Blanket Tidying

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I am feel the Christmas fog for real in this last run up to the big day. I have finished my latest crochet blanket and other than some socks I don’t have much on the needles. I’m kind of waiting around for my Christmas Eve cast on. So I picked up my Memory Blanket. I probably haven’t touched this in a year and a half?

Turns out I left it with a TON of ends to weave in. So I pulled out a tapestry needle and got to work tidying up my blanket.

I love it when a plan comes together! I just looks so polished and complete after burying those ends. I was even inspired to add two new squares while I had this out.

And I packaged up all my ends and I think I will put out in the spring for the nest builders in my yard. I have both mice and birds. The mice are due to neighbors….sigh.

The blanket is really getting to decent sized. I need to finish the row at the top and the concentrate on adding to the longer side. I am just so pleased with how this really looks like a stained glass project with the grey in between.

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Bits and Bobs Blanket

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Thanks to my project monogamy during Christmas vlogs, I have a finished crochet blanket! The Bits and Bobs Blanket is done, washed and ready to ship to my GG.

Pattern: None, its just a 65 stitch blanket worked with my own version of half double crochet

Yarn: Assorted Loops and Threads Charisma, Premier Serenity Chunky and some mystery acylic with no tag

Hook: US N or 10MM

The red yarn did end up bleeding on the white yarn making it slightly pink. I should have known but I figured commercial yarn was dyed better than that usually. I don’t think my GG will care because it is still warm. I need to dig out a shipping box. I think I will wrap the blanket in Christmas paper and then put inside the box with a note that says “do not open until Christmas” on it.

Happy Crafting!!

Bits and Bobs Progress

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My Bits and Bobs Blanket is now over half way done. My current “go to” evening is crochet on this blanket by the Christmas lights while I watch all the YouTube knitting vlogs. I have to make sure I stay caught up on The Corner of Craft, Chelsea Yarns and Stranded blogs. They are a sweet treat to cap off long days.

This blanket is working up nicely and I actually like how the colors look together. I am now at the point I need to work back through the color sequence: black, red, grey and then border the whole thing in tan. I want to get this done and washed so that I can mail it to my GG. She has already decided that she is not attending any Christmas gatherings so I want her to have a special treat under her tree.

Happy Crafting!!

Video Meeting Knitting

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My Carbon Sprinkles Vanilla Socks are growing steadily. This has been my “lap” project during video meetings. Work is getting steadily more complicated as we race to year end and these socks have kept me sane during many a meeting.

I am past where I would put in the heel but I still have some leg to knit. I think I am going to add some increases and knit these with a pretty tall leg. I just can’t quit these speckled stripes. They are just too fun to watch develop!

Happy Knitting!!

Casting On: Bits and Bobs Blanket

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Next up on my blanket train is a blanket lot of bulky acrylic in vaguely Christmas-ish colors.

The black skein is a partial skein so I think I will split it equally in half and put between the red and purple. But I’m feeling good about this lineup. I think this is just enough yarn to make a nice car sized lap blanket for my grandmother.

I do have white on one side and grey on the other but I think it will make it quirky blanket. I plan on using my trusty 10mm or US N hook and just working my self taught kind of weird half double crochet. It goes quickly and really busts through my stash! I seem to have all the blanket mojo right now, lol.

Happy Crafting!!

FO Friday: DK Ripple Bralet #2

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I have a finished DK Ripple Bralet that is both beautiful AND fits me this time.

Pattern: Ripple Bralet DK by Jessie Maed Designs (Ravelry Link)

Needles: US 2s and US 6s

Yarn: Chromatic Yarns Sturdy DK in Eldritch Blast

Mods: I made the straps shorter than I measured my body/shoulders

All in all I’m really pleased with this project. It fits well and the yarn feels soft and warm against my sensitive bits. The straps are perfect and don’t slip off my shoulders. The shorter length was definitely a good idea.

I am not sure I would knit a whole drawer of these but I’m happy to have this piece in my wardrobe for those extra chilly days or evenings. I could see this as a warm under layer under a slouchy t-shirt or dress.

Happy Knitting!!

A Blanket Stalled

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I have crocheted my way through all the ancient Knit Picks Biggo yarn I have in my stash while working on my Peace Blanket. I had cast on 90 stitches which might have been too many. I have a very long and skinny blanket now.

I am really enjoying the colors and working on this blanket. But now I am stalled because this piece isn’t really servicable as is. So I may (ooops) have made a Cyber Monday Knit picks order to get another couple of skeins to add to either side of each blue to expand the blanket.

But for now this project goes into hibernation until my Knit Picks box can meander its way from the east coast to my door. I think I may need to cast on another blanket to keep me tided over until my yarn arrives….

Happy Crocheting!

Yarny Advent

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I jumped on the advent calendar this year again. This time I tried AGirlAndHerWool that I found on Etsy. I opted for 24 ten gram mini skeins and full skein for day 25.

I don’t always remember to open every day between the chaos of school, working remote and trying to do “holiday related” fun things for my kiddos. But below is an example of the first five days that I have opened.

I am really digging the colors and tones of this calendar. They aren’t a fade or a rainbow but rather colors that all kind of coordinate and blend. I don’t have a plan for these for a specific project. Beings as they are 10 gram minis, they might just go eventually into my sock yarn memory blanket as they are perfect size.

But for right now they are doing the perfect job of bolstering my flagging Christmas spirit. What are you doing to pick yourself up in this strange holiday season?

All The Carbohydrates

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About a day after American Thanksgiving I found myself staring at the fridge full of leftovers. And for whatever reason I felt a surge of creativity. Maybe it was the small gathering and zoom meeting hangover? So I pulled all the bits and bobs of Thanksgiving and started creating.

I decided on a “pot pie” like construction. I used the extra crust leftover from the 2-pack I got for pumpkin pie. I filled the pie pan and then in a separate bowl I mixed green bean casserole, a dollop of mashed potatoes, a little bit of turkey gravy and a healthy dose of diced smoked turkey.

I baked that for about 20 minutes and then pulled it out of the oven to crumble the last little bit of stuffing we had and cooked for another 15 or 20 minutes. It came out gorgeous looking!

Oh my lawwwwdddd….. and it was delicious too. It was creamy and hearty and tasted like the parts of your thanksgiving plate where your different foods touch. I threw in some leftover hot rolls with jelly and had the best dinner ever. And best yet? I literally finished off three whole containers of leftovers instead of letting them sit and get thrown out!

I am considering keeping more pie crusts on hand throughout the year. I feel like there is a whole world of untapped potential for leftovers cooked in this manner. I could do quiche with leftover roasted veg or even spicy taco pot pie with bean, meat and cheese. As long as my family indulges me…this might be staple “recipe” for us!

Happy Cooking!!