Category Archives: WIPs

Well…..Shoot

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So my Volcano Trail hit a speed bump. I had grossly misinterpreted the pattern and had my color changes ALLLLL wrong. So I had to pull back a full section of my cowl….sigh

Basically I jumped right to adding the third color (green) instead of slowing fading through the pink where you hold it double with itself. It wasn’t too bad to get back on the needles because with I just fed my needle through the top loops of the garter bumps and I then I was free to pull out the work above it. I did have to fix about 1/3 of the stitches where I accidently got down a row.

My brain had been looking at the green and it did look quite jarring. I MUCH prefer the slow pink fade that I have now. It’s a lot more subtle and beautiful. I have been making this my go-to after the kids go to bed knitting. It’s great tired mommy brain knitting while I binge my latest show.

Happy Knitting!!

A Purple Rain Heel

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Purse knitting for the win! I have reached the heel on my first Purple Rain Vanilla Sock

This yarn is turning out less gradient and more color blocky. But I am considering that a pleasant surprise. I am still struggling to make sure I don’t split the plies on this yarn but as long as I pay attention, its not horrible. My plan is to just knit up the leg until I get the last color block and then add the cuff. And I will make the cuff until I run out of yarn!

My one bummer is that in one of the darker purple sections had a ply break. And that run away play wound it backwards on to the previous yarn. So now I have a line. The dark line is where I have three plies of yarn that is immediately followed by a lighter section of just one ply. This could potentially be a week section of the sock. For this reason I won’t gift these socks. I figure if something goes wrong then I can always mend or patch what blows out.

But it has been good for my knitting mojo to have this project showing such good progress. It makes me feel accomplished even though I can’t seem to find big blocks of time for knitting!

Happy Knitting!!

Out Of Hibernation

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Well, I decided to move this project out of Hibernation and into FO status. These were intended to be my Knee High Christmas socks. But in the end I just couldn’t get past how much brain space and purling it would take to make my original vision. So I wasn’t even picking this project up…..at all.

So I am just going to finish them as they are. I have already added a very small cuff to each sock and I finished the toe decreases on the second tube. This was a Lolodidit Hippo for Christmas skein I had cranked into a sock snake/sock tube.

Basically at this point all I have left to do is add heels and then these can move into my sock drawer. They will be pretty tall but won’t be knee highs. I do have some concern that they won’t fit my full calves but if that happens these can just be socks for my sister. Win win.

It feel liberating to finally make a decision on this project and get it out of my WIP box. Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Volcano Trail

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Summer had me itching for a new project aka new cast on. So Iet myself cast on my Volcano Trail that I had been wishfully knitting.

I am just barely past the cast on, lol. But this first chunk will be a stockinette section folded over and seamed to itself for the top edge. So I am holding the first color double with itself. I am excited for the colors I have picked for this project, they are quite eclectic.

First up is some Shibui Knits Staccato in the Raspberry color and next I will add some Spunky Eclectic Spunky Socks in the Wild Child color. My third color is a mystery skein of greenish sock yarn that I got in a mystery box purchase. And I will round out this project with a skein of Mrs Crosby’s Hat Box in the Pansy colorway.

So if those yarn names mean nothing to you, basically the cowl will move from pinks to greens and back to purple thanks to marling. This project promises minimal purling so that is a bonus for this garter loving girl!

Happy Knitting!!

Unsure About The Chaos

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I have some more colors added to my Scrappy Marl #2. I’m drifting a little more away from “ugly” but I’m not sure I would call this elegant by any means.

I have another inch to add and then I will be ready for the decreases. I only have about 5 small balls of scraps left in my bag. So that is thrilling to get odds and ends used up into something useful. I am determined to finish this project before I hold judgement on its final aesthetics.

I do love this pattern and its simple instruction. Ten out of ten I would make this again to use up scraps or mini skeins. Happy Knitting!!

A Second Chaotic Marl

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While my needles and project bag were still at hand I did cast on a second Scrappy Marl. I tried to group my tiny scraps into coordinating pairs to use when I hold them double. So far I am not convinced about this project….its reading a bit more “ugly” than “chaotic” to me.

My husband told me to put my OCD brain on hold and wait until I have added all the colors added in. He thinks it will all blend more when I get some other colors added in. He could be right but my sequential and orderly brain just rebels against this, lol.

For sure this hat will go into the gift/donation bin. While I am confident I can make this into a perfectly serviceable hat….I don’t see myself keeping or wearing this one. But I am jazzed about how many tiny balls of scraps are disappearing from my stash!

Happy Knitting!!

Two Purple Rain Toes

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I have had my Purple Rain Socks project in a bag for almost a month with maybe three rows on on the first sock? I just didn’t feel the drive to work on it. So the other day I asked myself why that was. I answered myself with “I don’t want to fuss with the toes I just want it to be ready for round and round stockinette”.

So I bribed my self with the promise of Dairy Queen ice cream and I powered through not one but both toes for the socks. This KFI luxury sock yarn came wound in two identical gradient cakes so I could do both toes without any yarn management. I have the first sock on the nine inch circular needles and the second I will put in a needle minder.

My needles are Hiya Hiya sharps and this yarn is a 2 ply sock weight. It is a little splitty in spots so I have to pay attention and make sure I am getting both strands in every stitch. It has a nice sturdy hand so I’m not worried about the finished product. But I can see if I only get one strand I will create a weak spot.

These have become my primary purse knitting project so maybe I can start gaining steam. But school is out for the summer so I won’t have as much car knitting time over the next couple of months. But as with many of my projects…slow and stead will win the race.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Scrappy Marl Hat

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A happy Memorial Day to all those in the US. I am taking advantage of the long weekend to cast on a scrappy project I have been dreaming of for a minute. My Scrappy Marl is on the needles and flying along.

This project holds sock yarn double so it is really chewing through scraps. And yes, I am purposely planning my yarns. I am moving from light to dark in a pseudo rainbow. I’m blending purples and reds right now.

So far I am super pleased. It does feel a little small and tight, but I think blocking will do a world of good on this project. It is a lot of super wash yarn so its going to grow. For my sanity I am spit splicing or Russian joining the ends as I add new colors. No way I want to weave in 100 ends on a scrappy project, lol.

Happy Knitting!!

Yarn Chicken?

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My Double Vanilla socks have been the dark horse in my knitting lately. I have been consistently picking them up during school car lines, video meetings and all the in-between times. And all of a sudden in less than a week, I have a second sock! (It really helps that it is DK weight yarn, lol!)

I have been counting my rows to try and match sock #1. But I might be playing a bit of yarn chicken with the second sock. I didn’t line up the photo very well but I still need 5 rows and a bind off on the second sock to match.

Is it really going to matter if I’m off by a row or two? No it is not. And the bonus is that I’m using really super close to 100% of this skein of yarn. No leftovers!!

Happy Knitting!!

Ready For Lace….Again

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Yesterday was a great sunshine day and I got my In The Light (pink version) outside for a good photograph!

I have blended in the third and last color of this project. It is a OOAK (one of a kind) skein from KirbyWirby yarns. Normally she is a self-striping dyer but I think this is an experiment she put in her shop because its definitely a variegated yarn.

I’m SUPER happy with how this bright is blending in and makin up the darkest section of the project. I’m ready to start the lace section and then all have is the final knitted border that I will unravel for fringe. I’m still addicted to this project and can’t wait to have the finished item!

Happy Knitting!!