Odds and Ends Update

Posted on June 3, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I must have some very picky birds in my neighborhood….

My contribution for local bird nests is going largely ignored. The only yarn that has disappeared is the 100% wool that was at the bottom. All the cotton, acrylic, and wool/acrylic blends are untouched.

I put this under my apple tree and I think I’m going to move it to the patio. Maybe my placement is bad, or maybe I have horrible taste in yarn according to birds, lol? It has been TERRIBLY stormy here in the Midwest and it could be weather related as well. Or maybe it has already passed prime best building time for chicks and chickadees? I’m not even close to a bird expert by any means!

Only time will tell! I’ll post another update in a couple weeks. Happy Monday!

A Tip on Tuesday

Posted on May 28, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I am a big fan of the latest craze of ruffle yarn. I’ve tried everything from Red heart, Starbella, Berroco, and all kinds of other brands. I found them each to have their strengths and weaknesses. But they all had one thing in common….a twist as you pulled the yarn from the center or unraveled from the outside.

After a 50 or so scarves and really cool recent test knit I can’t tell you about yet I think I’ve found a process to deal with it.

Start with center wound ball.

Unwind using center pull end while opening and flattening the yarn to take out the twist. Once flat begin to wind into a ball.

This tape style winding takes most of the twist out of the yarn and your are left with smooth ball with flat yarn.

I find that I have to “fix” or untwist the yarn A LOT less while actually knitting. It does take some extra time at the beginning but is much less tedious during the knitting process.

Hope this tidbit helps! Happy Tuesday!!

Breaking the Yarn Diet

Posted on May 26, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I broke my stashbusting trend a bit. I had to swing over to the Yarn Barn, my LYS, and get more Soak. And I browsed while I was there….

I have been watching other knitters post about Neon by Joji Locatelli. So I bought the pattern online and picked the lovely yarn above…

It’s 12 hanks of Berroco Pure Pima cotton in green. It’s a new yarn from Berroco. (I think I’m quickly becoming a Berroco kind of girl) It’s very spring like to me and just called my name. It’s a very soft cotton and I can’t wait to try it!

I have so many other WIPs it will have to wait a bit. For now I’m just going to mark up the directions for my size and read the pattern through a few times. It’s by far one of the most complicated sweaters I will attempt. It uses the contiguous construction method, which looks amazing.

For now it sits in cakes on my craft desk and I fondle it every time I walk by, lol! The hubs and I are off to a BBQ for lunch with friends and some relaxation!!

I hope you have an awesome Sunday!!

P.S. I did remember to buy Soak as well. That justifies my trip right?

Odds n Ends

Posted on May 15, 2013 by atangledyarn84

While organizing my craft room yesterday I came across A LOT of yarn odds and ends. And a thought popped into my brain. Something neat I had seen on Pinterest and in other blogs. Why not snip the bits and peices and put in a cage outside for nesting birdies?

I grabbed a grilling/hamburger cage from the discount store…

And my bag of leftovers…

Fill cage with yarn and close!

I hung the contraption outside in our apple tree and viola!

Now I just have to wait and see if the little birdies take the bait…stay tuned…

2013 Stashbustin’ Update

Posted on April 17, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I didn’t have any big updates on my WIPs this week or any good photos to share. So I thought I’d round out my “stats” for 2013 and my stashbustin’ project. Here goes nothing:

Yds of Yarn used: 7,840

Ft of Yarn Used: 23,519

Stashbustin’ Projects Completed: 11 1/2

Current WIPs: 2 1/2

Total Miles knitted: 4.47

Number of skeins used from my stash: 78.5

Average blog posts per week: 5

Not to shabby if I do say so myself! Here’s to keeping the mojo flowing! What’s on your needles this week?

Sunday Morning Adventures

Posted on February 24, 2013 by atangledyarn84

After getting much needed feedback yesterday on my “Where To Stop” dilemma, I made a yarn store run this morning. The husband was sleeping in after a late night of video gaming. I may be a yarn nerd but I married an extremely committed technology gaming nerd. My Chevron Blanket uses Loops N Threads Charisma yarn from Michaels. The store doesn’t open until 10 am on Sunday and I arrived 15 minutes early due to favorable traffic. I was amazed that I was not the first one there! I kid you not there were 8 to 10 cars parked and waiting for the store to open. Never under estimate the commitment of crafty people. I snagged my needed two skeins of yarn I needed to extend my blanket. I wanted three but the store was out of the royal blue (sad face). I did score some clearance Lion Brand Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton (happy face). I got out of the store before I put an even bigger dent in my pocket book.

Next stop was Sam’s Club. We needed supplies to stock up on before “Blizzard of Oz, part II”. We got 10-12 inches of snow last Wednesday/Thursday in what they dubbed: The Blizzard of Oz. We are set for round two starting tonight and snowing through Tuesday morning. So far they are predicting another 10-14 inches. I picked up bottled water, food staples, and dog food in case we get snowed in for a couple of days. I have plenty of yarn to work through a hundred blizzards, but we’re not going to talk about that. Sam’s was packed and I ran into at least five people I knew. At least people are taking the storm seriously!

Last stop was Starbucks. A girlfriend gave me a gift card for baby sitting her baby girl so she and her husband could have some date night time last month. I don’t usually get Starbucks but I had the gift card and wanted to try their blonde roast. Again never under estimate the commitment of caffeine addicts. I had to park and go in because the drive through line was running 9 cars deep. Even with parking and walking I had my Venti Skinny Mocha’ Cafe in less than five minutes and back on my way. It was delicious by the way.

Having a little “me” time this morning was wonderful. I got to indulge my yarn addiction, my caffeine addiction, and get some chores done. Sometimes I just need to get out and about by myself to clear my head. I love spend time with my family and friends but I also like being independent. Now my husband has woken up and I am trying to convince him to take me for Thai food “because the storm is coming”, lol. Good excuse as any right?

Nerd Alert Moment

Posted on January 22, 2013 by atangledyarn84

Just a short post to show my final Christmas present to myself (finally arrived from Amazon)… I think I have a serious yarn/knitting problem!

It’s so amazingly gorgeous and makes me smile. I may or may not have squealed when it arrived. I just had to share this nerd moment.

Hello, my name is Rachelle and I have a yarn problem and I don’t care who knows it!

Adventures in Ice Skating

Posted on January 21, 2013 by atangledyarn84

Saturday was an amazing day! We spent the afternoon with friends at a baby shower/housewarming. I presented the Momma-to-be with her own One Row Blanket in sage green. She was delighted! I also threw in a baseball cacoon/snuggly of my own design and improvisation as she is having a boy and Daddy-to-be has high hopes for his athletic future. We all used to live in the same town but they moved early last year so we can’t see each other very often. It was amazing to spend time with some great friends. I can’t wait until we get to meet their son! I hope to be able to share some snaps of the baby wrapped up in hand knits in a few weeks.

On the drive back to town my husband told me he had a surprise for me since it was our first weekend together after he started his new job. But he wouldn’t tell me or give me any hints…argh. So when we got home we ate an amazing grilled chicken dinner and watched a movie. I was thrilled and delighted to have such a sweet date night. But it wasn’t over…at 9:30 my husband brought me my shoes and coat and said ‘let’s go’!

He took me ice skating for the first time ever in my life!! Our town has a local semi-pro hockey team and after the home games they let you free skate for just a few bucks. While it gets cold in Kansas, it never gets cold enough long enough to freeze any lakes or rivers. And I grew up in the boonies so we didn’t exactly have access to ice rinks. IT WAS AMAZING and it really wasn’t that much different than roller skating. A few turns around the rink and I was hooked! Not to mention its a GREAT workout and my ankles/legs/behind are sore this morning to prove it!! It was such a great feeling to fly across the ice next to my husband. It will definitely be included in our regular date night options. Sorry no photos as I was deathly afraid of flying across the ice and crashing thereby smashing my phone. But trust me it’s cool!

But you know I found myself doing? I kept noticing all the hand knits that everyone was wearing. It was fairly frosty in the rink. Scarves, hat, beanies, cowls, sweaters, boot toppers, ear warmers…..so much delicious yarn everywhere. I couldn’t help but think….”I could make that!” “Oh that’s pretty!” So much yarn worn by people of all walks of life, ages, and styles. There was boho-chic, chunky knits, downtown hipster, crazy novelty yarn, and just down right warm and snuggly amazing-ness. It’s crazy how many knits you can find when you start looking. I’m beginning to think I have problem when I can spot a hand knit from half a block away.

On top of all this, I made great progress on my Chevron Blanket during all the car travel time and movie time. FO object post coming soon!!!!

Happy Knitting!

Something For My Husband

Posted on January 17, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I never knit for my husband. He proclaims yarn to be “too scratchy”. I’ll pause for the gasps of horror…..

He grew up with those horrible acrylic afghans that everyone had in those awful colors. Never fear yarn devotees! I’m working on converting him, I thought I’d start small and make something cute/fun. In the last year he has fallen in love with Dr. Who the British television show. I saw a blog by Knittyfordrwho where the author, Lorenia Lemas, posted a pattern for a tardis washcloth. I had some bright blue Cottontots Solids in Little Boy Blue, so off I went!

The pattern was easy and fast! I knit the whole thing up watching two TV episodes. The pattern only uses knit and purl and practically flies off the needles. Interesting enough to keep my attention but not complicated enough that I couldnt watch TV. It was a nice break from my Chevron Blanket and the never ending garter stitch. I even used yarn from my stash! Finished project was pretty smart looking if I do say myself.

Upon presenting it to my husband he immediately snapped a photo and sent it to his Dr Who buddies. I think I picked up a few cool wife points and got him to dip his toe into the yarn pool!

Happy Knitting!

On the Subject of Trying New Yarn

Posted on January 11, 2013 by atangledyarn84

Despite my recent destashing efforts….I still bought new yarn. I can’t help it! I had never seen or worked with it before AND it was on sale!!

I picked up some Boutique Rigoletto Sequins by Red Heart online from Knitting Wharehouse in red, black, white, and cream.

The yarn comes in 10 yd hanks and includes a pattern for Evening Sparkle Scarf. I have to admit even this seasoned knitter had to YouTube how to work with this mohair like tube if yarn. After some basic instruction it was ridiculously easy and EXTREMELY FAST. I knit up all four hanks in two hours total.

The yarn is a bit fiddly and like a boucle or mohair it’s very good about sticking to itself. Not a yarn for ripping back errors! But when the pattern calls for CO 2 sts and then knit every st until you run out of yarn…..it’s not very likely you will have to.

I was a little disappointed that it didn’t make a longer scarf. I like length so I can wrap and contort the same scarf 100 different ways so I never get bored. Also, I knit the same pattern four times with the same gauge and all four scarves turned out differently!

Rav link here.

This yarn would be excellent for knitters who need instant gratification, a quick last minute gift, or even someone who is just learning. For me? Not so much, I enjoyed playing with a new yarn but its not a knit I’m likely to do again. Ill stick to my Boutique Sashay or Starbella Flash for scarves.

Happy Knitting and TGIF!

My Tangled Yarn Knitting Adventures

Ramblings from an obsessed knitter

Tag Archives: yarn