Tag Archives: WIP

A Little Calorimetry in My Life

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Happy Presidents Day!

I work at a financial institution which means I get the day off! So I say MORE KNITTING!! I have been petting the skein of hand spun superwash BFL I picked up awhile back.

And then it hit me, I had just shy of enough yards for a Calorimetry by Kathrn Shoendorf.

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How can you not want to knit something like this when the author is this excited? (Photo credit to © Kathryn Schoendorf and the Calorimetry Rav page)

So off I go in search of my US 8 straight bamboo needles. I seriously haven’t used straights in AGES! But all my other 8s are tied up with baby sweaters so I gotta do what I gotta do! I’ll also need to make a couple of mods to the pattern length or width to make sure I have enough yarn but I’m a big girl I think I can handle it!

P.S. This will be 2014 Stashbustin’ #10 for those keeping track.

Happy Knitting!!

A Plain Rye

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I bit the bullet and joined the Socks with Sarah KAL over on Ravelry! There are some SERIOUSLY cool socks rocking over there!!

For my next KAL project I decided to take a twist on my last set of socks.

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Pattern: Rye by Tincanknits

Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Worsted (100% merino and should make WARM socks!) in Squirrel Heather

Needles: US 4 and 5 dpns

Size: Large

Mods: I’m going to omit the garter ridges on the top of the foot and up the cuff. Don’t get me wrong they are gorgeous! I really like the fit of this sock and want a basic “vanilla” sock right now.

Have you ever modified a sock to fit your “flavor”?

2014 Stashbustin’ #12: Assisted Hatching

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It’s WIP Wendesday!!!

Bolstered by yesterday’s gorgeous sweater and a ginormous case of start-itis, I cast on another baby sweater. Baby fever + start-itis = more WIPs than my husband can handle!

But how can you resist this? Assisted Hatching by Elizabeth Ditchburn Dew….

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(Photo credit to © kitchenerstitch and the Assisted Hatching Rav pg)

I’m really glad I have two sets of interchangeable needles, lol…..because I have already made good progress on this sweater!

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Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Pagoda

Needles: US 8 circs (Denise Interchangeable)

Size: 0-3 months

Happy Knitting!!!

Stashbustin’ #11: Henry’s Sweater

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After yesterday’s disappointment I had the itch to try a different baby sweater. And having recently pruned and tagged my Rav queue, I did some easy and organized searching to find….Henry’s Sweater

P1050813_medium2(Photo credit to © jennicole01 and the Henry’s Sweater Rav pg)

This is similar to the Sophisticate with the stockinette and shawl collar. But it has more overlap on the chest and those adorable 4 buttons laid out in a square. I couldn’t wait to get started!

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Yarn: Bernat Cottontots in Country Taupe (I think this yarn has been discontinued and it’s a shame because it’s a very soft cotton and easy to work with!)

Needles: US 8s (Knits Picks Options Interchangeable)

Size: 3-6 months

Mods: None yet but I love the pattern so far!

Happy Knitting!

Stashbustin’ #8: A Simple Baby Pullover

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If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know I’m on a HUGE baby sweater kick. Most notably, Baby Sophisticates (evidenced here and here)

Well I decided to switch it up and try something new!

Pattern:  A Simple Baby Pullover by Erica Kempf

Yarn: Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton in Pistachio (I like to knit baby knits out of cotton or acrylic so new mom’s don’t have to worry about hand-washing)

Needles: US 8s

Size: 0-3 Months

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I love top down raglan construction. I could almost do this in my sleep now! I’ve already knit the yoke and divided for the sleeves. I think I will make one mod and knit short sleeves instead of long. I like to layer pieces and in my opinion give the mom/baby recipient a little more versatility and longevity of the sweater. (Not to mention I get to be finished and pet the adorable FO even faster!)

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I also find the the garter rib detail of the partial button band adorable. It’s a wee bit messy because I’m not the best at button holes). Not to mention this design detail helps the sweater fit over the giant noggins most babies tend to have. This button band does mean you have to work back and forth for the “yoke” section for awhile. But never fear, it joins in the round soon enough!

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday: Rye Socks

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My first Rye Sock is in the books!! After I got the hang of the pattern it went CRAZY fast!

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I opted to do a few less decreases at the toe section because I have a wide foot and dislike when sock “cut in” too far. Thus the finished sock has more a straight/square toe. But it’s delightfully comfortable!

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You can’t see it very well, but my Kitchener graft is sketchy and rough looking. Not bad for a first timer but definitely need more practice, lol!

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Now I’m off to cast one the second one to avoid the deadly SSS!

Happy Knitting!

Stashbustin’ #9: Close Knit Waffle Hat

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The never ending polar vortex and harsh Kansas wind have me reaching for a hat more times than I can count this year! And I’m craving something soft, warm, and luxurious!

This pattern caught my eye, Close Knit Waffle Hat!

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(Photo copyright to Leah Bandstra)

I have some Bernat Bamboo Natural Blends hiding in my stash. It’s a bulky and buttery soft bamboo. I had the choice of Linen (cream) or Almond Blossom (pink variegated)….totally picked Linen as this hat will look fabulous with my black peacoat!

I already made one modification, I cast on 72 stitches instead of 64. I have a big noggin and I have come to terms with this. So onward I trudge

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What is your go to knit this blustery winter?

Happy Knitting!

 

WIP Wednesday: Antrose

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Embolded by my swatches and encouraged by a dear friend, I finally cast on for Antrose!

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I’m working the garter ribbed collar. It’s back and forth, so no purls but lots and lots of knits! I opted to use lifted M1R and M1L increases instead of the KFB increases. With my tension and style….they just look better to me.

I have to admit, I had never done the Long Tail Cast On before (even though patterns clearly called for it). So I put my big girl pants on and went to YouTube….ITS SO EASY! Here’s the link I used. It so clean looking and makes such a nice stretchy edge! I did have to take several swings at it before I let out enough yarn in the beginning to make all the cast on stitches, lol.

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Now, just a few thousand more stitches before I have a finished sweater! I’m liking the Lion Brand Heartland yarn….although it can be “splitty” at times. And have tinked a few stitches and I could see how this yarn wouldn’t stand up to prolonged frogging. But it’s very soft and creates a nice fabric.

What’s on your needles this Wednesday?

A Rye Update

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I would like to start this post to give some love to a great project going on over at at Knitting Sarah, and that is Socks with Sarah KAL!! I’m not personally participating yet as I have a lot on my plate with CMA study material, a full day job, and a husband….but you guys totally should!!!

So in honor of #SockswithSarah, I give you an update on my Rye Socks…

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These socks haven’t seen much monogamous knitting time, but at least I’m almost to the first heel flap. I’m loving how the purl sections make the pattern pop! This pattern is free and was written by TinCanKnits. It’s a great pattern with great instruction…especially for first time sock knitters! Not to mention this worsted weight yarn goes crazy fast!

I picked a bright color to brighten up this cold and grey winter. Now if I could only knit more monogamously or faster….my feet could be warm!

Happy Knitting!

Swatch For Antrose

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Time out….time for a yarn substitution! I had swatched my original yarn choice, Knit Picks Brava Worsted in grey for my Antrose sweater. And I didn’t like it….like at all. So I pulled some Lion Brand Heartland (aran weight) in a light tan/brown and swatched to see if I could get gauge. I even washed and blocked them like a proper knitter. Here they are dry and ready to go!

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I was shocked that my gauge was actually closer with this aran weight (which is still 10 ply like worsted but still tends to be finer/smaller). I got both gauge going both directions!

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And just to be double sure….I knit one repeat of the pattern chart. There are chevrons that run up the middle of the sweater.

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Slightly looser gauge than stockinette, but I can mitigate that by keeping my “charted” stitches tighter as I switch back and forth between purls and knits.

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The color in my swatch pictures doesn’t really show the “true” color. So I trooped my swatches off to the husband’s bathroom (it has great light) and snapped a photo to give a better idea of the color.

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A couple of knitters/followers suggested using a contrast color for the chart/chevron portion. But after swatching…I find I like the simplicity of the monochromatic look. Now if I only could find the time to start the darn thing! My studies have just eaten up all my free time! All I feel like I have time for are small projects like hats and baby sweaters… #firstworldknittingproblems

Happy Knitting!