Category Archives: WIPs

Halfway Done With Sleeve Island

Posted on by
6

This past weekend I managed to crank out a FO (finished object) that I will show you Friday. This finish really cranked my knitting mojo into high gear. It made me want to finish ALL THE THINGS. So I pulled out my Charlotte Winter sweater. I had been plodding slowly through the first sleeve trying to give my hands a break from turning a huge heavy sweater while sleeve knitting.

I was a good chunk through the decreases on sleeve one so I hunkered down and finished the sleeve. Purling in the round on huge US 13 dpns….NOT my favorite but I was committed.

I finished sleeve number one and immediately tried it on. It fits very nicely and snug. That’s pre-blocking of course. So I hope that means I won’t get a baggy sloppy fit after washing and blocking. I’m really hoping to get this done soon so I can get maybe one wear of this yet this extended winter.

Happy Knitting!!

I Found The Sixth Color

Posted on by
8

It took some serious brain effort and I tossed my whole stash (via Ravelry) to find my options of white and grey yarn. My Mini Solutions Scarf needs a sixth color and I’m determined! I finally stumbled upon my Naked Hippo mini skein from Lolodidit. I had planned this for heels/toes/cuffs on socks but it’s a relatively solid grey and very very close to my last gradient color. Now it’s shawl yarn!

It was the best option I had without buying new yarn so I just went with it. I’ve gotten it attached and working up. It’s very subtlety different from the adjacent color but not to shabby.

I did have to work this addition of the sixth color twice because in my haste I added the last color without adding the eyelet row. Doh! I painstakingly tinked back to the fifth color and re-knit the eyelet row. Darn near perfect now! I just need to work up this color for a bit and then do the bind off and I’ll sitting pretty with a new scarf!!

Happy Knitting!!

The Fifth Color

Posted on by
9

As promised last week in my whiny mom post. Here is my Mini Solutions Scarf in all it’s stretched out glory. I have added the fifth and final color from the Treasure Goddess  Super Toes Cashmere MCN gradient set in the Blackbeard’s Revenge colors.

As I initially thought I knew my gradient pack wouldn’t get it big enough for my liking. So I’m going to need a 6th coordinating color to add to this. I had initially pulled a solid white cascade sock yarn back when I kitted up this project. But this gradient set is too beautifully variegated/tonal to just slap on a commercially made solid color at the end.

I need to go stash diving to see what else is living in my yarn bins to see what grey tonal/speckle options I have. And I need to do this quick as I’m about to run out of yarn and I really don’t want to stop knitting this project!

Happy Knitting!!

Cashmere Addiction

Posted on by
11

Hi, my name is Rachelle and I have a cashmere addition. My Mini Solutions Scarf has consumed all of my knitting time because I just can’t quit it! It’s gloriously soft and squishy and requires zero complicated brain waves. It’s my comfort object and I can’t wait to wear it!

I’m already in color four of my five color gradient set. The stripes are getting thinner and thinner as I add more stitches. I did pull some solid white when I was originally planning this project but I can’t decide if this project will need it? This yarn is gloriously variegated and I don’t know if a solid will throw off the vibe. I really want this to wrap nicely around my neck without constant adjustment. What do you guys think?

I guess I could always knit a few row of white and see what I think? A little tinking never hurt anyone right? Maybe I will see how big this scarf/shawl is after color number 5…hmmmm

Happy Knitting!!

Beer and Knitting

Posted on by
8

Sometimes life really kicks you right in the knitting balls, am I right?! It’s busy season at work as I’m an accountant and we are in the throes of audit season. And then I have two tiny humans at home who seem to be hellbent on giving me grey hair. These are the days I really need my knitting (and alcohol in moderation).

Last night I had a perfectly poured frosty beer and my Mini Solutions Scarf. I’m all the way into color three and working up to where I need color four. I’ve said it before but I really can’t put this project down!

img_8946.jpg

My brain was so overloaded that I just sat and knit listening to the fire crackle. No music, no TV, no podcasts….just silence in the wake of chaos. It was glorious for all of 42 minutes until someone needed something. Oh well…there’s always tonight!

Happy Knitting!

I Heart Gradients

Posted on by
5

You guys, I’m addicted to this gradient. I finished up the first color of my Mini Solutions Scarf on Tuesday and added in the second color. The color change rows are just genius and make the perfect transitions where it’s perfectly half and half for the yarn overs.

The gradient set is very well done and the color shift is subtle but yet still noticeable. And the cashmere content makes my fingers happy. The pattern is in my brain and only once in awhile do I make a mistake. But garter stitch is very forgiving in that way.

I really should be giving my Charlotte Winter, bright socks or dad’s socks some love. But I can’t put this scarf/shawl thing down. It’s calling MY NAME!

Happy Knitting!!

And Then Stripes Appeared

Posted on by
8

I kinda feel silly. I was knitting in a waiting room yesterday (I had my dad’s sock in my bag for purse knitting). As I happily went round and round I thought to myself “oh these are going to be striped!”

This really shouldn’t haven been a surprise to me. The yarn skein CLEARLY shows itself to be self striping. Chalk one up for mommy brain!

They are nice thick stripes on 72 stitches. I can’t even imagine how much bigger these would have been if they had been socks on a stitch count for me! I do like the blend of blues, purples and grey. It’s pleasing yet still “dude” appropriate. But I’m pretty sure if I knit my dad bright pink socks he would proudly wear them, he’s that awesome.

Happy Knitting!!

Mom Paradise

Posted on by
5

Jellybean had a sleepover at a friends house this past weekend and PB went down for a morning nap. The dishes were done and laundry was not taking over the laundry room. So I decided to take a moment for myself. I had coffee, knitting and a knitting podcast playing. My Mini Solutions Scarf was just the right amount of soothing garter stitch for a slow knitting moment.

I managed to make good progress on the first color section before PB woke up. And then at bedtime I worked through the rest of the first color. I’m ready to wind up the next mini skein and work the color change row. Working with the Treasure Goddess MCN set is just SOOOO luxurious.

I may or may have fallen asleep with my knitting in my lap right after this photo was taken. I spent too long looking at the fire dance and exhaustion took over. Oh well, I guess there are worse places to catch 40 winks!

Happy Knitting

Cast On: Dad’s 2019 Christmas Socks

Posted on by
7

I was feeling a sock sized hole in my life after finishing my Helping Hippos Socks. My dad is the most grateful and totally knit worthy person in my life. So I decided to get a jump on some 2019 Christmas socks. I found some machine washable sport weight sock yarn in my stash I got from a yarn store closing in 2017. It’s not one I have worked with before but it feels sturdy and will stand up well to my dad’s work boots. I managed to pull together a full kit and get started after my tiny humans went to bed.

The best part of these? While they are 72 stitches total, they are sport weight on US 3 needles so they really feel like they fly!

I am having to keep a lotion bar in my project bag. This yarn just sucks the moisture out of hand. Look at all those lovely guard hairs! These babies are going to warm!!

Happy Knitting!!

Bulky Garter Stitch Sleeve Island

Posted on by
6

I finished the body to my Charlotte Winter this week. I went digging into my project bag to pull out the double points for my sleeves. And I came out with US 15s….but I’m knitting this sweater on US 13s. Sleeve island is a real thing you guys, and I haven’t even started knitting them!!! Insert a D’oh here…

So thanks to a 50% off coupon and a trip to Joanns I am finally ready to tackle the sleeves! (And now I own needles I will probably only use once, lol.) I may take a tiny timeout on this project. The heavy sweater and big needles are really flaring up some soreness in my forearms and wrists. Nothing major but I think it will be prudent to take breaks and mix up the weight of projects I work on so I don’t develop a fully blown injury!

Happy Knitting!!