Dark Yarn and Straight Needles

Why is it that I can never find the needles I need when I start a project? I have become a BIG fan if circs as they are flexible and take up less room in my lap. But straights will do in a pinch.

I finally started my Stashbustin’ #26 projects. This balaclava is for a coworker.

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So far I am half way through the ribbed neck portion. The stitches are pretty bunched up right now on these straights but will get better as the pattern progresses. The yarn is Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Lost Lake Heather. This deep green is a bit fiddly to work with in the evenings as its very dark. But otherwise pretty darn good so far. (Even on these darn needles, lol)

I’m making the largest size the pattern has as the recipient is a large man. I hope to finish this and maybe one more before fall comes!

Happy Knitting!

Update: Stashbustin’ #25

Baby Sophisticate is rocking and rolling! This is Stashbustin’ #25 in my queue of projects.

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This pattern is amazingly easy! Why did I wait so long to get started? A few hours and I’ve already divided for the body! Gotta love worsted weight yarn on size US 8 needles. And this project definitely soothes my recent bout of baby fever… 🙂

I predict a FO in my very near future!!

WIP Wednesday: Spiral Leg Warmers

Finally some decent progress on my Spiral Leg Warmers or Stashbustin’ #24 for those of you keeping score.

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I’ve got a solid 16-17 inches down on the first leg. The pattern calls for 30 but I’m going to try it on and see how it fits at 26-27 inches. This Comfy Worsted is so silky under my fingers it makes me giddy! I am halfway through my second ball so I’m on track for 6 balls total for the project. This is a great purse knitting project as I can fit it yarn and all in one of my plastic cases.

Kind of digging the pink theme…

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I’m hoping the yummy yarn will help me power through the “second sock syndrome” when I get to the next one!

Have you ever had a case of “second sock syndrome”?

FAL Project: Almost There!!!

My FAL with Sage Yarn is almost done!!

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I finished the knitting portion on Aunt Martha’s Prayer blanket on our trip to Arkansas this past weekend, but didn’t get get it washed until Sunday night. Its amazing what you can accomplish with 8 hours if driving time! It’s currently blocked and drying on my guest bed to open up the eyelets and take some of the curl out.

This project started WAAAY back in May and it feels so good to be done. I used up three large skeins of yarn from my stash! I’m hoping it dries quickly and I can get it photographed for a FO Friday.

Happy Knitting!

FAL Project Progress!!!

Having a deadline really puts my but in gear! I have made some stellar progress on my Sage Yarn FAL project. This blanket had sifted to the bottom of my priorities in June and July but I’m full steam ahead in August!

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This is a center out blanket made is from an interpretation of the Constant Square Blanket by Tina Laiho. I’m chewing through some of my stash of Caron Simply Soft in pinks. I had 2/3 of skein of the first color (dusty rose) and full skeins of the bright pink (watermelon) and light pink (still in the yarn protector). I am hoping to get this done before Aunt Martha moves into her new apartment!

I’m just about ready to transition to the last color. I’m doing the whole thing in stockinette so it’s getting a little boring. But I’m powering through. I have been doing a lot of Netflix and knitting on this blanket. At least one of those things always keeps my attention.

I’m interested to see how big this ends up being when I am done. My “plan” if you can call it that is to knit until I run low on yarn and then cast off. Check out the Ravelry page for this FAL to see what everyone else is working on!!!

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday: Spiral Leg Warmers

 

Stashbustin’ #24 update….sort of….

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I have about four inches of leg warmer down. That’s about four/five pattern repeats? I’m not keeping track of repeats as I plan to knit until the length reaches 28-30 inches.  So I just knit for a while and then measure.

I have knit enough to try on. I’m really glad I upped the stitch count to 68. They fit my large muscular calves well. I’m find the pattern to be easily memorized and easy to pick up and put down. Of course, I am not surprised. The Purl Bee always has great patterns!

I am using Knit Pick Comfy Worsted in Lady Slipper. This cotton/acrylic yarn is soooooo soft and smushy. It’s a dream to work with. But again I have never been let down by a Knit Picks yarn.

This is currently my traveling/purse knitting project. I manage a few rows at a time on my breaks at work, while the husband drives, and waiting in lines and such. Progress may be slow but it’s better than nothing!

What’s on your needles this week?

Weekend Project Roundup

I read an interesting post by another blogger sometime last week about her love of bags and organization for her WIP and projects. I chuckled out loud reading because I have the same compulsion desire! And this weekend I did some cleaning in my craft room and I though I’d do a “bag/organization flash”

First up, here is a tote bag full of ruffle yarn destined to be tutus. I have the correct needle size and a laminated pattern in there as well.

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Next up, my Stashbustin’ #19 project. This is an active project for the Sage Yarn FAL. So it doesn’t have a bigger bag.  Just a plastic yarn case from Micheals to keep the dog hair off my skeins of yarn and to keep them from rolling around as I work.

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Next up, my Stashbustin’ #25 project, Baby Sophisticate! I haven’t actually cast on this as of yet. But I have the pattern marked up for the right size and the yarn is hanging out in the hand made yarn protector from my mother. I need to work up a gauge swatch….

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This is my Stashbustin’ #26, Bulky Garter Stitch Balacava. Nothing fancy here either. Just a plastic bag to keep dog hair off my yarn. I still need to measure my co-workers head/hat size before I mark up the pattern instructions.

 

And finally Stashbustin’ #24, Spiral Leg Warmers. I went all out for this one…yep that’s right that’s a zip lock bag holding my yarn. Not fancy but keeps thing dry and clean!

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And sometimes these smaller bags/projects get tossed into bigger bags. Here is a tote (also from Micheals)  that is currently holding my leg warmers, baby sophisticate, and balaclava. Not to mention two cases worth of needles, lots of notions, pens, and pencils.

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Sometimes just having things organized neatly makes all this work seem less daunting!  Plus I always have something I can grab when I’m on the go or need to travel with a project. Not to mention it keeps my projects out of reach from my puppy that likes to hibernate on them, lol!!

How do you store your projects?

FAL for August!!!

I’m joining the FAL (finish-along) at Sage yarn for August! I have a case of WIPs here lately and I feel the need to finish something. I’m not giving up on my recent stash busting efforts by any means. But I need to give some monogamous time to some of my older projects!

Remember, Aunt Martha’s Prayer Blanket?

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(Stashbustin’ #19)

I made fairly good progress in the beginning and even made it to the second color. But then I started second guessing the two colors together. I hemmed and hawed and the project slowly migrated to the bottom of my knitting bag. And then I saw the blog post about the FAL and I thought it was kismet!

I’m determined to finish this blanket but I fully realize that might be a lofty goal by the end of the month. But at the very least I am going to keep up with the group on Ravelry and do weekly postings. You get credit for making progress even if you don’t finish. I can’t wait to see what others are working on finishing. The Rav group is here!

Anybody else have a finishing goal?

Stashbustin’ #26: Garter Stitch Balaclava

Remember the yarn splurge I showed you last Friday? Well some of that yarn is for a good cause!

Stashbustin’ #26: Garter Stitch Balaclava and Beanie by Christine Grant!

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I have a coworker who works tirelessly outside all winter to keep those of us indoor warm and safe. Last winter he showed me his hat/balaclava that had seen better days and asked for a replacement. My first attempts last winter were not all that successful.

So I’m giving this pattern a go in Knit Picks Shine Worsted in Lost Lake Heather. I’m hoping this Aran weight yarn and garter stitch go quickly so my coworker isn’t waiting for me come fall!

Now I just need to measure his head so I know what size I need to make!

Happy Knitting!!

Stashbustin’ #25: Baby Sophisticate

At my recent 10 year high school reunion I had a friend make a special knitting request. She wants an “old man” style sweater for her baby boy due in September.

So I introduce to you Stashbustin’ #25: Baby Sophisticate by Linden Down!

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(Photo courtesy of Linden Heflin/Ravelry page)

How cute is this? I think I am going to make the 3-6 mo size as this family tends to make big babies! Mom also requested that this be a soft and easy care garment. So I culled my stash and found just enough Carron Simply Soft in grey. It’s machine washable and pretty soft for acrylic. Probably not my first choice of yarn for a sweater, but this isn’t my project, lol!

The yardage is going to be tight but I think I can make it. I hope to get this started this week. I am going to swatch in the same yarn but a different color since I’m close on yarn.

Now I just need to go find some old man looking buttons….