Tag Archives: WIP

Cast On: Volcano Trail

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Summer had me itching for a new project aka new cast on. So Iet myself cast on my Volcano Trail that I had been wishfully knitting.

I am just barely past the cast on, lol. But this first chunk will be a stockinette section folded over and seamed to itself for the top edge. So I am holding the first color double with itself. I am excited for the colors I have picked for this project, they are quite eclectic.

First up is some Shibui Knits Staccato in the Raspberry color and next I will add some Spunky Eclectic Spunky Socks in the Wild Child color. My third color is a mystery skein of greenish sock yarn that I got in a mystery box purchase. And I will round out this project with a skein of Mrs Crosby’s Hat Box in the Pansy colorway.

So if those yarn names mean nothing to you, basically the cowl will move from pinks to greens and back to purple thanks to marling. This project promises minimal purling so that is a bonus for this garter loving girl!

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Scrappy Marl #2

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Despite my hesitations about this project I did manage to finish my second scrappy marl hat. My second Scrappy Marl is done, blocked and photographed. In the end, I’m okay with this project but still largely “meh” about it.

Pattern: Scrappy Marl by Beata Jezek (Ravelry link)

Needles: US 6s and 8s

Yarn: A whole bunch of tiny sock yarn scraps with no real scheme

Mods: I upped the needle sizes by 2 in order to get a bigger hat than my first one.

This hat ended up using just over 300 yards of sock yarn. I think I used up all but four of my tiny balls of sock. I consider it “tiny” when its under 5 grams. So this was a great stash buster for me.

Just as in my first one I used a spit splice to join all my ends so I didn’t have 1,000 ends to weave in ends. My kiddos laughed at me because I legit used a balloon to block this hat. I inflated the balloon inside this hat and set out to dry. They couldn’t wait for it to dry so they could have the balloon, lol.

This FO is definitely going into the donate pile. It is a fine hat but I just don’t love the chaos of colors. But it is still a functioning hat and will keep a head warm. The yarn is all superwash so I would feel comfortable donating this to a local shelter or other charity.

Happy Knitting!!

Unsure About The Chaos

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I have some more colors added to my Scrappy Marl #2. I’m drifting a little more away from “ugly” but I’m not sure I would call this elegant by any means.

I have another inch to add and then I will be ready for the decreases. I only have about 5 small balls of scraps left in my bag. So that is thrilling to get odds and ends used up into something useful. I am determined to finish this project before I hold judgement on its final aesthetics.

I do love this pattern and its simple instruction. Ten out of ten I would make this again to use up scraps or mini skeins. Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Mom’s Bonus Hat

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I have 48 grams of my Shepherd’s Mill 2 ply DK yarn left from my Mom’s 2021 Christmas Hat. I decided to dive right back in and cast on a second hat for my mom. With the idea that I will use up this skein of yarn and give her both ends of the gradient.

I made a couple of tweaks to try and set myself up for success. First, I took the stitch count down to 88 total for the cast on. This will hopefully increase the height I can achieve given I have less yarn for the second. Second I think I am going to forgo standard/typical crown decreases. I am going to knit until I run out of yarn and the Kitchener the top closed in a “square”.

This could end in a fail or in a quirky project. I don’t think my mom will care as long as its warm and her ears don’t hurt when she takes her dogs outside in the winter, lol.

Happy Knitting!!

A Second Chaotic Marl

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While my needles and project bag were still at hand I did cast on a second Scrappy Marl. I tried to group my tiny scraps into coordinating pairs to use when I hold them double. So far I am not convinced about this project….its reading a bit more “ugly” than “chaotic” to me.

My husband told me to put my OCD brain on hold and wait until I have added all the colors added in. He thinks it will all blend more when I get some other colors added in. He could be right but my sequential and orderly brain just rebels against this, lol.

For sure this hat will go into the gift/donation bin. While I am confident I can make this into a perfectly serviceable hat….I don’t see myself keeping or wearing this one. But I am jazzed about how many tiny balls of scraps are disappearing from my stash!

Happy Knitting!!

Two Purple Rain Toes

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I have had my Purple Rain Socks project in a bag for almost a month with maybe three rows on on the first sock? I just didn’t feel the drive to work on it. So the other day I asked myself why that was. I answered myself with “I don’t want to fuss with the toes I just want it to be ready for round and round stockinette”.

So I bribed my self with the promise of Dairy Queen ice cream and I powered through not one but both toes for the socks. This KFI luxury sock yarn came wound in two identical gradient cakes so I could do both toes without any yarn management. I have the first sock on the nine inch circular needles and the second I will put in a needle minder.

My needles are Hiya Hiya sharps and this yarn is a 2 ply sock weight. It is a little splitty in spots so I have to pay attention and make sure I am getting both strands in every stitch. It has a nice sturdy hand so I’m not worried about the finished product. But I can see if I only get one strand I will create a weak spot.

These have become my primary purse knitting project so maybe I can start gaining steam. But school is out for the summer so I won’t have as much car knitting time over the next couple of months. But as with many of my projects…slow and stead will win the race.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Scrappy Marl Hat

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A happy Memorial Day to all those in the US. I am taking advantage of the long weekend to cast on a scrappy project I have been dreaming of for a minute. My Scrappy Marl is on the needles and flying along.

This project holds sock yarn double so it is really chewing through scraps. And yes, I am purposely planning my yarns. I am moving from light to dark in a pseudo rainbow. I’m blending purples and reds right now.

So far I am super pleased. It does feel a little small and tight, but I think blocking will do a world of good on this project. It is a lot of super wash yarn so its going to grow. For my sanity I am spit splicing or Russian joining the ends as I add new colors. No way I want to weave in 100 ends on a scrappy project, lol.

Happy Knitting!!

Yarn Chicken?

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My Double Vanilla socks have been the dark horse in my knitting lately. I have been consistently picking them up during school car lines, video meetings and all the in-between times. And all of a sudden in less than a week, I have a second sock! (It really helps that it is DK weight yarn, lol!)

I have been counting my rows to try and match sock #1. But I might be playing a bit of yarn chicken with the second sock. I didn’t line up the photo very well but I still need 5 rows and a bind off on the second sock to match.

Is it really going to matter if I’m off by a row or two? No it is not. And the bonus is that I’m using really super close to 100% of this skein of yarn. No leftovers!!

Happy Knitting!!

Ready For Lace….Again

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Yesterday was a great sunshine day and I got my In The Light (pink version) outside for a good photograph!

I have blended in the third and last color of this project. It is a OOAK (one of a kind) skein from KirbyWirby yarns. Normally she is a self-striping dyer but I think this is an experiment she put in her shop because its definitely a variegated yarn.

I’m SUPER happy with how this bright is blending in and makin up the darkest section of the project. I’m ready to start the lace section and then all have is the final knitted border that I will unravel for fringe. I’m still addicted to this project and can’t wait to have the finished item!

Happy Knitting!!

Ready For The Bright Pink

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I had a few Zoom meeting this last couple of days where I wasn’t presenting or having to talk very much. And you know what? That is great for garter stitch knitting! In roughly two days of meeting and after bedtime knitting I am poised to add the third and last color to my In The Light (pink version)!

I am definitely a broken record but I love how well this double stranded sock yarn plays well with highly variegated and speckled yarn. It just smooths out any pooling or flashing. As a knitter I have never minded making a good pattern over and over again. This one will definitely be one for my repeat catalogue!

Happy Knitting!!