A Wonky Cowl

Posted on January 16, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I snagged a great skein of Berroco Borealis at my LYS a few years ago….but only one skein. I can’t remember why I only bought one and I have had a terrible time deciding what to do with this 108 yds of lovely yarn. It’s a great mix of blues and greens and has great “squishy ness”.

I searched Ravelry and finally found something that tripped my trigger so to speak! I found Wonky by Brittany Wilson, a creative one skein cowl. It is knit in the round and the decreases and increases cause it to come out in a zig zag shape….or wonky!

It has stockinette sections and checkerboard sections that sort of lean. Best part is that this pattern was free! This was a well written pattern but stupid me misread it the first go round. I had it 2/3 done and had to frog it completely after I discovered my error. I blame the TV show I was watching, lol. I persevered and re-knit. I even added one extra pattern repeat to make it a bit taller for me. Even with re-knitting it, I knit this item in one evening and had time to wash and block it.

It looks really nice against my black wool coat. The yarn isn’t the softest but its very warm! It felt good during our trip to the dog park today as its 30 degrees here!

Happy Knitting!

FO: Waves and Ripples Blanket

Posted on January 14, 2013 by atangledyarn84

First destashing project complete!!

Waves and Ripples Blanket is complete! This blanket is destined for my cousins Josh and Amy (saying this because I’m very confident they don’t follow this blog) who are due in April. They aren’t finding out the babies sex so I went with unisex colors of cream and white.

Josh is my cousin and I absolutely adore his wife. She and I are very much alike and have been known to let our hair down together at more than one family wedding. They got married only a few months after my husband and I five years ago. We had a pact for a long time to hold out with having kids (much to our respective parents chagrin). Now she has left me high and dry. With the birth of their child my parents will be the only ones without grand kids…and I haven’t heard the end of it yet.

Such is life! Despite her betrayal (kidding) I really wanted to make her something special!

I used five skeins of Brava Bulky and an improvised design of my own.

I used left and right leaning decreases and increases to create chevron stripes. See my Rav notes for the details. I simply worked one skein clear to end and then changed colors. Easy peasy! I did run out of yarn as reported in a previous blog post. Luckily I was able to source enough in the right dye lots online.

This project was hard to put down and took no time at all (even with waiting for yarn). Loved the texture of the yarn and I felt very connected to the project of my own design. This blanket will be washing machine and dryer friendly and super duper soft for baby.

I cannot wait to give it to Josh and Amy and oh ya meet the newest addition! Now on to other projects…

Happy Knitting and may Monday be kind to you!

Stashbustin’ #5

Posted on January 10, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I found a few skeins at the bottom of my stash that I procured at a garage sale. Mostly some Lion Brand Homespun, a skein of baby yarn, and a skein of sock yarn. It got me thinking of something that happened at my last fair.

I had the pleasure of meeting the director of the Topeka Crochet Guild at my last craft fair. She mentioned that they always take donations of yarn to make projects for local shelters and charities. So in the spirit of charity and needing to unclutter my life, here is what I’m donating!

The make hats, scarves, blankets, and much more for those in need! So I went through my bag of hand knits and found some of my first “projects”. Surely they will keep someone warm this winter even with uneven stitches and crazy yarn choices right?

I get the double whammy of the feeling of charity and the glow of reducing my yarn load! I think I might even join the guild, they even welcome us knitters! I’m always looking for new fiber friends 🙂

Happy Knitting!

Stashbustin’ #4

Posted on January 9, 2013 by atangledyarn84

After hitting the proverbial wall and running out of yarn on my Waves and Ripples Blanket I had to develop a plan b so I could keep my fingers busy. I’ve had my eye on the Chevron Blanket by the Purl Bee for awhile.

I dug through my stash and came up with four skeins (three Knit Picks Biggo yarn and one Premier Serenity Chunky Heathers) of chunky and soft colors I found pleasing together.

I won’t be following the pattern exactly. I plan to follow the stitch pattern and then knit each color into one large stripe (until I run out of yarn) and then change to next. I’m planing the following sequence:
– blue
– grey
– pink
– grey
– green

I’ll try to keep to keep good track of my alterations/notes and update my Ravelry project page. Follow it here!

Chloe is less than impressed with the amount of time I have been knitting lately.

Uh Oh #%36($ +>~ 42/;

Posted on January 8, 2013 by atangledyarn84

GASP…..THE HORROR……I RAN OUT OF YARN FOR MY PROJECT….

It’s 110% my fault. In my zeal to destash and cast on a project, I didn’t stop to calculate yarn yardage. I just grabbed stash yarn and went to town. See that small bundle at the top? Ya…that’s what I have left. Luckily I was able to source the necessary two additional skeins I need from the Internet for my Waves and Ripples blanket.

I’m bummed a little. The pattern is easy to memorize and the yarn is yummy. I’m sad that I can’t keep knitting as this bulky project is flying off my needles! And how amazing is the zig zag and the cream/white contrast!? Sigh, now I have to wait for my Knit Picks box to here…guess I’ll have to cast on another stashbustin’ project. Stay tuned tomorrow!

Happy Knitting!

Yarn Swift Victory!

Posted on January 7, 2013 by atangledyarn84

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!

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

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

Happy Knitting

Stashbustin’ Post #3

Posted on January 4, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I love portable small projects!

The cold weather has put my knitting into overdrive. I have a lot of Loops and Threads Charisma and Premier Yarn Serenity Chunky Weight in my stash and I’m chewing through it!

I have blogged about this before, but I purchased a fun pattern Trinity Stitch Headband from Angela Juergens. About half a skein of either of the above yarns makes one headband. (I alter and take out a few pattern repeats in the pattern for a shorter headband.) I have been packing one of these in my purse every where I go and I’m knocking out some bulky FOs at a pretty good clip.

Still need to select and sew on buttons but I’m delighted to see my pile growing. So far my destashing is going full steam ahead….fingers crossed that it continues!

Happy Knitting!!

Stashbustin’ Post #2

Posted on January 3, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I have WIP-itis……and it’s bad.

I cast on another WIP just because I felt like it. I have at least five baby showers to knit for (that at least partially substantiates my WIP-itis right?)

I have a LOT of Caron Simply Soft Solidsbin my stash. I picked up most of it from a destashing friend years ago when first learning to knit. It’s soft and washable and I used to love it. But my admiration has flagged a bit and its been relegated to mostly baby knits.

I found the Waffle Blanket (free pattern) through a Pinterest pin linked to a Ravelry pattern. I was smitten immediately and cast on! Not sure who this blanket is destined for yet but I have a few months left to decide. I’m very optimistic and can’t wait to see the finished product.

I knocked out the border and one repeat of the pattern while watching a TV DVR-ed episode. It’s very pretty and I’m sure after a couple repeats very memorizable.

I must have baby blanket fever!! (Or baby fever if you ask my mother.) Stay tuned for updates on this and my Waves and Ripples Blanket!

Happy Knitting!!

Stashbustin’ Post #1

Posted on January 2, 2013 by atangledyarn84

A few years ago I made a couple electronic device covers from the Premier Yarn pattern.. It was a nice knit that was easy to memorize and visually pleasing. That stitch pattern has been bouncing around in my brain for awhile. I thought an adaptation of it would make a lovely crib blanket…

I pulled some Brava Bulky from Knit Picks from my stash in cream and white. I modified the pattern to 134 stitches and alternating color stripes but otherwise using the same two row repeat pattern.

I shall call it my waves and ripples blanket. It’s a little curly right on the needles but I think a little blocking in the end will go a long way. I’m not sure which of the five spring baby showers this will be for but it’s destined for a new bundle of joy! Follow my Rav notes here.

Happy Knitting!!!

FO Friday: Baby Blanket Victory

Posted on December 7, 2012 by atangledyarn84

(Sorry for dark iPhone shots…but I finished late last night and just couldn’t wait!)

Victory is mine!! My soft green baby blanket is done and represents the first of many (I hope) stash busting projects! You can find my Ravelry notes here.

I used Caron Simply soft in a light green color and held the yarn double. I wanted bulky yet super soft feel. I am in love with this pattern because its only one row to memorize and makes for great TV and car knitting. This is the third time I’ve made this pattern and probably won’t be the last. A sure sign of a great pattern!

Due to the holidays and my craft fair prep…..this blanket took a little under two months (ouch). This pattern is actually very fast, I just had to put the blanket on the back burner several times.

This shot does the best justice to the color. And schedule permitting I will try to take some better shots this weekend. This blanket is destined for a little baby boy due in April? and his wonderfully excited parents. I can’t wait to meet him!!

Snow is in our forecast next week. And I plan to knockout my Christmas shopping tonight. Hopefully this combination will put my holiday spirit and knitting drive into high gear!!

Happy Knitting!!

My Tangled Yarn Knitting Adventures

Ramblings from an obsessed knitter

Category Archives: Yarn Stash

A Wonky Cowl

FO: Waves and Ripples Blanket

Stashbustin’ #5

Stashbustin’ #4

Uh Oh #%36($ +>~ 42/;

Yarn Swift Victory!

Stashbustin’ Post #3

Stashbustin’ Post #2

Stashbustin’ Post #1

FO Friday: Baby Blanket Victory