WIP Wednesday: My Fingerless Gloves

Glove number one is done save the thumb. I couldn’t find my US 1.5 dpns so I decided to save all the thumbs for last after finishing all the other mitts.

  

I like a nice long cuff that reaches back into the sleeves on my winter coat. Keeps out the drafts I tried this on and it’s a very snug but comfortable mitt for me but I have fairly slim wrists. So I’m thinking for my matching pair to go up to 60 stitches to be more forgiving.

Onward to mitt number two! Happy Knitying!!

Matching Gloves

 I was lovingly admiring my sock yarn stash the other day and doing a bunch fantasy knitting where I was matching yarn to imaginary projects. I got a lovely skein of Knotty Sock 2 from Two Windows Dye Co for Christmas. It’s a variegated pale purple. And inspiration struck, why not matching fingerless gloves for myself and the gifter?

I jotted down some calculations based on my guage and a “vanilla” fingerless glove with thumb gusset I started a 52 stitch glove with 2×2 ribbing. My progress thus far:

 

The yarn is very pleasant with good twist that doesn’t split. The color shifts and subtle and lovely. The combination of the two are making this project fly! I’m hoping to take good enough notes to write down the recipe on my project page…fingers crossed!

WIP Wednesday: Fantastico Vanilla Socks

I’m still working on my 2016 Sock Experiment and this time it’s a pair for my dad. I pulled the Regia Fantastico 6-ply I got during the 2015 Central Kansas Yarn Hop. It’s a sport weight in a blue/grey color mix.

  
I’ve cast on 68 stitches on a US 2 needles. My dad wears a US 13 wide shoes so it will be a lot of stitches! It’s my go to toe up vanilla sock with a gusset heal this time. It’s going quickly given how little I’ve been knitting lately. I’m hoping to finish these and tuck them away for Christmas!

Happy Knitting!!

A Do-Over

I finished a cowl for my friend Mere last week. And I was less than pleased with my efforts to duplicate a years old project. I took it as a matter of pride. So what’s a knitter to do? I pulled some purple (her second color choice) and cast on again. This time I’m adding more stockinette in between the eyelets to better replicate the original.

I feel a bit more revived with this project but it’s still a little bit “the song remains the same”

 I’ll just have to keep knitting! 

 

A Much Better Fit

Sock number two is complete for my Active Vanilla Socks!

The fit is MUCH better. I used 50 stitches and changed the leg to 1×1 ribbing. Otherwise it’s the same toe up vanilla sock with gusset heel I intended to make in the first place.

This sock fabric is pretty thick and don’t fit in my dress boots. But they fit extremely well in my house shoes and snow boots. These will be excellent snuggly warm deep winter socks. And I should be able to find them in the dark they are so bright! Now I just need to start sock number three or re-do sock number one depending on how you look at it.

Happy Knitting!

Mandrake Vanilla Socks

I currently only have my Active Vanilla Socks on the needles. And that is just not enough!

  I pulled the Mandrake color way from String Theory Colorworks from my box of fingering weight yarn. This is a skein from my 2016 sock experiment and it’s a MCN. Gotta love merino/cashmere/nylon! I’ve divided the skein in half as close as I could while still being able to start with the same colored stripe. As an aside The dyer is fabulous and listed the stripe progression on the label for you!

These will be toe up vanilla socks quite perfect for my purse knitting vacancy. I’m not sure what kind of heel I’ll do yet. The sock will speak to me soon enough! The husband and I had a date night to Hail! Ceasar and I got some serious knitting in. How gorgeous are these stripes!?

  
And for anyone keeping score my husband hated the movie and likes the socks. I however thought the movie was amusing and I’m not sold on the purple stripe.

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday: Active Vanilla Socks  

I pulled some yarn from my 2016 Sock Experiment to start my next pair of socks! The winner was the Active 6-ply from Regia in eye searing hot pink! I wanted a thick and quick project (relatively speaking for socks).

  
I’m working on size 3US needles over 60 stitches for a toe up vanilla sock. I’ve never worked toe up socks on these large of needles with this heavy of yarn so I’m wary of my guage. I need to pull out one of my fingering weight socks and  measure the total width of the foot fabric. Just eyeballing this sock…it feels big. But we all know swatches and our eyes can lie! Along the same lines, I’m going to work a gusset heel instead of an afterthought heel because I don’t know how far one ball of yarn will go. I only have two balls! I’m sure it will be fine but better safe than sorry.

As for the yarn, it’s not the softest. It feels rather like rope to me. The caveat being that I’m also working on a cashmere/merino blend socks. So I’ll withhold texture judgment until they are done. 

Happy Knitting!

Vestuary

The month of February has become known as Vestuary in the knitting world. I’m not sure who started it but it’s cute regardless. I’ve never played along but I got the itch this year. I’ve been eyeing the Aeon Vest by Hilary Smith Callis.

  
(Photo @hilarysmithcallis)

I want this vest like right now in this color in my greedy little paws. Jewel tones really go well with my eyes and skin tone. Not to mention that the open nature of this vest won’t emphasize my still there mom belly. And it’s got pockets!!

This is worked in worsted and I need over 1,000 yards. I can’t afford to break the bank but I really need this sweater!!! A friend had recently mentioned she used Mighty Stitch by Knit Picks for a sweater and found it really hard wearing yet soft. Perfect for my life where I get covered in Toddler “love” every day. It’s 20% SW and 80% acrylic with 208 yard skeins. At $3.49 per ball I could knit my vest for under $25. And you guys….they had that blue….

  
It’s “celestial” and just perfect. So then I might have gone right over and put in my order. I’m hoping the yarn gets here fast so I can at least start this in Vestuary!

So Close!!

My Husbands Pats socks are soooooo close!

  
We took a last minute three day weekend not so long ago and I got some really good car knitting in. I finished the first sock and plowed through the second one. It’s Jan 30th and I have until Feb 7th (the Super Bowl) to get these done for the #dcspigskinparty2015 KAL.

Seriously it’s like 4 more inches of ribbing and done! Fingers crossed!!