FO Saturday: Radiate

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Don’t mind me, I’m over here on cloud nine and reveling in fall weather. My Radiate is complete and I am over the moon. Thank goodness for portrait mode in iPhone and actually putting on jeans and makeup. Really gives a good mood boost in the dumpster fire that is 2020.

Pattern: Radiate by Jojo Locatelli

Yarn: Hedgehog Fibers DK in Deep End (blue) and Treasure Goddess Yarns DK Treasures in Gundpower

Needles: US 6s

Mods: Split hem at the bottom instead of a bottom solid band

I may have lengthened this sweater to cover my shelter in place enhanced bum. But I think the length really ends up flattering around what is usually my thickest section. I couldn’t be more happy with how the indie dyed black yarn played out. Absolutely no issues with pooling, flashing or lines between my skeins. But I did alternate skeins using the helical method.

I used less than one skein of the blue color and just under four and a half skeins of the main black color. All told I used 1,380 yards of DK weight yarn for the large to extra large size. I honestly can’t remember what I picked. But all told I it’s five skeins of DK yarn.

I wore this sweater to my virtual knitting retreat this past weekend and I got lots of Ooohs and Aaahs from the attendees. I can’t wait until it’s cold enough here to wear to work!

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Marled Crochet Blanket

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Falling closely on the heels of my Crocheted Rainbow blanket fever I kept the mojo going with my next crochet blanket. I pulled some Caron Simply Soft in a variety of reds, pinks and whites to make center out crochet blanket. I started with a “square” in the middle and then when it felt good enough I started working around the edge and building out.

I am holding the Caron Simply Soft double and working at bulky weight. My plan is to marl the color changes. So when I get to 75% of the red yarn used I will drop one strand and pull in the dark pink until the red runs out. And then I will use two pink strands. As a novice crocheter I need to add markers to identify my corners so I’m making my increases in consistent places. That will be on my weekend to-do list.

I am working center out because I didn’t have two full skeins of the red or dark pink. I figured that the lower yardages would make bigger “sections” at the beginning of the blanket and then I could use the higher yardage light pink and white on the edges to fill it out. I have no plan and I’m just winging it as I go and so totally not using a pattern. This could be hubris and back fire on me.

But for now I’m just happy to see super fast progress and get some super old yarn out of my stash!

Dyeing On Retreat

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This past weekend I attended my first ever knitting retreat. And it was 100% virtual. I sent PB and Jellybean to the grandparents for the weekend and took the WHOLE weekend to myself and knitting. For those with inquiring minds, it was the 5th annual Nomad Yarns Retreat normally held in Indiana. I got a wild hair because I was disappointed about Knitting in Heartland being cancelled back in April. So I dove in and I’m glad I did. I’ll do a complete retreat review post but I was so excited about one of the classes I couldn’t wait to share!

We did a sock yarn dyeing class for “instant” dyed yarn. I can’t even begin to describe the genius that this was. But Dave, the dyer for Nomad Yarn, firgured out how to load dye into gel capsules and ship a dye kit to me that only required gloves and a plastic container. You guys, it was was wild! I layered yarns and dye capsules and poured hot water over the whole sheband and boom…..I made pretty yarn.

We had yellow, safety orange, deep red and purple. And it made this most beautiful variegated skeins with super color splotches. The sock yarn base is Dyed By Ewe in their Sultry Steps base. It’s 40% Llama, 40% merino and 20% nylon and feels DIVINE. The skein is dry and I have it re-packaged. I have zero clue what to do with it so I’m just going to enjoy my beautiful treasure.

This was my first “real” dye project with profession dye. And I didn’t mess it up and my skeins is one of a kind and mine all mine! I think Nomad is going to make this up into a kit you can order and do at home. I will for SURE order another one of these kits and do with my kiddos.

Happy Knitting!!

Blocking Radiate

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It’s blocking time humans! My Radiate is complete except for the binding off of the sleeves. I have blocked this baby in a nice sink bath and I have set it in front of a fan to dry.

I am really pleased with how the yoke blocked out and the sleeves did grow a bit. I am glad I didn’t bind off the sleeves first. The yarn really softened nicely and this is going to be a lovely thin lightweight but warm sweater.

For this to be a FO I need to bind off the sleeves and convince my husband to take some real photos. Fingers crossed I get that done this week!

Happy Knitting!!

Almost A Radiate Sweater

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Knit night zoom knitting did the trick. I have an almost finished Radiate! And don’t worry the sleeves are the same number of rows and do actually match. I made sure to mark my decreases and count my rows to match on the second sleeve.

I have not bound off the sleeves as the body is superwash yarn. I plant to soak and block the sweater to see how much it is inevitably going to grow. That way I can add or subtract sleeve length if needed.

I do need to weave in the ends still. But otherwise I’m SUPER happy to have an almost finished sweater. And it helps that this a ton of yards of yarn out of my stash and clearing my needles for the 2020 Pigskin Party KAL that started 9/25.

Happy Knitting!!

Fancy Steak Night

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My culinary adventures are continuing with Home Chef this week. This week included Steak Au Poive.

I over roasted the mushrooms and didn’t quite get the onions caramelized. But the sirloin was cooked to perfect medium rare and the sauce was on POINT.

This one had very few leftovers and got a huge thumbs up from the hubby and one child. The second child was tired and crabby so I’m not counting that vote. I really like that these recipes tell me how long I can procrastinate with them in the fridge. Super helpful for a working mom!

Happy Cooking!!

I Found A Knitting Group

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I have reached that point of 2020, as great as I get along as an introvert, I needed PEOPLE. And I needed MY people. A few of the knitting podcasts I listen to have been referencing Zoom knit nights that are open to anyone and I finally bit the bullet and showed up to one.

I was nervous because I didn’t know anyone on the call. But I grabbed my Radiate and a glass of wine and showed up anyway. And like most all in the knitting community they were kind and welcoming and it was an amazing night. I mostly just enjoyed seeing other people’s project and listening to the banter. I didn’t feel like I was intruding and they seemed genuinely happy to have new people in the group.

Bonus, I also made good progress on my second Radiate sleeve. I might have a finished thing soon!

Happy Knitting

Just Be A Sweater Already

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Hello from DK weight yarn sleeve island! It’s a balmy 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit in Kansas and it’s hampering my desire to knit with a full sweater in my lap. I really am ready for my Radiate to just magically turn into a sweater already.

Sleeve number on is complete with all my decreases marked with super fancy paper clips. And I’m roughly halfway through the decrease on sleeve number two. I have plenty of yarn and I’m not seeing any discernable pooling with the black. So I think this is the home stretch. I just need to find the mojo!

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Crocheted Rainbow

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My Crocheted Rainbow is complete and I’m both elated and sad. Happy to have such a beautiful blanket but sad I don’t have this project to look forward to each evening.

Pattern: My own made up nonsense of a half double crochet over roughly 180 to 200 stitches (I can’t remember”

Yarn: A mix of Loops and Threads Charisma and Premier Chunky Solids

Hook: 10MM or N

This blanket was a fantastic stashbuster. All told I used up eleven skeins of yarns that date back to at least 2013. My blanket weighs 1,100 grams and used roughly 1,199 yards of bulky yarn. This project cleaned out half a drawer of yarn from my stash that I really didn’t have a plan for.

Bonus, I really learned a lot about hook placement in working on this project. I learned how to catch both legs of the stitch and eliminate lines in my fabric (or how to create line when I want them)!

I’m already planning my next stashbusting crochet blanket project. This time I’ll hold off until after 9/25 so I can count all the yards for the 2020 Pigskin Party KAL.

Happ Knitting!!

FINALLY, Retro Rainbow Vanilla Socks

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I have a finishing thing, and it’s not even Friday! My Retro Rainbow Vanilla Socks are finished, ends woven in, (not blocked) and photographed!

Pattern: 72 Stitch Toe Up Vanilla Socks (my own pattern)

Yarn: Muststash Yarn & Fiber Perfect Must Match in the Retro Rainbow colorway

Needles: US 0s

I used roughly 70 grams or 308 yards of yarn to make these two socks. They run a nice way up my calf. The negative ease is quite robust across the top of the foot but is fairly decent overall. I didn’t end up with a perfectly matching pair of socks. This was NOT a fault of the wonderfully dyed yarn. My gauge was slightly different on the second sock log and second heel. And therefore I ended up with fraternal twins instead of identical twins.

But for sure I’m going to have a really nice cozy and bright pair of socks for the coming winter. These are my first socks from this dyer so I’m excite to see how they wear. And yes, I will need to wash them but I just couldn’t be bothered to block them

My sock needles feel empty and cold so I need to figure out what to put on them next! Happy Knitting!!