FO Friday: Mom’s Christmas Hat 2021

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After accidently leaving my project bag at my parents house…I can finally show you that I finished my Mom’s 2021 Christmas Hat!

I took advantage of a grandparent babysitting weekend to really power through this project. I only had like 3 inches of hat and the decreases to go so it wasn’t too bad. But it felt great to get another gift hat off the needles. So much so that I tossed the project bag behind their recliner and forgot it when I left for home, lol.

Pattern: None, just a 96 stitch basic beanie

Needle: US 7

Yarn: Shepherd’s Mill 2 Ply DK in the Berry Gradient

Mods: really none because I just made things up as I went (including the decreases)

I purposely made the brim super long so it could be folded up and keep ears warm. This yarn is made of wool and bamboo so it blocked quite a bit with little stretching. So I gained a lot of length in blocking. I used roughly 52 grams or just over half the skein of this long gradient. I think I have enough for a second (and slightly shorter) hat….

The only bummer of this project is that the yarn my mom chose was too long of a gradient to really get much color difference in one hat. It does change from bright berry to dull berry but I never got to any of the browns. I guess I’ll save those for a bonus hat!

My mom was pleased with the finished product so that is all that counts. And it’s another hat down this year with my hat mojo still going strong. Happy Knitting!!

Scraps Go Fast

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I could not put this project down. As with my faded/marled shawls I just kept wanting to knit another row and see how the new yarn was fitting in. The bonus? I have a finished Scrappy Marl!

Pattern: Scrappy Marl by  by Beata Jezek (Ravelry Link)

Yarns: Many many many assorted scraps leftover from my sock weigh yarn. You can see some of them on my Ravelry page if that is a safe place for you

Needles: US 4s and 6s

Mods: None

After final tally this project used up 349 yards of sock weight scraps. That is almost a full skein of yarn! And I was able to craft something purposeful and beautiful. The finished hat does have a little bit of a slouch but not so much that you can turn the brim.

I am tempted to do another one of these hats with the TINY balls of scraps that I have floating around. I don’t think I will be able to plan or fade what I have left. It will be more of a “chaotic” pairing of yarns. But I weighed the bag and I have almost 100 grams of scraps I could use.

As I anticipated, the hat blocked nicely and fits well. It was tight on my skull prior to washing but has relaxed nicely. I really love this hat so I’m not sure if this will go in the gift bin or into my personal hand knit drawer. I have time to decide before it gets cold, lol.

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!!

I Blinked And Socks Appeared

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I admit….I sorta drug my feet on this project because I was afraid of yarn chicken. But I finally picked them up this week and I blinked and my socks are done!

Pattern: Double Vanilla Socks by Blue Ammonite Designs (Ravelry link)

Yarn: Blissful Knits Classic DK

Needles: US 3s

Mods: ALL THE MODS. I didn’t follow the pattern very and just used its stitch count and guage. I ended up with a toe up vanilla sock with gusset heel.

These socks came out a hair big. Mostly zero ease instead of negative ease, which is fine because these can be house socks instead of boot socks. I probably could have gotten away with 50 stitches instead of 52 but oh well. I might get feisty and look for leather soles to sew on the bottom, who knows?

I did end up using all but 3 yards of yarn on this project so it felt amazing to use a full skein. I saved those three yards for possible future sock repairs. My sock mojo has been smaller than my hat mojo lately but I do like how it feels to finish a pair of snuggly socks!

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!!

FO Friday: In The Light (Pink Version)

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Ta Dah!! My In The Light (Pink Version) is finished finished finished. And I’m over the moon happy with it!

Pattern: In The Light by Casey Day-Crosier (Rav link)

Yarn: Black Trillium Fibre Studio Pebble Sock in Super Happy Fun, Knitted Witt Victory Sock in Unicorn Giggles and finally KirbyWirby in an OOAK colorway. All combined I used about 1,050 yards of sock yarn out of my stash. So just about two and a half of three skeins.

Needles: US 9

Mods: none

I’m going to toot toot my own horn and fawn over how well all these pinks fade into one another. It really looks like the yarn was designed this way. The truth is that these are three random skeins of yarn I pulled from my stash. I could stare at this for hours…

In the end I love how warm and squishy this shawl turned out to be. I am envisioning wearing this over a black tee or top to really make the pinks pop! This being my third version of this pattern in two months I do think I will move on to other patterns for a bit. But I wouldn’t rule out making this pattern again some day.

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!!

Ready For The Bright Pink

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I had a few Zoom meeting this last couple of days where I wasn’t presenting or having to talk very much. And you know what? That is great for garter stitch knitting! In roughly two days of meeting and after bedtime knitting I am poised to add the third and last color to my In The Light (pink version)!

I am definitely a broken record but I love how well this double stranded sock yarn plays well with highly variegated and speckled yarn. It just smooths out any pooling or flashing. As a knitter I have never minded making a good pattern over and over again. This one will definitely be one for my repeat catalogue!

Happy Knitting!!

All The Pink Variation

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My third iteration of In The Light is ADDICTIVE. I can’t put it down and I’m already adding the second color.

My first skein was a white base with rainbow speckles from Black Trillium Fibre studio. It was their Pebble Sock base in the Super Happy Fun colorway. Next up is some Knitted Witt Victory Sock in Unicorn Giggles.

The light to medium transfer is going really well. The Unicorn Giggles is just next shade darker but has some of the same rainbow speckles from the Super Happy Fun. This is the fringed version so it has a few more stitches per row than the plain version so its taking longer but I don’t mind.

I just adore how fast this project eats up yarn while still making a beautiful project! Happy Knitting!!