Oops…I Did It Again

I took a step (or several) backwards on my 2013 destashing project. And it was worse than last time, lol.

I had several special requests after my 10 year reunion from old classmates and family members who saw me knitting. Not my fault right? I mean the FOs they requested couldn’t be filled from my stash without detracting from the usefulness/beauty of the item. (Which by the way is sort of the point of de-cluttering my stash. I want to get to where I buy yarn a few projects at a time!)

So here is a little stash flash of what I purchased from Knit Picks

Brava Bulky in red, black, peapod, solstice heather, and cobblestone heather

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Easy care acrylic yarn that is destined to be a multitude of baby items requested at my reunion. (It’s also easy on the pocketbook!)

Swish Worsted in Lost Lake heather and Squirrel heather

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This wool blend is for some warm hats for a friend who works outside all winter!

And finally Felici Fingering Self Striping Sock Yarn in mixed berry, aquarium, and peachy!

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This was a little “just for me” yarn I threw in my shopping cart. I needed some incentive to teach myself to make socks! How can I go wrong with a beginner sock pattern and self striping beautifulness?

Just nobody tell my hubby I bought yarn again, ok?

Happy Knitting!!

WIP Wednesday: Spiral Leg Warmers

Introducing Stashbusting #24!

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Spiral Rib Leg Warmers by the Purl Bee!! I had some Knit Picks Comfy Worsted in Lady Slipper calling my name from my stash. So in a fit of WIPitis I just had to start a project with it.

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As the pattern is written for extra small to small, I cast on 68 stitches to upsize for my big girl legs. Otherwise I’m working the pattern as written. I have no idea what I will do with these. They aren’t practical but they are adorable and fun to knit. That’s all that matters right?

What’s on your needles this week?

WIP Wednesday: Stashbustin’ #15

In the home stretch on my Ombré Billow Blanket! (Stashbustin’ #15)

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I started my second to last color stripe this past weekend! Billow is such a soft and cozy fiber it’s addicting to knit with. I keep finding myself thinking “just one more row” at 10:30 or 11 at night, lol.

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I have noticed that this yarn sheds a bit as my pants are covered in yarny fluff. To be fair this blanket is very large at this point and is a BIG pile on my lap as I work. I have three of my Denise Interchangeables cable strung together to accommodate all my stitches. I still love this yarn and imagine a good soak will get the lions share if the fluff off when I’m done.

I CANNOT wait to show this off when I’m done! Maybe this next week!?!? Too soon to tell…

Happy Knitting!

Stashbustin’ #15 Update: Ombré Billow Blanket

Stashbustin’ #15 update!!! My Ombre Billow Blanket is definitely coming along….

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I’m on my second color change. I have completed Natural and Willow. Now I’m on to Cornmeal. This blanket just keeps growing and growing. I’ve had to add an extension cable to my Denise Interchangeables to accommodate all the stitches. This blanket has been living on my bedside table and has been my bedtime meditation knitting. The pattern is memorized now and just keeps going round and round and round.

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This yarn is just SOOOO soft I can’t stop petting it. I can’t wait to see how it finishes up. The ombre is proving not to disappoint. But I admit I’ll be a little sad when it’s done because it’s a dream to work with. I love the thick/thin texture.

Happy Monday and Happy Knitting!!!

Picture Day!!!

Some of my most recent FOs got a good bath this past weekend and the husband helped me take some photos of them in the beautiful May sunshine.

First up, my Stylish Square Blanket or Stashbustin’ #13

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This blanket was delivered to it’s new home yesterday. This golden treasure now belongs to my bestie from high school and her baby due later this year. I went to see her new home and couldn’t go empty handed. And what better to take to a new mom-to-be than a snuggly baby blanket?! She loved it of course and I can’t wait to meet my newest neice or nephew!

 

Next up my chocolate Mud Season or Stashbustin’ #14

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I gave this sweater a spin on Monday as I ran errands. I threw a tank on underneath and it was perfect as the temp only made it to the mid 70s. I got a few compliments on it and I can’t wait to wear it again. But as the temps are getting into the 80s and 90s….I may have to wait until fall.

Happy Wednesday to all! I’m off to continue my battle of organizing my craft room. Wish me luck, lol

Stashbustin’ #15…what to do?

I finally settled on a couple of patterns for my Billow yarn. I got several of the same suggestion from my last post about what to make with this yarn. And that was to find a new pattern I had never used. So to Ravelry I went!

Through the recommendation of a fellow blogger, I checked out the Constant Square Baby Blanket by Tina Laiho.

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(Photo from Tina Laiho Rav page)

An ombre pattern caught my eye as i was roaming in Ravelry, the Ombré tank!

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It’s so pretty! I’d have to do some swatching and figuring to make sure I get the right outcome with substituting billow for the pattern suggested yarn. But a cotton tank for summer does have a certain appeal…

Any thoughts from the blog world on these two options? Am I crazy??

For now I must go and load all my worldly possessions into a truck and get to moving!!

Un-Stashbusting….oops

To celebrate myself a little, I finally decided to use my Knit Picks gift certificate…..tah dah!

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I picked up some of Knit Picks new yarn, Billow! I have been seeing photos of ombré blankets made from this stuff all over Ravelry, the blogosphere, and Pinterest. I have absolutely been itching to try this yarn!

I picked up six different hues in the brown/yellow family. In order from light to dark they are: Natural, Willow, Cornmeal, Turmeric, Mongoose, and Chocolate. This 100% Pima cotton is sooooo soft under my fingers. I know this is going to make an amazing blanket. I bet it would make an amazing sweater as well, oh the possibilities!

Now I just have to decide what pattern to make? I want something that will really show off the ombré color changes.

Option 1: Chevron Baby Blanket by the Purl Bee

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(Photo by the Purl Bee)

Option 2: Zig Zag Baby Blanket by knitculture.com

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(Photo from knitculture.com Rav page)

Option 3: Kodachrome Baby Blanket by Jocelyn Tunney

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(Photo from Jocelyn Tunney Rav page)

Option 4: Simple stockinette blanket with seed stitch border and just let the colors do the work

I can’t decide!! I have already made the patterns from option one and two. While option two was more visually striking, option one was more pleasurable to work. I’m torn between trying something new like option three or recreating something I’ve already done like options one, two, and four.

This yarn is special and deserves the proper pattern. Anyone out there in blogger land use this yarn or have any suggestions for a pattern? I really want to stick with a design that shows off the ombré, help!

FO Friday: Milestones

This Friday I wanted to share a milestone rather than a FO.

I noticed this week that I hit 100 followers. This was something of a unspoken personal goal for me. I mostly started blogging to push my fiber creativity and archive my projects. But I also wanted to meet new people, learn new skills, and expand my fiber universe. And I admit, I hooked!! I love interacting with all the creative fibery people in the blog world.

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In celebration, I gave myself a special present. I have been squirreling away a Knit Picks gift certificate from Christmas and I let myself use it for something completely selfish and fun! Stay tuned on Monday and see what it is…

I’m off to pack boxes and clean for our move. T-minus 4 days to closing and 10-ish to moving day!!

WIP Wednesday: Stylish Square Blanket

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Stashbustin’ #13update!!

I love bulky yarn in big needles. I feel like these projects practically fly off my needles. Just the knitting mojo I needed lately. I’m almost through my fifth hank. I will most definitely need to use six, but I have seven just in case.

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This Knit Picks Biggo is so super soft and squishy. The golden color way has really buoyed my mood this past week when it’s been pretty bleak outside. And Susan’s pattern is as beautiful as it is simple. Right yarn, right project, and right mood!

I almost guarantee this project to be done by the weekend! Stay tuned…

Happy Knitting!

Stashbustin’ #13: Stylish Square Blanket

Introducing Stashbustin’ #13! I started a new blanket over the weekend….

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I have five skeins of Knit Picks Biggo in Golden Heather burning a whole in my stash. I am a BIG fan of Knit Picks yarn and Biggo has become one of my go-to yarns for baby projects. It’s a soft wool blend that isn’t hard for a new parent to care for but also baby butt soft.

I perused my Ravelry queue and found The Stylish Square by Susan Hanlon. Simple seed stitch border with a alternating stockinette/reverse stockinette block design. And the wool blend is so yummy under my fingers.

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Just the simple project I need as I head into the home stretch of trying to close on a house and opening a community theater show. It seems I’m surrounded by pregnant ladies so I’m sure I will find a good home for a blanket.

Happy Knitting!!!