Dryer Ball Experiment

It was a lovely weekend here in Kansas and so I turned my 3 year tornado loose in the backyard to burn off all his little wonderful energy. I meanwhile wanted to try an experiment. I had been catching up on the backlog of the YarnHoarder YouTube podcast and recently watched her segment on dryer balls. I have had one in the past but I wasn’t impressed. Amber mentioned that she uses several at once and it cuts her drying time in half.

So my 36 week preggo body waddled to JoAnns and came home with some 100% wool to felt. I picked up three different weights to test out….roving, bulky, and worsted.

Jellybean even took play breaks to help me wind into balls!

I got them all wrapped up into balls and ensconced into pantyhose. Jellybean thought this part was HILARIOUS. I wasn’t very scientific about the size. I just split each skein into two balls as best I could tell. They totally didn’t turn out equal. Score one for eyeballing it!

Now I just need to wait for either a load of towels or jeans to pile up so I can pop these into the wash to get them felted!

Happy Crafting!

FO Friday: Henry’s Hat

I finished Henry’s Hat for Jellybeans Christmas present. (Well except for the buttons)

I worked the 6-8 size as written. I knew as I was knitting that the hat looked shallow. But I kept deluding myself that it would be okay. The circumference is spot on but he is yanking it down to cover his ears. It’s an easy enough solution… I can reknit the hat as I have plenty of yarn. I only used about 100 yards of a 250 yard skein. And so I can just extend the stockinette portion above the brim another inch or inch and a half. 

Either way Jellybean loved the hat and wore it ALL DAY at daycare even though it’s 90 degrees or more in Kansas right now. At least I know he likes my knits!

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday: Henry’s Hat

I’ve finally decided to kick my rear in gear and start Henry’s Hat for Jelkybean. You know the one I started taking about in April?

Well now the yarn is wound and I tracked down the right sized needles. My pattern is printed and I’ve read it a couple time to wrap my brain around the contraction. Nothing left but the actual knitting to do!

P.S. Love this pouch I won in a contest from the Knitting Goddess in the UK. Seriously her stuff is amazing!

Happy Knitting!!

A Finished Flax

Jellybean’s Flax sweater has been finished with the knitting for several days but it’s still “a block away” as the Knitmore Girls say. And since my shingles have sidelined my knitting I thought I’d share this in its current state.  

Pattern:  Flax by Tin Can Knits from their Simple Collection

Needles: U.S. 6 and 8 needles

Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Worsted in Pageant

Size: 2-3 years

mods: none
 

I’m hoping a good blocking will highlight the fantastic ridge detail of the garter section on the arms. I used 216 grams of yarn or just over 4 skeins of yarn. I’m glad I chose the 2-3 year old size so that Jellybean will get more wear out of it. He’s almost a year old and firmly in 24 month clothing. Now I just need to find a time where it’s not too hot and Jellybean is in the mood to model this FO after its blocking bath. Cross your fingers for that perfect storm will you?

Happy Knitting!

FO Friday: A Plain Rye

Tah Dah!

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One of my 2014 carryover projects is done!

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Pattern: Rye by Tim Can Knits

Needles: 5 US Dpns

Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Squirrel heather

Mods: I took our the garter sections and worked in stockinette all the way around.

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I’ve blogged about these here and here. It hasn’t taken me long to finish these at worsted weight yarn. I couldn’t figure out why these stalled. And then I remembered….they don’t fit my foot well. I miss-measured and the foot isn’t quite long enough. Oh well, into the gift pile they go! I have a feeling they will end up on my sister’s size 7 feet.

Happy Knitting!

What’s On My Needles #2

My overly organized OCD brain has convinced me to number my entries with KnittingSarah’s #whatsonmyneedles posts. I just can’t help it. I kinda want to see how many I could do in a year?

Anyhoo….back to the point!

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My Plain Rye socks now have the gusset complete and I’m cruising into the foot section!

Yay for worsted weight yarn! I’m really hoping to finish these soon so I can start my husband’s socks I blogged about last Friday.

What’s on your needles today?

WIP Wednesday: Jellybean’s Bunting

I had a lot of yarn left from Jellybean’s blanket and I wanted to add some more special touches to the nursery.

I cruised Ravelry and came across this pattern, A Bunting Fit For A Queen by Vero Pepperrell.

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Photo copyright: @Vero Pepperrell

It is originally written for fingering weight and I have worsted weight. So my triangles are just going to come out bigger is all. I’ve already cast on for the first one! Gotta love the instant gratification of quick knits. I even dug some fancy ribbon out of my sewing box to hang these babies!

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T-minus 5 weeks to Jellybean…Happy Knitting!

2014 Stashbustin’ #12: Assisted Hatching

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’ #3: Rye Socks

I want to take another swing at socks. So for 2014 Stashbustin’ #3, I chose Rye Socks by Tin Can Knits! It’s a free pattern using worsted/aran weight yarn. Aren’t they gorgeous?

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(Photo from Tin Can Knits rav page)

I pulled the Caron Simply Soft in Sunshine (yellow) from my hibernating One Piece Pullover from back in 2013. It’s worsted weight and being acrylic will stand up to my beginner mistakes and subsequent frogging when it comes to making socks. If I like this pattern, then I may do it again with better yarn, lol.

I like this idea of socks knitting in heavier yarn. I find as a knitter I like instant gratification projects. Socks are fast anyway, but worsted weight yarn whooo boy! I might even whip up a pair for my husband and his giant feet 🙂

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday: Stashbusting Gloves

I feel like shouting….”Once more into the breach!!!”

Are these gloves starting to look familiar? Well guess what, they should be! These are some Simple Fingerless Mitts (take three) or my Stashbustin’ #42 project.

P.S. sorry for the bad lighting….it’s getting so dark so early it’s hard to get good pics!

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I wanted to make another gift pair and do a little odds and ends stashbusting. I had some Berroco Vintage DK in orange from my first two pair of gloves and some Berroco Vintage worsted in yellow from my Brick Sweater.  They colors looked good together so off I went.

I weighed each remaining lot of yarn and divided in half. One half for each glove. I worked the orange (dk) in 2×2 rib until I ran out. Then I proceeded on with the pattern in the yellow (worsted) until I ran out of yarn. I wasn’t able to fully complete the 2×2 rib at the top, or really at all. So the mitt curls a bit…ok a lot. I’m going to give this first mitt a bath and a block to see if it solves the curl. Otherwise I’ll rip back and correct it. Then of course….knit the matching mate to go with.

Honest opinion time….do you guys think this glove works?

Only a few more weeks till Xmas…..