Category Archives: WIPs

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!

Dark Yarn and Straight Needles

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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

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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

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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”?