Category Archives: Yarn

A Whole Lot of Scarves

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I spent the major part of the weekend photographing and updating my Etsy shop. My shop ebbs and flows with my life. I hadn’t really listed a lot lately as I have been Christmas and gift knitting for the past couple of months. As part of my 2013 destashing project I dug through my FO stash for things to list to earn a little cash. I found a treasure trove of ruffle scarves from my fall craft fairs. Here are a few of the images I captured.

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Above are just a few of what I had in stock. I listed every single last one of them on my Etsy shop! As a sign of appreciation to my blog followers I am offering a special coupon in my shop. Use the code “sparkle1” for 15% off any order in my Etsy shop until Feb 15th! Tell your friends and spread the word, I need to destash!

Who doesn’t need a scarf to add a little sparkle to their lives (and support a knitter who needs to feed her yarn habit)!?

Happy Knitting!

Stashbustin’ #7

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MORE WITH THE DESTASHING!

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I have a few skeins of royal blue and yellow Loops and Thread Charisma. These happen to be my high school colors and they have been burning a hole in my stash. I really liked the pattern of the Chevron Baby Blanket by the Purl Bee, just not the colors I chose the first go around or finished size. Time for another swing!

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This project has no specific person or event in mind. Just wanted to turn this soft yarn into a comfy blanket. I cast on 156 stitches to extend the pattern. These colors have soothing psychological effect on me after growing up surrounded by them (my dad has coached in the school district for 30+ years and our house is full of blue and gold!) Makes for peaceful knitting…

Follow my Ravelry progress here.

Happy Knitting!

Stashbustin’ #6

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Since the completion of my Chevron Baby Blanket I started a new blanket. My friends Ernest and Catherine are due in June and I want something special for them. They don’t know what they are having yet, but will find out in a few weeks. I couldn’t wait to start so I picked unisex colors.

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I selected the Zig Zag Baby Blanket by knitculture.com. I had some skeins of Bernat Cottontots Solids in Sweet Cream and Chocolate. I cast on a few more stitches than the pattern called just to make sure I got a respectable sized blanket.

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Two pattern repeat that creates a zig zag pattern. I can’t wait to see how this one turns out. Follow my Ravelry progress here.

Happy Knitting!

On the Subject of Trying New Yarn

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Despite my recent destashing efforts….I still bought new yarn. I can’t help it! I had never seen or worked with it before AND it was on sale!!

I picked up some Boutique Rigoletto Sequins by Red Heart online from Knitting Wharehouse in red, black, white, and cream.

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The yarn comes in 10 yd hanks and includes a pattern for Evening Sparkle Scarf. I have to admit even this seasoned knitter had to YouTube how to work with this mohair like tube if yarn. After some basic instruction it was ridiculously easy and EXTREMELY FAST. I knit up all four hanks in two hours total.

The yarn is a bit fiddly and like a boucle or mohair it’s very good about sticking to itself. Not a yarn for ripping back errors! But when the pattern calls for CO 2 sts and then knit every st until you run out of yarn…..it’s not very likely you will have to.

I was a little disappointed that it didn’t make a longer scarf. I like length so I can wrap and contort the same scarf 100 different ways so I never get bored. Also, I knit the same pattern four times with the same gauge and all four scarves turned out differently!

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Rav link here.

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Rav link here.

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Rav link here.

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Rav link here.

This yarn would be excellent for knitters who need instant gratification, a quick last minute gift, or even someone who is just learning. For me? Not so much, I enjoyed playing with a new yarn but its not a knit I’m likely to do again. Ill stick to my Boutique Sashay or Starbella Flash for scarves.

Happy Knitting and TGIF!

Yarn Swift Victory!

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In an effort to cull my stash and destash in 2013 I have been going through my finished projects as well. I had a few baby snuggle/kick sacks that weren’t selling on etsy. (My shop is here)

I frogged three whole items because I felt the three skeins of Knit Picks Biggo were destined for more worthy projects. Stay tuned later this week to see what I decided to use this yarn for!

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I got to use my new hand crafted yarn swift I received at Christmas! It’s butter soft and smooth = no yarn snags. But it is heavy enough that my yarn wonder can pull it itself. So you have to work (in my case) the yarn winder with right hand and the swift with my left. Takes a few tries to get coordinated but I managed to get the hang of it! Kind of like patting your head and rubbing your tummy, lol

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I think my swift will be getting A LOT of use!! Now….just where to store it?

Happy Knitting

Stashbustin’

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I have a yarn stash problem……

Between great sales and coupons and then impulse purchases, I have A LOT of yarn. I need to work through it. My goal for 2013 is to bust my stash down to size. I need to choose a project for skeins in my stash or donate to a worthy cause!

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I’m almost done with one stash project, a One Row Blanket de la Harlot! It used up four skeins of Caron Simply Soft and is destined for a new momma and baby in the spring.

Feels good to knit for people I care about AND bust down my stash. Here’s to hoping I can stick to the plan!!!

Happy Knitting!

Knitting Rut

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I am back (sort of) from the flu. I’m fine as long as I don’t eat too much or too spicy/greasy. One day at a time I guess…

I have my last craft fair of the season this Saturday. I wish I could say I was more excited. Thanksgiving was stressful, I don’t feel 100%, and my knitting has been in a rut! All I have been doing is cranking out scarves, dishcloths, and headbands for fair season.

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Easy knitting to be sure, but it’s just not speaking to my soul. I really want to dive into some baby sweaters and blankets. Not to mention a circle vest I have planned for myself.

After this Sunday I pledge to knit what I want, when I want! At least schedule and health permitting 🙂

At least tomorrow is Friday!

Sunday At Full Tilt

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I would like to say I LOVE MY HUSBAND! He has been outside ALL afternoon picking up leaves. And I really mean all afternoon!

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This has left me free in the house to do some dishes, some laundry, throw together a leftover surprise casserole for dinner, wind some yarn into cakes, and plan some drills for volleyball practice.

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And I still haven’t played with any of my birthday yarn yet either!

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Sundays are exhausting!! I hope all is well in your neck of the world 🙂

Happy Birthday To Me!

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I finally snapped shots of my birthday presents/purchases! (Albeit with my iPhone and in not the best light, but I couldn’t wait to share my treasures!)

First up, some Berroco Vintage Chunky in a lovely hue of blue!

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This is ear marked for an Endless Circle Vest by Julie Farmer. Knit for me and only me!

Next I picked up some Berroco Vintage in a different shade blue and a great heather green!

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These are probably destined for sets of fingerless gloves and hats for yours truly or my sister who lives in blustery Colorado.

And last but not least, Berroco Vintage DK in a yummy fall orange color!

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Not sure what to make with this yarn, I just love the feel of it and the color is amazing. I am a horribly bad stasher!

You might notice that I purchased all Berroco? I knit my first sweater out of the Vintage DK and loved how it worked up, so I want to test out other yarn weights to see if I love them as much!

All in all it was a delightful 3-day birthday weekend with lots of yummy food and yarny goodness! Now back to the real world and my big kid job!

Happy Knitting!!