A Knot Of A Problem

Posted on by
9

I started the second sleeve of my Autumn League Pullover this week and I encountered a small problem. (P.S. Don’t you just love and hate my obnoxious mom yoga pants? My husband does and I wear them in public on purpose…bwahahahaha!)

A knot in my skein! This is commercial yarn and I know up to two to three knots in a skein is considered normal. But I still hate them. If I knit them in I always seem to get the knot in a spot where I feel it or it works it way to right side of the work where everyone can see.

I pulled out my took kit and decided to fix the problem. I cut the knot out and then loosened the four plys on each end of the yarn. I then cut two of the four plys off each side and used my tapestry needled to do a Russian join.

It looks kind of wonky here but once I get it knit into the fabric you likely won’t be able to tell at all!

I really really really want to get off sleeve island on this sweater. Wish me luck!

Jellybean Bought Me Flowers

Posted on by
11

I had a spot of professional frustration and disappointment this past week. While doing my best to work through it without drowning myself in mint chip, I guess my family noticed. I was grocery shopping with Jellybean this past weekend and he saw a sale bin of flowers.

I could see him eyeing the flowers up and down. After a bit he looked up at me said “Mommy, can I get you these flowers? Because I love you so much and they will make you feel better.” It took all my strength not to cry my eyes out standing in the Dillons checkout lane. So I let him pick his favorite color and added them to my cart. No matter that I paid for my own flowers, I just picked up my big hearted four year old and hugged him as tight as he would let me.

I wish you all a good week and that someone loves you as much as Jellybean loves me!

One Autumnal Sleeve

Posted on by
6

I finished the first sleeve on my Autumn League Pullover. I did get kind of bored on sleeve island and therefore I did quit at 3/4 length sleeves. Before blocking and without the neckband they hit midway from my elbow to my wrist. It might shorten up when I add the neck ribbing, we will just have to see.

The only thing that bugs me is that I got engrossed in Amy Florence’s latest Stranded podcast and didn’t switch to smaller needles for the ribbing. The ribbing still pulls in nicely and I don’t think anyone will notice. But I purposely left the ends unwoven in case I want to add length or tighten up the ribbing.

I accidentally took the next photo but I think it’s ethereal and pretty. My dog and my sweater kind of match!

Happy Knitting!!

Progressing To The Second Color

Posted on by
6

So after showing you AAAALLLLL kinds of neutral beige looking sweaters all week I had to show you the crazy color progression on my Progression Shawl. I just added the second color.

This mini set takes me right from a berry pink color to a highlighter yellow and black color. These two mini skeins are the starkest of contrast in the set. So I hemmed and hawed and then decided to “fade” them as I added the second color. With this shawl being garter it worked out pretty well. And I guessed pretty well with yardage and only have a tiny tiny ball of pink left over.

I’m not sure how much work this will see now that I have both my sweaters either at the sleeves or separated for the sleeves. I feel like if I can give them some good love that I could have two finished sweaters really soon. Not to mention the Pigskin Party 2019 is coming right around the corner and WIPs don’t count for those imaginary point…

Happy Knitting!!

Boxy Separation

Posted on by
2

I am at the sleeve separation in my Worsted Boxy I forgot to move my progress keeper from earlier this week but I know I added roughly three and a half inches of stockinette to get to the desired length. I did stop right before the pattern recommendation but I know my Berroco yarn will grow when I wash and block.

And I pulled even more cord stoppers out from interchangeable set and put the back stitches on holders. Look at me being a responsible knitter and using tools as they are prescribed!

Now I’m off to Knit and Purl Island for several more inches on the front. I am going to try and pay attention now that I’m working flat to make sure my gauge doesn’t go all wack-a-doodle. I hate when I get a line in my fabric when I switch form flat to the round. Not enough to fix it, heaven forbid, but enough to make a nice harrumph out loud.

Happy Knitting!!

Let’s Just Do The Sleeve

Posted on by
6

On Monday I had managed to achieve sleeve separation and knit down a few rows. I did sneak away, despite my family’s best efforts, to a local Joanns and grab as 16 inch circular needle in size 7 to start my sleeves. I really think I’m going to be happier if I knit the sleeves without having to turn the entire body of sweater.

The body is still on a cord with some cord stoppers I dug out of my interchangeable set. I think this is the first time I have every used them for this purpose. However, they are coming in really really handy now. It’s nice to feel like my live body stitches are secure and just hanging out waiting for me to come back.

This pattern has the sleeves worked flat and seamed up. Yeah…I’m not doing that. I modified this pattern to omit about six stitches and then to knit in the round. And I pulled my row counter from tool bag and its helping me keep track of my decrease rounds. Normally I would just make tick marks on the paper but I didn’t trust myself this time around. I’ll let you know how it works out!

Happy Knitting!!

A Good Chunk of Stockinette

Posted on by
5

Y’all….stockinette is giving me life right now. Round and round on nice fast metal needles is my jam. And my Worsted Boxy is seeing the results.

The bottom hem is still rolling like crazy. It drives me crazy to try and get good photos of the project. But since my last post I have managed to add about a hands span of work. My Tikka Masalla progress keeper has been making me smile as I pass it every round.

I think based on my last measurement I need like three more inches of body stockinette and then I can separate for the sleeves! I’m both dreading and looking forward to it. I will halve the number of stitches I have to work when I separate but I will also have to purl as I will be working flat. But I know I’m looking forward to a finished sweater for the impending Fall!

Happy knitting!!

Sleeve Separation!

Posted on by
5

This past weekend I got some decent knitting time sans kiddos thanks to the miracle of naps and play dates. I managed to slog through the rest of the raglan increases on my Autumn League Pullover and get separated for the sleeves.

I had one tiny hiccup where I dropped a stitch and didn’t notice for like 10 rounds. I steeled myself and then laddered down to the dropped stitched then worked both stitches back up. It was a tight squeeze but I managed to make it look decent by pulling on some of the surrounding stitches to even it a little bit.

I think my next step would be to find a shortie size 7 circular and start the sleeves so I don’t have to turn the full weight of the body while doing the sleeves. I also want to try three quarter length sleeves, but I’m not sure how they will look and feel with this oversized fit. I might develop this as I go. I mean the worst that can happen is that I rip back and start over right?

 

The Fat Squirrel Vortex

Posted on by
4

I got a shiny new present. I have been watching the Fat Squirrel Speaks podcast and social media channels for awhile now and saw recently that she was having an update on her bags. She came back from SSK with leftover stock, which never happens. Her bags are impeccable and kind of hard to get.

I actually remembered the time of the update and was free when it went live so I hopped on to see if it had been wiped out. It hadn’t and I saw this pink and gold treasure that needed to come live with me. The Fat Squirrel bag vortex just sucked me right in!

It’s a two to maybe three skein project sized bag with a zipper closure. Definitely good for shawls or medium sized projects. I don’t really have much in this size as I have previously only collected sock sized project bags or sweater sized bags.

She even tucked in a sachet of homegrown lavender that smelled AMAZING! If you are ever in a place to get one of her bags I do highly recommend them!

Fun At The Fair

Posted on by
4

I took a break from regular life and took my kiddos my parents for the weekend. It also happened to be the 100th anniversary of my home county fair. We made sure to hit the animal barns….mom’s favorite! I tried to swing by the art and craft exhibits but they weren’t open the morning we were there, sigh.

We petted a hairy sheep. (This one didn’t have wool but had hair. It was a weird feeling but the sheep was very friendly!).

Then we found a mommy and baby goat where Jellybean wanted to crawl in the pen!

img_2078

Even PB wanted in on the action (with the protection of Papa nearby for safety).

Baby animals just make me melt! We of course also had ice cream, saw a lot of old friends and took some time to play on the nearby playground. 

Most of the animals at this fair are 4H projects and raised for meat. I know that doesn’t always align with everyone’s ideologies but it was just a fact of life where I grew up in a highly agricultural community. Most of the sheep had already been sheered and readied for market.

All in all it was a great day. Papa even took Jellybean back to the fair in the evening to ride the carnival rides. They both came back sweaty and exhausted.