Steel Heels

It took a hot minute but I finally I decided on and found a heel color for my 2023 Leftover Advent socks. During my 2019 trip to Oregon, I have a stash of Knitted Wit smarties and it was perfect.

This photo of the actual socks is older from my camera roll but the only one with the mini skein in it. I think the dark neutral will work nicely as the heel color. It’s not a color that exists anywhere in the skein.

The tubes are done and ready for the afterthought heels to be inserted. Should only be a couple more hours and I will have finished socks!

2023 Cozy Knitter Advent Socks

Continuing my New Year’s parade of FO, I humbly present my 2023 CozyKnitter Advent Socks!

Pattern: My own 72 stitch toe up vanilla sock “recipe” with afterthought heel

Yarn: CozyKnitter Bliss Sock in the 2023 Advent Skein

Needles: US 1s

Mods: I upped my stitch count to 72 from my usual 68 and that works great for the foot and leg. But my heels are baggy and I should have reduced their size by 4 stitches.

I used about 88 grams of yarn or 300 yards of yarn for these including the contrast and stripe. So these go farther up my leg than my KirbyWirby socks. I really enjoyed these socks as this dyer never disappoints. I will admit my old eyes had some problems with these subtle color changes.

I definitely have enough of this yarn for a full color repeat for a second pair of socks. I won’t use a contrast toe this time and I want to incorporate some sort of slipped stitch or contrast stitch in between the colors. And I fully understand that I may have trouble detecting those color changes in some cases. I really want to try but I may hate it and rip it back out. I reserve that right!

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Punch Bug Beanie Take Two

My Punch Bag Vanilla Beanie is complete and ready for their glamour shots!

Pattern: None, just my own beanie “recipe” over 88 stitches (rav link)

Yarn: Knit Picks Felici Worsted in Punch Bug

Needles: US 8s

Mods: For this version I used a ribbed folded brim for extra warmth.

This project is 90 grams of a 100 gram skein of yarn. So I missed the mark on using up all the yarn. But not by much! I added this tiny ball of yarn to my leftovers bag. It fits really well on my head but it was a little tight on the husband’s head.

This hat matches my Punch Bug Vanilla Socks so they will either stay with me or go as a matching set. This finish really has helped reinforce my craft mojo. I have turned all my focus on to the Basic Dude Beanie.

Happy Friday and Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: 2023 GFOA Socks

My 2023 GFOA Socks are finally done and properly photographed!

Pattern: None, my own 68 stitch toe up vanilla sock with afterthought heel (Rav link)

Yarn: KirbyWirby Old Faithful Sock in Rose Apothecary Remix

Needles: US 1s

I used about 75 grams of sock yarn to make these. Which makes them roughly 340 yards worth of yarn. They come past my ankles and a decent amount up my calves. Should make nice boot socks!

These just turned out beautifully. I am super pleased with my neutral heel choice. It just fell so beautifully inside the rainbow progression. It’s still crazy hot here in Kansas so I don’t have much a chance to wear them yet but I can’t wait!

Reengaging Self Care

Life has been kicking right in the yarn balls lately. And I haven’t been great at taking care of myself or taking time for myself. Last night we had no kid events and the hubs was putting the kids to bed so I secluded myself in the basement for the evening.

I have my 2023 GFOA Socks where I cut in my heels. And then I have a nice Cab Sav with do it yourself cheese and cracker. I literally bit off some cheese and then add a cracker, lol. And I put on a face mask and foot mask while I binged Only Murders In The Building Season 2.

Won’t solve all my problems but it sure was nice to take a breath for a minute! Happy Self Care!!

Punch Bug Vanilla Beanie: Take Two

I found my Chia Goo interchangeable needles and managed to get my Punch Bug Beanie back on the needles. I am calling this one “Take Two”.

I am still casting on 88 stitches for this redo but this time its on 8 US needles. So the fabric is not as loosey goosey as it was on 10 US. This is a pretty fat skein of worsted therefore I think I will knit the ribbing doubly long and fold it over. In hopes of maximizing using up the full skein.

Happy Knitting!!

Two Rainbow Tubes

I managed to finish both tubes this week on my 2023 GFOA socks!

They matched almost perfectly! My second cuff might be a hair short but its close enough. I have decided I am not going to use the rainbow yarn to do the heels. I have some plain grey leftovers that should work nicely.

I just need to dig out my DPNs so I can pick up stitches and cut in the afterthought heel. Happy Knitting!!

Diversity Training

I volunteer on a local non-profit board and we are incorporating DEAI (diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion) into our framework. That included mandatory training after work hours. Of course I brought knitting! And then I got the giggles when I realize my project was rainbow and on “theme”.

This is my second tube for my 2023 GFOA socks and I’m SUPER close to the cuff on this. I got two whole stripes done in a 60 minute meeting. I do have to keep checking my first sock to make sure I am putting the increases in the same place for the second sock. It has been invigorating to feel connected back to knitting again!

Happy Knitting!!

Frog Pond: Punch Bug Beanie

I pulled up my Ravelry and took inventory of what I had in my projects and queue. It was very indicative of my mental bandwidth. Several projects on the go but nothing that sparked my creativity. So I decided to do some clean up!

I had my Punch Bug Beanie started out of some Knit Picks Felici Worsted in the Punch Bug color. I had started this hat to match my Punch Bug Vanilla Socks. I was using Size 10 needles…..because I don’t know why. But I HATED the fabric it was creating.

So during a spirited game of Trouble with the kiddos, I ripped back the whole hat. I plan to find my US 8 needles and restart this hat. The socks are done and waiting for their sibling. Hoping this swabbing of the deck will help fuel my creativity. Happy Frogging!!