A Growing Minion

Posted on by
5

 Thanks to some 4th of July grandparents time I’ve made some progress on my mini minion hat!

   

I’ve completed the goggle band and ready to start the crown decreases. Unfortunately I’m out of the sunshine yellow (insert face palm here). I’ve been to two Walmarts and a Joanns so far with no dice. Apparently neon yellow is in and sunshine is out. My last hope is Michaels so fingers crossed!

I also attempted to make eyes for the minion using YouTube tutorials. Let’s just say I need more practice. My mom saw my attempts, giggled and then promised to make them for me. So I left the yarn in her hot little hands!

Happy knitting!!

FO Friday: Double Rib Toddler Hat

Posted on by
3

Tah Dah! My second FO is done from my cast on-itis!!

 
Pattern: Double Rib Toddler Hat by Torunn Espe 

Size: 1-2 years

Yarn: Berroco Comfort DK in Blue and Menthe

Needles: US 4 circular

Mods: omitted the I-cord on the ear flaps

  

This hat just fits my 9 month old. He does have a head in the 90th percentile but it’s not ginormous.  The ear flaps cover nicely. But I wish it was a bit bigger. Here’s hoping it fits in the fall! I think I’m going to knit another with the colors flipped as I have enough yarn leftover. My jogless stripes could use some practice anyway

Below is pretty much a summary of how the photo shoot went. It’s a unique challenge to get a baby to both wear the garment and sit still. But at least I think he likes it?

   

Happy Knitting!

Always Have A Backup

Posted on by
14

Yeaterday at lunch I pulled out my Vanilla Maple socks and saw this….

  
A dropped stitch that had laddered at least eight rows down. Now I’m at work with just my project bag and no tool kit. I had also had a terrible morning and was in need of some knitting therapy. I was grumpy because I didn’t want to rip back to the drop I just wanted to ladder it back up but had to wait till I had access to my tiny crochet hook. I was going to be very unhappy with nothing for my hands to do…

Then I remembered my Squirrel like nature and ran to the car for my “car” knitting as a backup. Day saved! And I have since fixed the dropped stitch and stashed a crochet hook and tapestry needle in my project bag. I learned my lesson….always have extra tools. And if all else fails, have a backup project!

Happy Knitting!

Minions!!!

Posted on by
10

Another hat for Jellybean!

  
I’m improvising this hat as I go. I cast on 100 stitches on US 4s with a long tail cast on. I will work some ribbing then switch to stockinette. I will need to work in a black a black stripe for the goggle band. As for the eyes I’m going to have to ask my mother for some help. Crochet in the round is something I’ve yet to grasp.

  
I’m also toying with idea of adding hair to the top? I really want jellybean to be some form of a minion for Halloween. My husband would make a wonderful Gru and I could maybe aim for Agnes? It wouldn’t take a lot of sewing just some thrift store diving. I just wish I had the bandwidth to knit Gru’s scarf for the hubby, lol. I’ll have to think about that one….

Happy Knitting

Dino-Uh Oh

Posted on by
4

I shouldn’t knit after 9 pm…

   

 

I read the instructions several times but my Swiss cheese brain couldn’t grasp this pattern. I did a long tail cast on and went straight into the ear flaps instructions for my Dino Hat. I was working late into the evening, big mistake. This hat actually has a doubled up ribbed brim that I completely skipped. Doh! So to the frog pond it is. I really want to make this hat so I’m going to cast on again  

It’s a good thing I like knitting!

FO Friday: Another Tutu

Posted on by
8

Tis baby season in these parts! I have three baby showers coming up. And lest I get caught with my circulars around my ankles, I started early. As part of my cast on storm this week I started a tutu (pattern by Smashlee Stitches)

 
These are so smart looking and easy to make. Totally my go to baby girl gift. (And a great stash buster for all the ruffle yarn I stashed when the scarves were all the rage, lol.)

TGIF and Happy Knitting!

Hey Look….A Squirrel!!

Posted on by
8

This is an actual conversation in the car with my husband this morning:

Hubby: You are like a squirrel stashing nuts.

Me: (looks up from my knitting) Huh?

Hubby: You have knitting stashed everywhere.

Me: No, not really. Just on my nightstand, in the car, in my desk at work, in the living room…..oh….

Hubby: (Devilish smile)

To be fair he is not bothered by this but rather amused. I’m just doing my best to take advantage of what little knitting time I have these days. I wonder if squirrels can knit with their tiny hands? But I digress, lol. I’m quite happy with my stashes of UFOs. It’s nice to sneak a stitch in here and there!

Happy Knitting!

A Cast On Storm

Posted on by
6

It’s almost July and summer is in full swing. But I can’t help but think towards fall. I really want jellybean to have some hand knits. I have the itch for a couple of hats and at least one sweater. I also have at least two baby showers coming up. This has led to a bout of start-itis this past weekend. 

I cast on a Knit Tutu from Smashlee. It’s a pink number for a baby girl due I’m September.

  
Next up is a Dino Cap by Kris Hanson jellybean. I’m knitting the two year old size in some Caron Simply Soft from my stash in hunter green and chocolate brown. I’ve already messed up the pattern but I’m soldiering on.

  

Last up is Double Rib Toddler hat by Torunn Espe. I pulled some Berroco Comfort DK Solids from my stash in blue and minty blue-ish?
  

Now I have more projects than I have hands and time. So this should end well, lol!

Happy Knitting!

Onward Second Socks

Posted on by
5

The chaos of a 9 month old Jellybean who is teething combined with changing jobs has left me with very little knitting bandwidth. Hence my crazy vanilla sock mojo. I’ve managed to cast off the first sock of a couple pair of WIP socks!

Vanilla Maple socks
   

Checkerboard Socks 

   

I kind of tired of both of them and cast off before using up all the yarn as I usually do. They have 5-6 inch legs instead of 7-8 that I can usually get out of my skeins. But they still fit and are perfectly functional socks.

I made sure to cast on both second socks so as not to fall victim to SSS (second sock syndrome). I’m already done with the toe of the checkerboard socks but still working on the increases on the vanilla maples. I’m ready for these to be done and move on to other smooshy yarn!

Happy Knitting

 

Clapo-Ktus: An Experiment

Posted on by
13

I’ve never been a shawl knitter. I don’t enjoy charts as they don’t make sense in my brain. And honestly I’m a bit sporty in my attire and shawls just didn’t fit my esthetic. But I’ve recently changed employment. It was a good career move and got me out of an unhealthy emotional environment. But I’ll leave that part at that. My new building is an ice box with A/C and I hear the heat is wimpy on the flip side. I’m going to need some business casual options for keeping warm (and possibly a space heater)!

I have a pretty skein of Cascade Heritage Silk in a lovely blue. It’s a merino silk blend and just gorgeous. Here is a terribly lit picture of my skein after Jellybean went to bed.

 
I’ve decided to to knit a Clapo-Ktus by Loredana Gianferri. It’s a cross between a clapotis and a baktus. It’s a free download and designed to use every bit of your skein. The pattern is written and it should be easy to memorize.

I’ve printed and read the pattern 15 times. It took me a bit to wrap my head around how it worked but I think I have it now. And I’ve hand wound my yarn and pulled needles. This is worked on size 6s. I’m not going to swatch per se, I’m just going to go with the flow as “fit” isn’t a huge thing with a scarf/shawl. Those could be famous last words….

Wish me luck!