Cast On: Mom’s Christmas 2021 Hat

Next up in my hat addiction is the yarn my mother specifically picked out to maker her a hat. My last few hats have been worsted but this yarn is DK so I’m having to re-do my numbers. I have tentatively cast on 96 stitches on a US 7 needle.

I really should gauge swatch but I am just going to start the hat and see what comes out. I mean the worst that happens is that I rip back and start again, lol. This yarn is some of the Shepherd’s Mill I picked up on my accidental yarn crawl. It’s a two ply DK with a subtle pink fade/gradient to the colors.

It will be interesting to see how far I get into the color progression before I need to finish the hat.

Happy Knitting!!

More Hat Decreases

My Purple Worsted Hat is growing nicely. I popped my hat onto my mannequin head to see where I was to determine if crown decreases were necessary.

This yarn is custom milled here in Kansas at the Shepherds Mill in Phillipsburg KS. It’s a nice round three ply. I think this would be what knitting with handspun would be like? I noticed some thick and thin changes in the plies for this yarn as I work. I’m not knocking it but its certainly different than working with a mainstream commercial yarn.

After consulting the mannequin head and getting the hubby’s opinion, I think I am ready to start the decreases. And maybe I can have a FO this week?

Happy Knitting!!

Progressing To Green

Arbitrary knitting rules be damned…I can’t quit my latest In The Light shawl.

The first color section is done and the first fade transition. I’m now in the second full section where I am holding C1 and C2. This was going to be my most pronounced transition but I’m happy with how well its actually blending.

I think I have a couple row more of this section before I start the second fade. After this second fade then I will be ready for a solid green middle chunk. This project is very squishy and warm.

I can tell this simple version is using less yarn than the fringed version, which is okay. I’ll have scraps for my scrappy project. And I shouldn’t be surprised as I’m knitting less stitches because there is no border. This project would work well for smaller put-ups or partial leftover skeins.

I will put this on pause to try and finish my Toxic Oreo Socks if I can ignore the “just one more row” urge. Happy Knitting!!

Almost Complete Toxic Oreos

My Toxic Oreo Vanilla Socks have been living in my purse and see slow but steady process. I have reached the cuff of the final sock.

I think last I showed you guys, the second sock was at the heel where I have the project keeper clipped in. I did my best to match the leg increase of the first sock until I got to the total stitch count I needed for the cuff.

If I sit down I could probably knock these out in maybe an hour? And then I would have some new socks to add to my drawer. But knitting heart only wants to work on hats right now. I might have to implement an arbitrary knitting rule and say no more hat knitting until these are finished, lol.

Do you have any arbitrary knitting rules?

Cast On: In The Light

I was so thrilled with my Into The Light both for how much yarn it used up and how beautifully it turned out that I pulled yarn to make at least two more. And it was now that I realized I was using the wrong name for the project….its actually In The Light, lol.

@atangledyarn84

This version is going to be a green version. I pulled two skeins of Cloudlover Fiber sock yarn that I bought literally before Jellybean was born, so six years ago! They are the Mag Mell and Mojito colorways are going to be my beginning and end colors. To pull this project together I chose a golden skein of One Twisted Tree sock yarn in the Forest Floor colorway. One Twisted Tree is no longer dying so this is a special skein for me.

For this go around with the pattern I am going to do the plain version instead of the fringed version I did the first time. I am chugging through the first color section. Holding these highly variegated yarn double really smooths the colors out and makes a nicely evenly colored fabric.

I’m pretty excited to get to the next color to see how things blend! Happy Knitting!!

Ready For Camo Decreases

I have really been monogamous on my Camo Hat for Dad this week. I think I’m ready for the crown decreases!

As I had previously suspected the yarn did end up pooling/flashing. But it also almost striped in some areas. That was quite the surprise, lol. But it’s still a great hat and going to SUPER warm.

I think for this one I definitely like the brim folded up. I think its going to make a nice non-slouch beanie to keep out the winter wind. I do need to find my size 8 dpns to finish the crown. Some helpful child I think has absconded with them to play god knows what. My best bet is probably to look in the dollhouse….

Happy Knitting!!

Sunset Knitting

I have been taking advantage of the lingering evening light and trying to get my butt out and walk in the evenings. It is still pretty cool here and a jacket is a must but it’s nice to have fresh air and beautiful sunsets.

For last night’s walk I took Dad’s Camo hat for a stroll. I’m still working on the main body of the hat. The camo colors are starting to pool and flash a little bit but I’m not going to fuss about it. It will be interesting to see what develops!

Happy Knitting

Cast On: Dad’s Camo Hat

After finishing the He Will Have His Revenge Hat last week I spent date night and some of the weekend working on my next hat. I pulled the skein of Lanaloft I recently procured from my accidental yarn crawl. My needles were cold and my mojo is still going strong.

As you can tell I made fairly good progress for just a few hours. It’s amazing what a few hours of movie and playground knitting can get done. The ribbing is done and I’m a good chunk of the way up the main body of the hat. This skein is a little shorter in yardage from my last few hats meaning its a little thicker of a worsted. This yarn is also a single so it is working up a little differently than a plied yarn and I kind of like it.

I am at a crossroads to figure out how much more I can knit and still finish the decreases before I run out of yarn. This hat will be for the Christmas box, likely for my Dad since I already gifted the hat I intended for him. He’s got a pretty big noggin so I need a pretty robust hat. Maybe I can sneak a peak at his favorite ball cap or fishing hat?

I predict this will become a FO soon! Happy Knitting!!

All The Tequila Sunrise Singles

The spring sunshine and warmer temperatures has brought my family outside more. I have been making myself bring my spindle spinning outside to finish off my Tequila Sunrise Singles.

Turns out when you work on something, it gets done! I have managed to spin up ALL the pink singles. You can tell that this braid of fiber had more pink than yellow or orange. I’m okay with that. I really really want to try and chain ply this yarn. This will truly push my spinning skills. But hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

This started as 4 ounces of Corriedale roving from BlueBerryChick etsy shop. It was from the Down Cellar Studio’s 2020 Splash Pad Party KAL. Feels good to get this fiber worked up before the next one starts, lol.

Happy Spinning!

Cast On: He Will Have His Revenge Hat

The hat mojo has shown no signs of slowing. I finished the Learning to Flick Hat and turned right around and put another worsted weight hat on the needles.

This yarn is some Leading Man Fiber Arts Box Office worsted in the “He Will Have His Revenge” colorway. I think I will end up calling this the He Will Have His Revenge Hat because that just sounds delicious.

I’m already almost all the way through the ribbing and ready to start the stockinette section. I did my same 88 stitches on size US8 needles “recipe” for all my recent hats. I do plan to flick the stockinette portion so I’m hoping this is a quick knit. I’d like to get some the Shepherd’s Mill yarn on the needles as well.

Happy Knitting!!