FO Friday: Toxic Oreo Vanilla Socks

Posted on by
2

I held true to my arbitrary knitting rules and finished my Toxic Oreo Vanilla Socks!

Pattern: my own 68 stitch toe up vanilla sock “recipe”

Yarn: Lemonade Shop Sturdy Sock in Toxic Oreo

Needles: US 1

Mods: none really except for a few increases in the leg region to account my calves

The speckling turns out more pronounced in one sock versus the other. But this happens with indie hand dyed yarn and I’m happy with the individuality. The fit is pretty good with some negative ease without being too tight.

The toe up gusset heel from Wendy Johnson turns out to be a really good fit for my foot and instep. They stay well on my foot during wearing them without stretching out or slouching. I ended using 315 yards of yarn or 68 grams of the 100 gram skein of yarn. So there is a decent skein of yarn leftover for scrap projects.

Now I need to scheme/brainstorm for my next pair of vanilla socks! Happy Knitting!!

Progressing To Green

Posted on by
2

Arbitrary knitting rules be damned…I can’t quit my latest In The Light shawl.

The first color section is done and the first fade transition. I’m now in the second full section where I am holding C1 and C2. This was going to be my most pronounced transition but I’m happy with how well its actually blending.

I think I have a couple row more of this section before I start the second fade. After this second fade then I will be ready for a solid green middle chunk. This project is very squishy and warm.

I can tell this simple version is using less yarn than the fringed version, which is okay. I’ll have scraps for my scrappy project. And I shouldn’t be surprised as I’m knitting less stitches because there is no border. This project would work well for smaller put-ups or partial leftover skeins.

I will put this on pause to try and finish my Toxic Oreo Socks if I can ignore the “just one more row” urge. Happy Knitting!!

Almost Complete Toxic Oreos

Posted on by
5

My Toxic Oreo Vanilla Socks have been living in my purse and see slow but steady process. I have reached the cuff of the final sock.

I think last I showed you guys, the second sock was at the heel where I have the project keeper clipped in. I did my best to match the leg increase of the first sock until I got to the total stitch count I needed for the cuff.

If I sit down I could probably knock these out in maybe an hour? And then I would have some new socks to add to my drawer. But knitting heart only wants to work on hats right now. I might have to implement an arbitrary knitting rule and say no more hat knitting until these are finished, lol.

Do you have any arbitrary knitting rules?

Throwback Potholders

Posted on by
2

About 30 years ago I wove my mother some cotton pot holders. And for the most part they are all still in service but are showing their age. My mother asked if she could have some more because she really likes how much better they work than store bought one.

So I enlisted Jellybean and pulled out our bags of cotton loops to make some presents for Grandma. I did most of the weaving while Jellybean was in charge of color placement.

We managed one potholder with 30 year old loops (top right) and it was a BEAST because the loops were not as elastic anymore. Next up Jellybean devised a patterned one (bottom right). The colors aren’t my jab but I was proud of his 6 year old patterning ability. And finally we used newer loops to make a random one (left).

We wrapped a ribbon around the lot and sent off to Grandma to replace her kitchen collection. I thought Jellybean would be more into this project but after three he seems to be content and not really interested in making more. Maybe we will put the supplies away for a few months and try again this summer?

Happy Crafting!!

Cast On: In The Light

Posted on by
4

I was so thrilled with my Into The Light both for how much yarn it used up and how beautifully it turned out that I pulled yarn to make at least two more. And it was now that I realized I was using the wrong name for the project….its actually In The Light, lol.

@atangledyarn84

This version is going to be a green version. I pulled two skeins of Cloudlover Fiber sock yarn that I bought literally before Jellybean was born, so six years ago! They are the Mag Mell and Mojito colorways are going to be my beginning and end colors. To pull this project together I chose a golden skein of One Twisted Tree sock yarn in the Forest Floor colorway. One Twisted Tree is no longer dying so this is a special skein for me.

For this go around with the pattern I am going to do the plain version instead of the fringed version I did the first time. I am chugging through the first color section. Holding these highly variegated yarn double really smooths the colors out and makes a nicely evenly colored fabric.

I’m pretty excited to get to the next color to see how things blend! Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Dad’s Camo Hat

Posted on by
2

My Dad’s Camo Hat is done, blocked and ready to be tucked away for Christmas 2021! Worsted weight decreases really truly go ZOOM and I was done before I know it. I even had time to wash and set this hat out last night to block and dry before I headed to bed.

Pattern: My own beanie “recipe” worked with 80 stitches

Yarn: Brown Sheep Lanaloft Worsted in Chameleon Green colorway

Needles: US 8s

I used roughly 131 yards or 120 meters of yarn to finish this hat. So just shy of a full skein. The whole thing weighs 82 grams.

The yarn is a single and was quite nice to work with. At my gauge and needle size I ended up with a pretty nicely dense fabric. This hat should be wind proof. The finished fabric is not exactly merino soft but its not 100% rustic either. It is somewhere in the middle.

I’m really happy with this hat and I feel quite accomplished to be already building my Christmas stash. That isn’t my primary intention, I’m just following where my knitting mojo is leading me.

Happy Knitting!!

Ready For Camo Decreases

Posted on by
1

I have really been monogamous on my Camo Hat for Dad this week. I think I’m ready for the crown decreases!

As I had previously suspected the yarn did end up pooling/flashing. But it also almost striped in some areas. That was quite the surprise, lol. But it’s still a great hat and going to SUPER warm.

I think for this one I definitely like the brim folded up. I think its going to make a nice non-slouch beanie to keep out the winter wind. I do need to find my size 8 dpns to finish the crown. Some helpful child I think has absconded with them to play god knows what. My best bet is probably to look in the dollhouse….

Happy Knitting!!

Trying New Hair Care

Posted on by
2

Like many others during the pandemic I have been accidently/inadvertently growing out my hair. I think I have had two hair cuts in 15 months? But I am kind of digging having long curly hair. But it has come with its challenges so I decided to try some new health care/self care treats.

After hearing about Prose on many a podcast, I made the leap. (Disclaimer: I am not sponsored and this is not an ad. I am just looking for ways to break out of my pandemic funk.) I took the quiz and came out with shampoo, conditioner, moisturizing mask and curl cream.

No clue if this will make my curls more manageable but it sure smells nice and feels decadent when I apply it. So if nothing else, its a great mood booster to start my day!

Happy Self Care!

Sunset Knitting

Posted on by
6

I have been taking advantage of the lingering evening light and trying to get my butt out and walk in the evenings. It is still pretty cool here and a jacket is a must but it’s nice to have fresh air and beautiful sunsets.

For last night’s walk I took Dad’s Camo hat for a stroll. I’m still working on the main body of the hat. The camo colors are starting to pool and flash a little bit but I’m not going to fuss about it. It will be interesting to see what develops!

Happy Knitting

Cast On: Dad’s Camo Hat

Posted on by
2

After finishing the He Will Have His Revenge Hat last week I spent date night and some of the weekend working on my next hat. I pulled the skein of Lanaloft I recently procured from my accidental yarn crawl. My needles were cold and my mojo is still going strong.

As you can tell I made fairly good progress for just a few hours. It’s amazing what a few hours of movie and playground knitting can get done. The ribbing is done and I’m a good chunk of the way up the main body of the hat. This skein is a little shorter in yardage from my last few hats meaning its a little thicker of a worsted. This yarn is also a single so it is working up a little differently than a plied yarn and I kind of like it.

I am at a crossroads to figure out how much more I can knit and still finish the decreases before I run out of yarn. This hat will be for the Christmas box, likely for my Dad since I already gifted the hat I intended for him. He’s got a pretty big noggin so I need a pretty robust hat. Maybe I can sneak a peak at his favorite ball cap or fishing hat?

I predict this will become a FO soon! Happy Knitting!!