Tag Archives: knitting

FO Friday: Active Vanilla Socks

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My Active Vanilla Socks are done!

  
Pattern: my own toe up vanilla sock

Yarn: Regia Active 6-ply

Needles: US3

   
 
These were part of my 2016 sock yarn experiment. This yarn is supposed to keep your feet from getting too hot or too cold due to the outlast fiber content. It’s a fairly thick yarn and it’s not terribly soft. But it made a sturdy sock. I haven’t washed these to see how much they soften. But either way these will be awesome boot socks. They don’t fit in my dress boots but I’m thinking more of snuggly socks for shoveling snow.

Overall I was okay with this yarn. It held up well to being ripped and reknit. It makes a nice fabric and the color really pops. But I’m not sure I would knit more socks from this, at least right now. The yarn just didn’t feel good running through my fingers. Maybe I’ll change my mind after wearing these. I’ll keep you posted!

Happy Knitting!!

WIP Wednesday: Fantastico Vanilla Socks

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I’m still working on my 2016 Sock Experiment and this time it’s a pair for my dad. I pulled the Regia Fantastico 6-ply I got during the 2015 Central Kansas Yarn Hop. It’s a sport weight in a blue/grey color mix.

  
I’ve cast on 68 stitches on a US 2 needles. My dad wears a US 13 wide shoes so it will be a lot of stitches! It’s my go to toe up vanilla sock with a gusset heal this time. It’s going quickly given how little I’ve been knitting lately. I’m hoping to finish these and tuck them away for Christmas!

Happy Knitting!!

Enabled

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Instagram is dangerous territory…it’s a minefield of beautiful yarn and projects. And I was enabled last week. Mintrain put out a coupon for a snow day discount on their Instagram feed. Before I knew it I was in their Etsy shop and this hopped in my basket…

  
It’s a sport weight sock yarn in 80/20 merino nylon blend. It’s sooooo pretty and it arrived in my mailbox already!

   
 
I definitely didn’t need more sock yarn. And I’ve splurged on a t-shirt and project bags lately. But I’m not sorry. When Jellybean was tiny we didn’t have the funds nor did I have the time to do fun projects. So now that our budget has room and I have the time I’m going to do what I want/can. Because a time will come when my belt will tighten and I will be glad for a well curated stash!

Happy Knitting!!

Never Enough Project Bags

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A coworker has a cash and carry 31 party with yummy wine and finger foods. I may have tripped and my wallet fell out…

I picked up a zippered tall tote for a sweater project. It’s got all kinds of sneaky pockets for goodies.  
A mini zippered pouch for notions.

 
And a box pouch for socks.

 
I’ll swear it was the wine’s fault! But one can never have too many project bags!

FO Friday: Mere’s Lacy Cowl

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The cowl is done! My second attempt is much improved and I’m much happier!

Pattern: Mere’s Lacy Cowl (my own improvisation)

Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun in a purple ombré

Needles: 10 1/2 US

Size: 14 inches by 12 inches 

I’ve put both of these in the mail and they are winging their way to the knit worthy recipient. The cowl is perfect and stretchy and squishy. Not to mention very close to her original. I didn’t expect the color shirt as the yarn in skein was deceiving. But I thinks it’s pretty!

One thing I’ve learned….. I don’t like Homespun as much as I used to. The loose wavy plies have a tendency to split and snag on the needles. I’m seriously considering de stashing the remainder from my stash. Now, don’t get wrong, I think it’s perfectly respectable workhorse yarn. It’s not great for my hands and knitting style. 

Happy Knitting!!

Wednesday Pick Me Up

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 I’m woefully behind in my blog reading but there are a few I make sure to catch. One of those being Knitting In France and she recently held an awesome contest with goodies from the BurningImpressions2 etsy shop. 

And this lucky girl won! Just the perfect pickup up this week after taking care of Jellybean who is suffering through round two of some sort of bug.   

I won the Soxyzz measuring tool. It’s beautiful, sleek, and ultimately practical. Perfect for my sock knitting addiction!
 

I highly recommend taking a look at both these wonderful sites!

Happy Knitting!!

A Do-Over

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I finished a cowl for my friend Mere last week. And I was less than pleased with my efforts to duplicate a years old project. I took it as a matter of pride. So what’s a knitter to do? I pulled some purple (her second color choice) and cast on again. This time I’m adding more stockinette in between the eyelets to better replicate the original.

I feel a bit more revived with this project but it’s still a little bit “the song remains the same”

 I’ll just have to keep knitting! 

 

A Much Better Fit

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Sock number two is complete for my Active Vanilla Socks!

The fit is MUCH better. I used 50 stitches and changed the leg to 1×1 ribbing. Otherwise it’s the same toe up vanilla sock with gusset heel I intended to make in the first place.

This sock fabric is pretty thick and don’t fit in my dress boots. But they fit extremely well in my house shoes and snow boots. These will be excellent snuggly warm deep winter socks. And I should be able to find them in the dark they are so bright! Now I just need to start sock number three or re-do sock number one depending on how you look at it.

Happy Knitting!

FO Friday: Mere’s Eyelet Cowl

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 I surrender, this project defeated me! It’s done and while it’s pretty….it’s not the fabric I was wanting to create.

  

Pattern: My own, Rav notes here

Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun in Black

Needles: US  10 1/2

Finished size: 19.5 inches long and 10 inches tall.
 

I had previously blogged about slogging through this. I should have realized that it was a slog because the fabric created did not match the original. I finally gave in and bound off just to be done. I used 70% of the skein or 129.5 yards. I am going to start another cowl in a deep purple in a stitch pattern that better matches the original. I will still probably gift this cowl to Mere as well. There is nothing wrong with it as it’s very soft and pretty. I’m just disappointed in myself for “forcing” the knit.

Oh well, I guess I have to knit more!