Category Archives: WIPs

Update: Stashbustin’ #11

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Stashbustin’ #11

I have finally cast on for my Simple Raglan Cardi. I was a patient knitter. I read the pattern, took my measurements, knit a swatch, measured said swatch for gauge, washed and blocked the swatch, marked up the pattern for my required size, re-measured just to be sure, and FINALLY cast on my sweater. This is my first really foray into a fitted garment for myself. I have made generic shrugs and other easy garments before and I’m finally brave enough to try.

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As you can see from the photo, I don’t have much progress. But it’s a start!!! And I just love love love the feel of soft cotton under my fingers and on my needles. Being as this is a top-down construction, I intend to try it on as I knit to ensure proper fit. Sure, this entails putting it on and taking off waste yarn in order to check fit. But isn’t it worth it to get a garment you will actually wear?

Keep you posted on my progress!

Happy Knitting!!

Holy Cow I Knit A Lot!

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My husband asked me the other day much yarn have I used in my “2013 Stashbusting Quest”. I honestly didn’t have an answer, so I sat down to do some calculations. (Thank god for Ravelry and my OCD need to organize and catalog everything!) I have completed the following so far in 2013:

Completed Projects Yds/Feet Used

– Chevron Lap Blanket 1,308/3,924

– Rachelle’s Cowl 206/618

– Mere’s Cowl 206/618

– Zig Zag Baby Blanket 684/2,052

– Balaclava 196/588

– Holy Cowl 206/618

– Cascading Ruffles Scarf 33/99

– Chevron Baby Blanket 548/1,644

– Wonky Cowl 81/243

– Seed Stitch Ear Warmer 27/81

– Tardis Washcloth 48/144

– Frilly Knit Scarf (2) 60/180

– Waves N Ripples Blanket 680/2,040

– Evening Sparkle Scarf (4) 40/120

That is a total of 14 projects and 4,323 yards of yarn goodness. All that translates into 12,969 feet or 2.46 miles of knitting! And then I went through my current WIPs:

WIPs Yds/Feet Used

– Cascading Ruffles Scarf 30/90

– Baby Girl Chevron Blanket 684/2,052

– Simple Stockinette Baby Blanket 516/1,548

– Waffle Blanket 315/945

– Simple Raglan Cardi 721/2,163

My five current WIPs total 2,266 yards fiber and that is 6,798 feet or roughly 1.29 more miles of knitting. This brings my total Stashbusting 2013 up to a grand total of 6,589 yards of yarn or 19,767 feet, or 3.74 miles of yarn heaven. I did have to purchase extra skeins to complete my Chevron Lap blanket to get a satisfactory length and I did splurge on a clearance batch of Natures’ Choice Organic Cotton. But otherwise I knit completely out of my stash!!

Here’s hoping I can keep it going! Now I’m off to spend time back home with the Parental Units sans my husband. He is currently buried under his CIS/IT midterms and quite frankly is too grumpy to spend three hours in the car with let alone all weekend at my parents. I feel comfortable saying that because he doesn’t read this blog….that I know of…

Happy Knitting!

Stashbustin’ #11

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Stashbustin’ #11 – Simple Raglan Cardi

I have 7 skeins of Dusty Blue Lion Brand Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton. I splurged awhile back and bought a whole bunch on clearance at Michaels. And I have made two lovely cowls from this stash so far, Mere’s and mine. It’s a very soft yarn to work with and it washes nicely (with a little extra special care). I have really enjoyed working with it lately. So I decided to keep going.

A quick search on Ravelry and I found a simple top down raglan style cardigan and I fell in love. This will be my first top down raglan. I am the master of my own knitting and it will be scary, but I know I can do it (Elizabeth Zimmerman says I can)!! And I’m bound and determined to do this correctly. I am starting with swatching for gauge.

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I made a pretty large-ish swatch. I got almost spot on gauge on the unwashed swatch, 17 stitches to 4 inches on the larger of the two needles in the pattern. I then gave the swatch a good soak in some Eucalan and then pinned and blocked to dry.

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I am going to be a good girl and wait until tomorrow when it’s completely dry to measure again for gauge. I really want the finished garment to fit appropriately. In the mean time I’m marking up the pattern to get ready for this knit.

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I really don’t want to get off pattern so I measured for my size and highlighted the appropriate directions. Even went as far as blacking out all the other directions. I’m nothing if not thorough and I don’t want the reason this sweater gets wonky is because I can’t read! Hopefully I can have the blocked swatch measured and providing that goes well cast on the sweater this coming weekend. Keep you all posted!

Happy Knitting

WIP Wednesday: Simple Stockinette Baby Blanket

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Stashbustin’ #9 has been a learning experience. I try to give all yarns a fair shake….I really do. But this Bernat Baby Blanket chenille like yarn is kicking my butt. It’s no longer in cue to be a baby shower present. BUT I will not let it defeat me! I have seen some really cute projects come from this yarn on Instagram lately so I know its possible.

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Based on feedback and input from the Instagram designers that had success, I made some design changes:

– Change from all over seed stitch to seed stitch border (to reduce edge rolling) and stockinette body

– Went from size 11 US needle down to 10 1/2 US needle

– Tightened my gauge bit to reduce gaps

– Cast on 110 stitches instead of 100

I made all these changes keeping in mind that this acrylic yarn is not going to be blockable. What I knit is what is what it’s going to be. My Rav page is here.

I really hope these changes help. I have three more huge skeins of this yarn in my stash and I really want it to work. My only other option is to switch to a simple crochet design. A very good crafter friend from college makes beautiful crochet blankets from this yarn. She claims it’s easier to crochet and shape this yarn since it doesn’t “grap” on itself like it does when it’s on the needles. I’m just not great at crochet…

I will persevere!!!! Happy Knitting to you all!!

Mere’s Cowl: A Do-Over

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Ok…..designing something fromscratch is both fun and aggravating. Mere’s cowl is kicking my knitting butt. I literally have started it three different times….and frogged each version.

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Guess the fourth time is the charm? (Aided by a large glass of wine last night….) I’m rocking and rolling now, hopefully have a FO soon!!

The snow hasn’t started, The Blizzard of Oz, part II is headed our way. I hope I can make it to and from work today. Pray or cross your fingers for me. Ill try to update on the snow later today, providing I survive and we have power…..

Happy Knitting!

Project Dilemma: When To Stop

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I have been chronicling my Chevron Blanket here, here, and here. This started as a baby blanket but I have to admit its morphed into more of a lap blanket, lol.

I am on my last skein of yarn and I’m torn. Right now the length covers from my toes to barely mid chest. If I were to add another color/pattern repeat of three more skeins it would comfortably reach my shoulders. The length and weight of the blanket make it difficult to work. This makes half of me want to just be done with project and move on to other WIPs. But I really want to make this blanket useable and therefore the other half of me wants to buy three more skeins of yarn and keep going.

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So I putting this out there to ask for opinions from readers. Thoughts anyone?

A Present for Mere

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A very dear friend recently asked for a soft lightweight cowl in red. So I pursued Ravelry and just didn’t find anything worthy of Mere. She has gorgeous pale skin with dark cocoa colored hair.

Mere and I share a love of wine, so I pulled two skeins of Lion Brand Natures Choice Organic Cotton in variegated reds and browns. The reds remind me of the different colors of red wine and the browns will pop against her hair.

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And away I went! I cast on about 210 sts and I plan on working back and forth between lace sections and stockinette sections. If this design works out I hope to launch this as a free design here on my blog and on Ravelry.

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This is my purse/public knitting project, so I hope it will go quickly! I can’t wait to see Mere wearing it. She is gorgeous in anything but I love that she adores my hand knits!

Happy Knitting!

Stashbustin’ #10

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I’m crazy….I have WIP-itis! I was so in love with my finished Zig Zag Baby Blanket and the beautiful chevrons I had to cast on another. This time I’m opting for chevrons more like the ones from my Waves N Ripples Blanket. I like the solid fabric feel, not that the lace detail isn’t lovely. I think solid fabric is just more suitable for a blanket. (Just my opinion…don’t shoot the blogger)

I’m improvising the design using soft pink and bright white cottons. This blanket is definitely destined for a baby girl. I have so many WIPs that I’m not sure where it falls in the queue, lol. But for now it’s in my “couch” knitting spot!

Happy Knitting!

Status Update: Chevron Blanket

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Progress on Stashbustin’ #7

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Five and a half stripes down on my Chevron Baby Blanket! I plugged some serious time into this project. I had a migraine most of Saturday. It was wicked, I got so dizzy I almost passed out when I stood up. As a lifelong allergy sufferer, unfortunately these hit me a couple times a year. Usually at wild weather swing. My husband basically ordered me to the couch so I wouldn’t fall or hurt myself. Upside, I had several hours of uninterrupted (quiet) movie watching while knitting.

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This is usually my bed time knitting but I needed a familiar and soothing project this weekend. Not sure when I’ll be done with this one, and I don’t care. It’s a warm and soft project they I’m thoroughly enjoying.

I get the day off from my big kid job for Presidents Day. I was hopeful for some knitting time but I have a doctors appointment and a meeting with an insurance agent. Exciting stuff right?

I wish everyone a happy Monday!

Status Update: Chevron Baby Blanket

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Finally some progress on stashbustin’ #7!

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This pattern by the Purl Bee is addictive! This is my second go round with this pattern and its just as good as the first. This is my “calm before bed knitting”. I work a few rows every night and I’m almost done with my third stripe!

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This pattern makes me think of the Peanuts cartoon for some reason. I find peace and the ability to meditate while working on it. It’s really helping me deal with my Grandmothers passing. Slow and steady progress as row after row of stitches form on my needles. Nothing complicated, just garter stitch beauty.

I’ll be sad when this blanket is finished but I can’t wait to see the end result!

Now I am off to pack for another weekend family event (a much happier one). My other grandmother is turning 80! We are going to let our hair down and stuff ourselves silly! So I’m off to land of little to no cell coverage and no wifi, see you on the other side!!