Jenn’s beanie has quickly reached the brim stage. This teal is such a bright pop to the dark winter moody vibes.
Cozy winter weekends and dark nights have fired the mojo for this hat. I am still coming out from cold germs so my brain finds this stockinette very soothing. This brim is the result of about three cups of tea and four naps. I really want to work on some more complicated things but I need the fog to lift first.
Happy Knitting!!
As I promised myself after finishing my huge crochet blanket, I want to start a sweater with some of the sweater lots I own!
The post Christmas germs finally got me so this swatching process is brought to you by cold medicine, duke snuggles and hiding in my guest room. I wound a skein of my Brooklyn Tweed Shelter and got started.
The Synthe sweater is worked in the round with a purl row breaking up the stockinette. So I decided to swatch the proper way….in the round. I knit my swatch and then moved the work around my circular needle to leave a span of yarn across the back. This means that I should get a truer picture of my pattern gauge in the round.
Once I had my swatch done, I gave it a good wash/rinse in the sink and then bravely cut the strings in the back to get a flat swatch. That was nerve wracking!! The tails are long enough and the yarn is “sticky” enough that they didn’t go anywhere.
The swatch is now pinned out and drying. Once it dries, which should be quick, I can then measure my gauge and determine how close I am to the pattern. I know what size I want to knit based on my bust measurement. I’m hoping I don’t have to adjust too far!
Happy Swatching!!
I have a hoodie addiction and I can’t help it. I just love the feeling of being cozy so much! At Christmastime I got some cash in lieu of gifts and I put that to work on Etsy….
Jellybean helped me model these. But first up was a crewneck with the cutest font saying “Coffee & Knitting” in a nice neutral cream color. This was a XXL and is the perfect slightly oversized fit.
Next up was a full on XXL hoodie about knitting super powers. I have been working on changing my health for the last 6 months and I am a smaller human than I used to be. I could have probably taken this down to an XL. But I am still learning to trust my body and the mirror. It’s a struggle for real!
Do I have enough hoodies to wear a new one for every day of the week? Yes. I would be happy if I could live in hoodies all year round. I’m all about the hygge. Stay cozy friends!!
I have my second worsted skein from Thelittlewolfknits in my stash. That dyer is a Pigskin Party KAL sponsor so this yarn gets me extra points in the game. I also had this thought that my friend Jenn would love this yarn. She is ALL things teal.
Over a cup of yummy coffee, I started a basic beanie. My typical 88 stitches on a US 8 needle. I do NOT feel like ribbing this hat so stockinette it is. Jenn also has a March birthday so I could make this an early birthday present. She doesn’t know about this plan and I kind of like the idea of a random surprise gift in the mail!
Happy Knitting!!
I am flecking right along on my second 2024 Advent Socks!
I am doing my best to work these in tandem to keep the mojo going on this project. Keeping the tension even and workable between flecks takes some concentration. Not all of my flecks are coming out the same size as I work. I think that is just due to my newbie status at colorwork. It should block our right?
Happy Knitting!!
I have a few days left of the 2024 Pigskin Party KAL and I decided to cast on another football themed hat. This is some malabrigo singles I got last fall.
I am going to make my normal beanie recipe. I am starting with 88 stitches and the yellow. The base is Malabrigo Worsted in 022 Sauterne and then the red is 102 Sealing Wax. I also still have some Chiefs logo patches that I can sew on as well.
This base is a singles and I’m not wild at the moment of how I am struggling with snagging. I think my needles are too blunt. I need to switch to my Chia Goo needles? I do love the hand of the finished fabric as it is very very soft. Therefore I will persevere!
Happy Knitting!!
After finishing my Flats Hat, I needed another easy project on the needles. So I cast on a hat called the Scandia Hat.
This was the DK yarn that Santa put in my stocking from KnitCircus. It is their Divine DK in the color Pet Rock Speckle. Since this is a plump DK, I moved down to a US 7 but did cast on up to 100 stitches.
These hats are so forgiving that they will always fit someone. I am ribbing this hat brim with a 2×2 rib. It will still be my basic beanie recipe with a folded brim. Those just feel automatic to my hands while I am watching or talking with people.
Happy Hat Knitting!!
The Flats Hat is complete and ready for my 2025 gift bag.
Pattern: My own 88 stitch beanie “recipe”
Needles: US 8s
Yarn: Thelittlewolfknits Opti base in the Pigskin Party KAL exclusive colorway “Flats or Drums”
I forced myself to extend this to maximize yarn usage. I used 82 grams or 179 yards of yarn total. I got 40 bonus KAL points for using sponsor yarn. I really like how the dark brown spiraled in this hat at my gauge.
I would definitely buy more yarn from this dyer again. It was nicely dyed and I didn’t have any colors bleed. And the hand of the finished fabric is very soft and nice. Orange isn’t usually my colors but I love how the browns and green bits punch this one up.
Now on to my next hat! Happy Knitting!!
My Flats Hat is ready for decreases!
The family sat down and watched RedOne since we missed it in December and I cruised through the body of the hat. The move is great and seeing a jacked Santa was something else! This yarn is Littlewolfknits yarn in the Opti base called “Flats or Drums”. I picked flats because those are the superior wings IMO.
I managed to get my DPNs installed before my eyes started crossing and it was time to go to bed. I should be able to wrap this up in the next couple of days. And bonus for me, it will earn me extra points in the Pigskin Party KAL for an exclusive sponsor product.
Happy Knitting!!
I sat down and updated my Ravelry account to wrap up my 2024 items and I decided to crunch some stats on what I did last year.
So all in all, a very productive year for me. I really felt my knitting mojo coming back after I changed my work situation. I did bring in more yarn that I used up but only by 2,600 yards so that isn’t so bad. I’m really showing my inner accountant with this post, lol.
I don’t really feel like setting any goals for 2025 and letting the fiber guide me! Happy New Year!!
Michele plays with yarn, food, and music in Portland
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