. I am not going to work the alternating stripes as shown. I am going to do yellow button bands and collar with a solid blue body. Maybe a yellow stripe in the middle of the body? What do you guys think?

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This is a top down raglan construction cardigan. This construction is the first sweater method I learned and it’s quickly becoming old hat. I love it!!  I’m making the 6 month size. I can’t wait to finish this one 🙂

And so, this little amazing sweater is now my Stashbustin’ #30!!!

WIP Wednesday: Snug #2

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My Snug #2 is coming along swimmingly!!! I am now in the hood section. How can you not go fast with bulky yarn on size US 10 1/2 needles, lol? This Knit Picks Brava Bulky really works up fast and is easy care for momma and baby. I just need to finish the hood and seam it closed. Then it’s just a few flicks of a crochet hook to add button loops and sew on the buttons.

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This is Stashbustin’ #29 in my 2013 projects. It doesn’t have recipient yet. I think I’m going to stash this one away for a rainy day or a special baby.

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I found the CUTEST buttons at Joann’s the other day. I think they are an adorable match to my green sweater! What do you guys think?

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Balaclava Frustration

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This project is beginning to vex me…..

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I have completed the neck ribbing and both sides of my balaclava. This is Stashbustin’ #26 for those of you keeping score. But to get this point I have to frog a fair share of my work TWICE!!

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The side panels are worked one at a time and therefore it’s hard to line up the garter ridges when you do them separately. Had to frog the first attempt at the second side panel. But I did manage to get it right on the second try.

I’m now on the section that creates the brim of that. I attempted to do this late at night in poor lighting. It was a recipe for disaster…. I literally connected the brim at the back of the hat instead of the front. So I wasted 2 hours of my life. I have now frogged that hot mess.

This project is currently sitting in my project bag waiting for me to return. It’s not the pattern’s fault..I just made silly mistakes and didn’t pay attention to the directions. Every knitter has these kinds of projects from time to time right? I know I can conquer this WIP, it just needs to sit in timeout for awhile.

I still have a few weeks before winter right?

One Down, One To Go

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I did it!!! Since my last update, one leg warmer is in the books!!

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I finished two full skeins of yarn and measured that I was at 23 inches total. So I tried it on and it fit like a glove. The pattern called for 30 inches but if I had knit that much the warmer would have either reached mid thigh or have a mass of fabric bunched up at my ankle. The way it is now, it starts just below my knee and bunches nicely at the ankle.

I’ll spare you the task of looking at that picture, I was attacked by chiggers on Labor Day Weekend and my legs are atrocious. But I promise a picture when it’s all done and my legs aren’t as itchy and blotchy.

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I cast on and already have a few inches done on the second leg. Here’s hoping I can avoid second sock syndrome!

Cast-on-itis Day #3

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Cast-on-itis Day #3

Awhile back, I fell off the destashing wagon and picked up some Knit Picks Brava Bulky. I seriously love this stuff for baby knits. It’s really soft for acrylic and it knits up crazy fast. Not to mention is washable and easy care.

For my Stashbustin’ #29 project, I’m making another Snug!

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(my first go round with this pattern)

Snug is a great pattern, The construction is ingenious and the bulky yarn knits so fast! The hoodie portion is beyond adorable. Not to mention the finished garment has great stretch that really adds to the longevity of the garment. Which is important when babies grow so fast!

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This colorway in Peapod and my Grandma’s kitchen table just doesn’t do this yarn justice. It’s so lovely and vibrant. Maybe this is a last ditch effort to hang on to the green of summer. Fall is just around the corner and I’m both sad and excited. So many things to knit!!

And the last sentence really highlights my current state of too many WIPs…I should get back to knitting!

Happy Wednesday!!

Cast-on-itis Day #2

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Look familiar? I introduce to you, Stashbustin’ #28 or Baby Sophisticate #2. You may remember my first attempt from last week!

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This pattern was a joy to knit and beyond adorable. I honestly couldn’t wait to cast on another, way to go Linden Down!

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(Apologies for the terrible picture! I was rocking knitting at Grandma’s kitchen table this weekend)

I am using Caron Simply Soft again, this time in Berry Blue. And this was a partial skein I had floating around in my stash. So to be safe I am going to make the smaller 0-3 month size. The 0-6 month size used slightly over 3/4 of a skein so I should be safe. I hope this a great way to turn a partial skein into a great project!

This one should be off the needles again in no time!! I highly recommend this pattern to everyone!!

Labor Day Cast-on-itis

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Happy Labor Day!!!

I had a fit of “Cast-on-itis” this past weekend over labor day. Even though I spent all weekend with family having fun, I had yarn urges that could not be satisfied. I may or may not have cast on three more projects….oops!

So this week I thought I would take you on a walk of shame tour of my newest de-stashing efforts!

Today I introduce to you, One Piece Baby Pullover from Lion Brand! This will be Stashbustin’ #27 effort of 2013. I was in the mood for something cheery, fun, and baby adorable. It’s only a start but I feel sunny already!

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Eventually, it will look something like this….

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(Photo courtesy of the Lion Brand Ravelry page)

I have A LOT of Caron Simply Soft to chew through in my stash. What better to deploy that yarn towards than adorable baby knits!!! The pattern is worked flat in a cross shape and seamed together. And the whole thing is in garter stitch. This is going to be my mindless TV knitting project and will live next to the couch!

Stay tuned for a new project tomorrow! I hope everyone in the US had a happy and safe labor day weekend!!

Two At A Time

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I need to make a boat load of scarves and tutus for fall craft fairs. I normally work one scarf at time and I can whip through them pretty quickly. But in the interest of time and mass production I decided to try two a time! So I picked up my US 8 circs and cast on two ruffle scarves.

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So far so good. And both scarves are growing appreciably. It is a bit fiddly to keep the two yarns from wrapping around each other as I turn my work. But I can work the same pattern of decreases and increases on both scarves at once. Thus creating uniform output for sales purposes!

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I’m currently out of project bags….so Ziplock will have to do, lol. At least when the yarn gets tangled I can pop it out of the bag and untangled the whole mess. Hopefully I can crank out several of these bad boys in the next few weeks.

Happy Knitting!

WIP Flash

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For this WIP Wednesday I thought I’d do a little WIP flash!

First up, my Baby Sophisticate (Stashbustin’ #26) is flying off the needles!! I have the body complete and the sleeves done! I even put my big girl knitting pants on and used dpns for the sleeves instead of magic loop. I had to frog a few places but the Simply Soft yarn is holding up well.

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This is turning out to be the perfect “old man sweater” for my friends. I still have to pick up and knit the button band and shawl collar. I have never done the wrap and turn short row construction that the pattern calls for. But the author gave excellent directions so I think I got this! This has been my obsessive at home knitting project. I may have to crank out a few more of these for my emergency baby shower/present stash.

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Next up is my spiral leg warmers! (Stashbustin’ #24)

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I now have 22 inches complete on leg #1. This is currently my “travel/purse” knitting so progress is slower. But I just love the feel of this yarn as I work with it. I have to admit that sometime I stop knitting and just fondle the knit fabric…. gotta love Knit Picks yarn!

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These have absolutely no practical purpose, but I can’t wait to wear them. I have a feeling that these will be one of those rare projects that is fun to knit and to wear!

Happy Knitting and Happy Wednesday!