Alternate Sweater Path

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I have for years coveted the Breezy Cardigan by Hannah Fettig. To me it represents easy classic effortless style. But it is also MILES of stockinette in fingering weight yarn. My size could easily consume 1,900 to 2,000 yards of yarn. There is no way I could manage that with two small kids without losing my mind and hating how long it took. Well I was at Sams Club shopping for toilet paper….(seriously potty training a boy shouldn’t consume this much paper but I’m just glad he’s finally catching on)…and I see these cardigans on an end cap.

I snatched one up and realized its a commercial version of the Breezy! It’s a very fine gauge Rayon, Polyester and Spandex fabric. But it’s butter soft the touch and the spandex makes it hug all the right places without being unflattering to a new mom.

And it’s got the huge drapey fronts! They wrap so nicely around my big kiddo and make a decent nursing cover up for PB. I was in LOVE and they were under $15…

img_5951I may have bought three (in different colors) to feed my cardigan obsession. I can’t explain why but this commercial sweater just makes me so happy right now. I still want to knit a Breezy someday but it’s reassuring to know for the mean time I have these pieces to keep me warm while my children still want to snuggle. (And a good plus, it looks kick ass on me).

Happy Knitting!!

Technology Can Be Cool

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I’m every so close to finishing my Rainbow Pop Sockhead Slouch! I’m at 10 inches and ready to start decreasing. I’ve decided that’s enough slouch for me!

I also recently updated my iPhone to the lastest iOS and I got a new tool downloaded. It’s a measuring ap that uses your camera. So I took it for a spin.

I laid down a traditional tape measure for reference and played with the ap. I did manage to get it to come out to the right answer. But I also got several attempts where it was .5 inches on either side. So it’s close but I wouldn’t use it for anything exacting. I would use it if I was just wanting a ball park and stuck without a tape measure.t

img_5980I’m really happy with how the colors are coming out. I know it will change when I start the crown decreases. For sure there will be some pooling and changes in the color blips. But such is the way of this yarn and I’m at peace with it. I just REALLY want this hat for winter!

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Leksak

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As promised yesterday my Leksak is blocked and all ready for Fall in Kansas.

Pattern: Leksak by Yarn-Madness

Yarn: Berroco Comfort DK in Menthe and Primary Blue. I used 233 yards of the Menthe and 85 yards of the Primary Blue. So all in all that’s about 94 grams of yarn.

Needles: US 4 (the pattern calls for 6s and I oopsed) My gauge ended up being 5.5 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch.

Size: 12 months

 

Sorry no finished photos with PB. She is in the middle of a developmental leap and just kind of a crabby mess after we get home from work. Her little brain is really growing up a storm. But bottom line is that I loved this pattern and will most likely re-knit this again as PB gets bigger.

Happy Knitting!!

A Block Away

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My Leksak is completely knitted and awaiting a good blocking!

I slept on my wonky button band issue and decided I couldn’t live with it. And I had the yarn to reknit the bands, so why not? So I pulled back the band and re-knit them being careful to count my stitches on each side. And they were equal. Well…..I think I picked up too many stitches on each side. So they now match…but they are kinda huge. But I’m definitely rolling with this one. I’m not doing that a third time! It’s good enough for and it’s good enough for PB, lol.

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As you can also see, I made the sleeves match. I started my round at the back of the sleeves so the job is only visible from the back. I kinda dig it. This baby is now soaking gently and I hope to have it dry for FO photos tomorrow!!

Happy Knitting!

Sockhead Progress

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My Rainbow Pop Sockhead Slouch has seen some good progress thanks to knitting in the dark and some car knitting time.

My yarn is almost striping. But it’s doing so evenly and nicely around the hat. I was hoping for more space between the blips but this is close enough for me right now in my life. I also noticed that I forgot to go up a needle size for the stockinette…doh. But again I’m making progress on a thing that makes me happy so I’m rolling with the punches.

My hat is at 9 inches total (including the ribbing). Typical sockhead hats are supposed to be 13 inches before you start the crown decreases. I’m not sure I want my hat that slouchy. I think I will do 10.5 to 11 inches and then start the decreases. I’ll be able to slip it on when I get that point to see how I feel about the fit.

Happy Knitting!!

Wonky Button Bands

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My Leksak now has finished button bands. Are they still button bands when there are no buttons? Nevertheless, I had a great time working on this. But I do admit to plowing through them at a pretty good clip after the kids’ bedtimes. And that may have triggered a bit of wonkiness in the bands.

I for SURE did not county my stitches as I was picking up each side. Even though the pattern told me to, I thought “it will be fine”. And you know what? It’s okay but not great. I can totally tell one side has a few more stitches than the other. I kinda stretched the bands for this photo so it’s not as noticeable. I get so little knitting time these days I can’t really face ripping it out and re-doing it right now. I think I’m going to finish the sleeves and block it before I decide. I mean acrylic really isn’t known for “blocking out” problems. I just need time to think on it before I decide.

As for the sleeves, I have one done! And I made a happy accident. Instead of starting my round at the underarm when I picked up the live I managed to get distracted by Netflix and start at the back of the arm.

You know what? I kind of like it. I didn’t take the time to remember/look up/actually do any jogless stripe technique. So now the jog is at the back of the sweater where on a baby you won’t actually see it as much. (Honestly, jogs never really bothered me all that much.) This placement kind of made sense in my brain and I think I will repeat it on the second sleeve!

Happy Knitting!!

I Have A Problem

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You guys….I have a yarn problem. And Instagram is a horrible enabler! I fell prey to another destash sale on social media after a night of both kids waking up multiple times in the night. I need more yarn like I need a hole in my head. But I was feeling like I needed a little self care and it was being de-stashed at a nice price.

I did only pick up skeins of indie dyers that I had never used before. In order from left to right is:

  1. Lolodidit Spun Sock in the Hippos for Christmas colorway. This is a 75/15/10 Merino/nylon/tencel blend that is destined for socks.
  2. Junkyarn Boss 2 ply sock in the Luna colorway. This is a 80/20 Merino and nylon that has yet to tell me what it wants to be.
  3. Hue Loco Spun Sock in the Skip With Me colorway. This is a 80/10/10 MCN blend that might have to be some sort of hat and mitts.

When will I have the time to knit all this? I dunno maybe when I win the lottery or retire…which ever comes first. But for now they are going into my stash for a rainy day when I need a pretty project.

Happy Knitting!!

Leksak Stripes Complete

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My Leksak has a completed body!

I very pleased with the way the striping worked up in this sweater. Next up is a unique button band that involves not breaking the yarn from the garter hem. I’m intrigued! And now that I have completed the body work I am a lot more confident that I won’t end up playing yarn chicken. This Berroco Comfort is 50/50 Nylon and Acrylic but it actually has a nice hand to it. I’ll see how it wears but I might consider this for future kids knits….

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Dinosaur Jr.

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After dreaming of sweater for Jellybean yesterday I also decided he needed a new stuffy. He sleeps with the monkey I made him almost every night these days. And surely Monkey would like to have a friend?!

So I pulled the remaining Plymouth Encore Worsted left from the monkey and found I had enough yarn for a Dinosaur patter in my queue but only if I reversed the colors. So Dinosaur Jr by Katie Boyette hit my needles. I have only started the head portion but I’m hoping some good evening knitting will see this project chug forward in no time!

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Leksak

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I had finished PB’s Second Sporty Cardigan and I couldn’t stand the thought of not knitting cute baby girl sweaters. So I did some Ravelry searching and stash diving to find a good match.

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I found Leksak by Yarn-Madness. It’s a top down raglan style tunic (or pullover if you prefer) made for DK yarn. It has an interesting button band construction I found intriguing and I had two colors of Berroco Comfort DK languishing in my stash. Comfort DK is a 50/50 acrylic and nylon blend so very washable and very durable. And I like the idea of a tunic for my sweet PB. And I am for SURE making the open front construction versus the pullover closed construction. (P.S. Leksak is Swedish for “toy” and I am of Swedish decent so I that kinda hooked me as well.)

The colors are a minty green and bright blue I originally got for making hats. While not a a pairing I would normally make I think they actually work well now that I can see them knit up together. I will be playing a small bit of yarn chicken on this project but I think with some strategic order of operations and yarn management I can make it work.

Happy Knitting!!