Cast On: Toxic Oreo Vanilla Socks

The needles from my Sand Castle Cashmere Vanilla Socks were feeling chilly and lonely so they told me that I needed another pair of toe up gusset heel vanilla socks.

After a fun trip through my sock yarn stash I found my precious skein of Toxic Oreo from Lemonade Shop that I have been hoarding. I can’t wait to see how these speckles work up in all their rainbow glory. I was so enthused that I didn’t even cake up this yarn. I hand wound a ball and just got to work!

I have cast on my pretty standard vanilla sock of 68 total stitches on a US 1 needle. This yarn might be light fingering so I’ll have to see how the fabric works up. But for now I have completed the first toe and I’m ready to cruise up the foot.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Mycroft

I finally carved out time to get my Mycroft on to the needles. This was supposed to be my birthday cast on but after reading the pattern I quickly realized I didn’t have the brain space on my birthday to deal with the short rows.

And I was correct, this was a brain bending cast on and first rows. I had the printed pattern and I had cross out tiny sections of the written directions as I went. That, and I counted ALL THE TIME. And this is only the first short row. I have like so many more to do.

I have put this back in the bag for when I can come up for air and work on this one uninterrupted. Totally invested in this project and it looks to get easier after the short rows….but I gotta get there first, lol.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Dumpster Fire 2020

I couldn’t help myself. I may have ordered a Dumpster Fire kit from Frabjous Fibers/Wonderland Yarns. And now I have knit all the pieces to the Kino Knits 2020 Dumpster Fire ornament. (Rav link)

This yarn is simply wonderful and the pieces very much flew off my needles in a single evening. I have soaked and blocked them into their respective shapes. Now I just have to wait for them to dry so I can assemble. Not really looking to the duplicate stitching of the year but I shall persevere!

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Baby Dreams Blanket

In the new year I let myself cast on another crochet blanket. I’m calling this one Baby Dreams blanket. I have ten skeins of Knit Picks Biggo in the Garnet Heather color and I’m going to crochet until I have a crib sized blanket.

I don’t have anyone in particular in mind for this blanket. I am just enjoying the softness of the yarn and the simplicity of the half double crochet. I think I chained 100 stitches? This project is one of my mental health projects for the new. I’m slowing down and enjoying the process to try and cope with all the craziness in the world.

Happy Crafting!!

Cast On: Baby Yoda

My husband didn’t have much under the Christmas tree this year as he tends to buy the things he wants when he wants them instead of saving any for gift ideas. So I got a wild hair to make him a little baby Yoda for his gaming desk as a winter surprise.

I am using the free Baby Yoda pattern by Kim Konen. (Rav link) I managed to knock out the body and head in one sitting. My fabric is a little loose and I can see the polyfil inside. I probably should have swatched and then gone down a needle size. But I’m plowing ahead…its a toy and for a grown adult. It’s good enough, lol

I am using Malabrigo Rios green scraps from my Weekender Sweater. I still need to dig in my stash to find suitable Yoda sweater yarn. It’s been tricky to work on this because I want it to be a surprise so I have to work on this after the kids go to bed but before my husband comes to bed.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Pardon Me Sir Hat

Y’all, tomorrow is a new year and I have cast-on-itis. I pulled a skein of KnitCircus worsted weight yarn in the Pardon Me, Sir colorway and cast on a hat last night. After binging some of my favorite TV comedies I have a GOOD start on a hat.

I worked completely through the brim yesterday morning and by the evening I am a fair ways into the hat portion. I’m going full skein with this project. I am not using a pattern. I cast on 90 stitches and I’m making it up as I go. I want to use up as much of this yarn as possible to capture the wonderful gradient.

I think why I like this project so much is that these are my high school alma mater colors. And it will coordinate with my winter coat. This hat will most definitely be for me. The colors are sublime and the yarn extra extra soft. I can’t wait to finish this one!

Happy New Year and Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Sand Castle Vanilla Socks

Do I have at least two pairs of of socks on the needles? Why yes, I do. Did I need another? Why yes I do! I pulled some cashmere sock yarn from my stash from Leading Man Fiber Arts in the Sand Castle colorway and started some toe up vanilla socks.

This yarn feels like BUTTER between my fingers. It’s so amazing that I don’t care how long these socks will last as they will feel AMAZING on my feet when they are done. I have managed to get the toe increases done and I’m ready for just a poop ton of ’round and round’ in stockinette. That is my sweet spot of knitting right now. It’s my happy place

What is your happy place?

Christmas Eve Cast On

I admit I am struggling to get fully into the holiday spirit. I knew I wanted a Christmas Eve cast on but I just couldn’t decide what I wanted it to be. So I decided to make up a kit from stuff I already had. And it worked out nicely

I pulled out last year’s Christmas pajamas and I’m just praying they fit after my COVID weight gain. And then I grabbed a bottle of wine off my wine rack that I have been meaning to try.

Next up was the yarn and pattern I received as part of my 2020 Nomad Yarns retreat back in October. I grabbed the Transforming Mitts pattern by Erika Kempf Broughton and the yarn of Tweed Rocks from Nomad Yarns. It feels good to use this yarn with the pattern it was designed for.

It’s not the perfect AHA project I have had in years past. But it’s good enough for 2020. And I mostly can’t wait to put the world aside and just watch Christmas through my children’s eyes. We are going to “bubble” with my parents and isolate from the world on their property. All I want for Christmas is knitting, a good wine and not to be the primary adult for a little bit.

What do you want Santa to bring you?

Casting On: Bits and Bobs Blanket

Next up on my blanket train is a blanket lot of bulky acrylic in vaguely Christmas-ish colors.

The black skein is a partial skein so I think I will split it equally in half and put between the red and purple. But I’m feeling good about this lineup. I think this is just enough yarn to make a nice car sized lap blanket for my grandmother.

I do have white on one side and grey on the other but I think it will make it quirky blanket. I plan on using my trusty 10mm or US N hook and just working my self taught kind of weird half double crochet. It goes quickly and really busts through my stash! I seem to have all the blanket mojo right now, lol.

Happy Crafting!!

Cast On: Carbon Sprinkles Vanilla Socks

My sock needles were screaming for another sock project after I had finished my Knit Sky Socks last month. So I pulled a “golden skein” of mudpunch self striping sock yarn that I have been hoarding all fall. This is a super cool skein that no only has solid grey stripes but really cook speckled stripes. I am in awe of how hard this must have been to create.

I am working my normal 68 stitch toe up vanilla sock “recipe” that I have developed over the years to fit my foot. I got the toe started one night after bedtime but now this project lives in my purse for school pickup/drop-off and other assorted car knitting.

My love for self striping knows no bounds. And I SUPER love this yarn as there are three different grey stripes each separated by the yummy speckled stripe. This colorway was named Carbon Sprinkles and it is extremely fitting. 10 out of 10 would recommend this yarn and I will buy from this dyer again!

Happy Knitting!!