A Teeny Tiny Sophisticate

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Just a quick post today… 

A dear friend requested a light cardigan for her 14 month old. It has been quite cold this winter and she worries about keeping her baby bear warm!

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Knitting to the rescue!!!

Pattern: Baby Sophisticate – Free by Linden Down

Size: 12 months

Needles: US 8s

Yarn: Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton in Berry Jam (I used just over two skeins of yarn, or 211.2 yards, or 174 grams)

Time: I whipped this out in a couple of evenings 

Mods: I chose to knit short sleeves because this little tornado gets her hands into EVERYTHING and Mom is always rolling up her sleeves anyway.

Now I’m off to work and to spend some serious hours studying for my CMA exam!

Happy Knitting!

FO Friday: Spiral Leg Warmers

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Tah Dah!!!! This WIP is finally a FO!!!

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Pattern: Spiral Rib Leg Warmers by Purl Bee

Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy Worsted in Lady Slipper

I used approximately 462 yards, 212 grams, or just about 4 1/2 skeins. This was a long hibernating WIP, so we won’t discuss how long it took to finish 🙂

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Mods: the pattern is written for small size only….so I swatched and did the math. I ended up casting on 68 stitches. Based on my, ahem, athletically muscled legs these can definitely be quantified as “large” size.

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This was Stashbustin’ #24 back in 2013 for anyone keeping score.

TGIF and Happy Knitting!

Swatch For Antrose

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Time out….time for a yarn substitution! I had swatched my original yarn choice, Knit Picks Brava Worsted in grey for my Antrose sweater. And I didn’t like it….like at all. So I pulled some Lion Brand Heartland (aran weight) in a light tan/brown and swatched to see if I could get gauge. I even washed and blocked them like a proper knitter. Here they are dry and ready to go!

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I was shocked that my gauge was actually closer with this aran weight (which is still 10 ply like worsted but still tends to be finer/smaller). I got both gauge going both directions!

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And just to be double sure….I knit one repeat of the pattern chart. There are chevrons that run up the middle of the sweater.

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Slightly looser gauge than stockinette, but I can mitigate that by keeping my “charted” stitches tighter as I switch back and forth between purls and knits.

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The color in my swatch pictures doesn’t really show the “true” color. So I trooped my swatches off to the husband’s bathroom (it has great light) and snapped a photo to give a better idea of the color.

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A couple of knitters/followers suggested using a contrast color for the chart/chevron portion. But after swatching…I find I like the simplicity of the monochromatic look. Now if I only could find the time to start the darn thing! My studies have just eaten up all my free time! All I feel like I have time for are small projects like hats and baby sweaters… #firstworldknittingproblems

Happy Knitting!

9 Ways to Catch Blog Readers’ Attention

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This post made my morning…well worth the read!

Limescented's avatarLime Scented

1. Start with a dramatic title which is only tangentially related to the post.

2. Explain that you haven’t been able to blog, not because you’re not knitting, but because you have no way of taking pictures in cold, grey weather while staying as a guest at someone else’s place, and a blog post without pictures is deemed an abomination.

3. Promise that knitting has been happening, prove it by pointing readers towards the Ravelry project pages which have been updated.

4. Tantalize readers with promises of a new and inspired creation, a self-designed pattern which is just perfect.

5. Talk rapturously about its colours, coming up with ever-so-many synonyms for red: scarlet, brick, burnt, deep, blood and boticelli.

6. Share a secret-sisterhood-smirk with readers who use Malabrigo yarn and therefore know precisely what you mean by the last synonym.

7. Throw in a yarn photo for those who don’t.

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8…

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WIP and FO Object Wednesday: Appi Slopes #2

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My friend squealed over the sight of my first Appi Slopes hat. And the pattern is quite addicting, so I cast on another. It just flew off the needles!

Project: Appi Slopes (#2) by Melissa Mall

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Needles: US 4

Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy Sport in Duchess Heather

I used 196.8 yards or 60 grams. That is just about 1.2 of the teeny skeins.

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I did one mod this time. With all the trouble I had with seeing the brim closed last time, I elected to knit the brim together before moving to the stockinette section. My Rav notes on this are here.

It worked okay….but the plastic brim made it hard to knit around the first few rows and my stitches at the join are wonky looking. BUT….it’s very stretchy and flexible. I’m calling this one a draw.

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(Sorry about the photos…it’s dark too fast this time of year. So I took these in my guest bath because it has the best light I can manage in the house)

This was #4 for 2014 Stashbustin’

Happy knitting!!

Taming The Beast

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I LOVE Ravelry….but it’s a slippery slope! My project queue has been clogged, congested, and outdated. Never fear! I pruned the list from 150+ to less than 100 projects 🙂

See here!

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I used some guidelines:
1. Nothing under DK weight unless it’s a special sport weight project. I just don’t feel the love of tiny yarn on small needles
2. I still have to love the photo of the project in question
3. All projects must have “tags” so I can use the tabs feature to sort through faster (seriously if you don’t use this … START NOW ITS AWESOME)
4. Sweaters, sweaters, and more sweaters

Easy peasy! Please feel free to peruse my list! And if you like, link your queue in the comments. I love to see what other knitters drool over 🙂

Now…..to tame my favorites list….

A Blackberry In Winter

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A LONG time ago, my first attempt at following a pattern was the Strawberry Cocoon from Bernat Free Online. And I did it!! I made a strawberry (sorry no photos) that took forever….

And in a fit of knitting success inertia, I cast on another, this time for a Blackberry! This was probably 2010 or so? Guess what I found in my craft room…

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I had the leaves and most of the body done. It’s a lot of P3tog bobbly things…

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So along with finishing my Spiral Rib Leg Warmers from deep in my WIP pile, this blackberry needs to be done!! Several problems:

1) no idea where I left off in the pattern

2) my tension has changed A LOT

3) this thing is knit flat and I much prefer in the round these days!

I shall persevere…providing the knitting gods are kind to me! Come heck or high water….ye shall be done!!

Have you ever found a WIP you forgot about?

FO Friday: Appi Slopes

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My first FO for 2014 Stashbustin‘!!! This was SUCH a quick knit.

2014 Stashbustin’: Project #2

Pattern: Appi Slopes Hat by Melissa Mall

Yarn: Knit Picks Cottom Simply Sport in Prussian Heather

Needles: Size US 4s (I went up a size from the pattern to get guage)

I used 196.8 yards or 60 grams of yarn. I started on 16 in circs and finished on dpns. I find myself getting more comfortable with this! I knit this hat in a matter of a couple of evenings. Super easy and great TV knitting.

I did encounter one issue. At the end I seamed all the way around inside the hat to secure the brim…and I lost all the stretch. This hat wouldn’t fit a toddler let alone my gigantic noggin. So I ripped that out and just put small “tacks” about 1 inch apart around the inside to secure the brim. That way the ribbing would still stretch. Fits like a dream. I even tested this out last weekend whilst shoveling snow. Great fit, love the brim….but the cotton isn’t terribly warm. Upside….totally washable after it got all sweaty from scooping snow!

And lastly….the photos…

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(Side view)

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(Front view)

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(Back view)

Pardon Me

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Pardon me, for I have no knitting today. I’ll pause for the shock and horror……

Last night I had a tremendous opportunity, to sit in a room and spend time with some of the greatest women I know. My Grandmothers’ aunt….yes I said Grandmother…..turned 102 earlier this week. She still lives in her own home and has complete control of her mental faculties. She is a little unsteady on her feet but who wouldn’t be at 102?

Well, my Grandma (80 and proud of it) came for a visit to see her aunt (and two other aunts mind you, still alive and kicking at 90+ years each) and as chauffeur I got stay for dinner and dessert. These ladies came from a family of seven girls and four are sadly gone now. For as long as I can remember my family has called them simply “the sisters”. My Great-Grandma was the eldest (and lived to be 100 1/2). I can still feel her whiskers tickling my face when she would kiss my forehead. And she never did learn to pronounce my name, she would say Ray-shell instead of Rah-shell. Oh, how I miss her 🙂

On this night, I sat mostly off to the side with my knitting and just soaked in the wisdom. These women are strong, funny, and absolutely wise. I pray that I got some of those genes and that someday I can be half as spirited as these ladies at that age. Who says getting old can’t be fun?

So for this reason…I have no knitting update. I can’t remember if I made very many stitches or any at all in between laughing and listening. What I do have is a full heart and great memories of some fantastic ladies.

I now return you to regularly scheduled programming….

Back From Hibernation

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Remember my Spiral Leg Warmers from 2013? Ha, neither did I until I found them hibernating in my craft room. I put them away sometime in August or so. They were Stashbustin’ #34 for last year.

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This project was hiding in one of my favorite yarn holders…and I want that yarn holder for a 2014 project. Solution = finish the dang things! I only have 6-7 inches of pattern left to knit. (The second leg is a lot farther along than in this photo) How hard can that be? I hope to have them wrapped up by the weekend so I can have my favorite pink yarn case back!!

And on the plus side I can have some cute leg warmers to wear to the gym so I don’t look like the crazy lady wearing shorts or yoga pants outside in January! Not to mention….wouldn’t these look fab with some black leggings and boots?

Happy Knitting!