My Knitting Life: 01

I thought it would be fun to start a weekly post that talked all about my knitting during the previous week. I am thinking of it being like a knitting podcast, but in blog format instead of video. Maybe one day I will start a podcast as I love watching them and getting all excited over seeing that person's excitement for everything!

So here we go...

Finished Objects

This week I have three FO's to share, two of which have been long overdue in the sharing department.

#1: Men's Cashmere Scarf pattern from "Last-Minute Knitted Gifts" by Joelle Hoverson

The scarf was a special request from my nephew for Christmas. I was told the width/length desires and that it should be in a neutral color.

At Rhinebeck last year, I came across a sock gradient kit from Shelridge Farm and my sister thought it would be a good choice for the scarf.

The sticker on the kit said it contained six colors, but sadly it only had five. I didn't really discover this, or it didn't sink into my brain before I bought it or while I was caking it, until after I had already knitted the first four colors. It wouldn't of been bad except that I had already based my calculations for the finished length of the scarf for six colors.

There was nothing I could do at this point so I plunged ahead with it and hoped it would block out longer than what my finished measurement would be.

I finished knitting the scarf towards the end of January, but didn't get it off the needles and ends woven in until this past Monday. Sad, I know. Such a naughty aunt.

In the end I am happy how it turned out. The only thing I wish I did differently was fade from one color to the next, instead of an abrupt change in color. I haven't soaked/blocked it yet, so I don't know if I made it to my desired finished measurements.

#2: Blueberry Waffle Socks by Sandy Turner

Started: November 24, 2016
Finished: February 4, 2017

I had these sock finished for awhile, but didn't weave in the four measly ends until this past Monday. So therefore, I didn't feel I could share them as an FO until they were "officially" complete. Silly, I know.

The yarn was gifted to me from my mother a few Christmas's ago. It's from HauteKnitYarn in Bumble Rumble. I let it ferment in my stash for quite some time until I knew exactly what I wanted to knit with it.

I love how they turned out !

#3: Grinchmas Sock

Started: February 9, 2017
Finished: February 27, 2017
Yarn: NomadicYarns - Trusty Sock - Grinchmas
Pattern: My basic top-down vanilla sock pattern

You guys! I am so in love with my Grinchmas socks!!!!!

This yarn was a new-to-me yarn and OMG. It is so, so, SO wonderful to knit. The colors are a vibrant tonal and the feel of it is amazing. Slid so easily on my needles.

And, can I say just how shocked I am at how perfectly matched my stripes are between the two socks?

If you haven't knit with NomadicYarn's yet, I highly recommend it. The turn around time for dye-to-order is usually 4-5 weeks and totally worth the wait in my opinion.

These socks are also my first finished pair of socks for the BoxOSoxKAL2017 that Voolenvine Yarns is hosting in her Yarngasm Podcast Ravelry Group.

WIP's

I only have one current WIP to share this week.

Hermione's Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder 
Started: February 25

Since I had been knitting with some newly acquired sock yarn for my Grinchmas Socks, I decided I wanted to dig deep into my sock yarn stash vault for these. I came up with Three Irish Girls - Adorn Sock in Saltwater Taffy. I picked it because it reminded me of a beautiful sunrise/sunset at the beach!

The progress you see here was all I completed on Saturday into Sunday morning. I had cast on while meeting my dear friend Shameka (Mekamika Shop Podcast) for some lunch and afternoon knitting on Saturday. I only started them when I got to the heel flap on my Grinchmas Socks. I find when we get together, I need to only knit on items that don't need a ton of concentration because we are non-stop talkers when we get together.

Also, how adorable, and perfectly matched, is the owl progress keeper? Shameka also has an Etsy shop (MekaMika) where she makes/sells amazing stitch markers.

I'm also knitting these for the BoxOSoxKAL2017, but also for Inside Number 23's Harry Potter KAL she is hosting on her Ravelry group. I am totally blaming Shameka for getting me onto these KAL's. She is the queen of KAL participation and somehow I just got sucked into it! It's all good though, as it motivates me to knit more of my stash faster

Stash Enhancement

#1: Dragon Hoard Yarn - Superwash Sock Yarn in Japanese Cherry Blossoms

#2: Corda Bella Hand Dyed Yarns - Ultra Sock Yarn in Dancing Queen

#3 and #4: Feza - Gradient Baby Blanket Kits (Pink and Red)

I purchased these two kits from ImagiKnit after seeing Ellen's (The Ellen Report) gorgeous blanket being knit up on her Instagram and then again on her blog.

I have a close friend who is due with her second baby girl in May. I couldn't decide which color to knit for her, so I bought both colors. I figured I would knit the one I didn't choose for my friend down the road sometime.

The yarn is a mix of cotton and rayon and is totally scrumptious in person!

I ended up deciding to knit the pink blanket kit for my friend. It just called to me for her and of course this is the color Ellen is knitting so I've seen just how gorgeous it knits!

The theme of my stash enhancement this week seems to be pink! It's definitely one of my most favorite colors.

So, that's it for this past week of my knitting life. My goal going forward is to hopefully have this post up every Monday and it will cover all my knitting from the previous Monday to Sunday.

Hope you like it and please share with me all that you are working on in the comments. I always love hearing what everyone is up to in the crafty world!

FO Chronicles: Antarktis

I knew for my Summer Swap package I wanted to knit a simple, one skein shawl for my partner. I had the perfect skein of sock yarn in hand, but needed to find the perfect pattern for it.

After much Ravelry research, I decided to knit Antarktis. I chose this pattern because not only would it be a quick knit, but it would surely be great for someone that may not like lace shawls. As this was going in my swap package, I wanted to make sure it would be something that would be used.

After several false starts...

...this was number three,  I finally managed to really get past my prior issues and move forward with the shawl.

It took me only a couple weeks of inconsistent knitting to complete it after that.

Finding time to wet block it was another story. But I managed:

It's not pretty and I can tell my blocking techniques are rusty, but I am really happy with how it turned out in the end.

While I have seen some shawls on Ravelry that blocked out rather large (they used the same yarn and amount as I did), mine turned out to be more of a small shawlette. It's still pretty, useable and I am happy to have another finished knit for the year.

FO Details

Pattern: Antarktis by Janina Kallio
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock Yarn (Impressionist Sky); 1 skein
Needles: US Size 5
Started: May 30, 2015
Finished: July 6, 2015

Now I am in the process of analyzing all the projects I have currently on my needles. I definitely need to get more off, before I put more on!

Tell me, what is on your needles right now? Anything you really want to finish that's been hanging around a tad too long?

Kinda Over It and an FO

Guess what folks? It snowed here again on Sunday night into Monday and the icing on the cupcake was freezing rain! Don't be jealous now.

Yeah I am kind of over all this white frozen stuff and am so ready for spring. How dare that Groundhog see his shadow on Monday too! Six more weeks of winter?!?!? Ahhhhh.

Okay, okay, okay let me get a grip here. Spring will be here before we know it. Right?

Now onwards to my finished object. I mentioned in my last post that while I was away in Georgia, I finished a pair of socks. Yay for finished socks! However, they weren't for me.

I took the yarn that was left in my honey's Christmas stocking and knitted him a basic pair of socks. Before I left for my trip, one had already been completed and the second one was just started. By day six of my trip, they were complete!

Pattern: Vanilla Cuff Down (My Own)
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Fingering in Fedora (2 skeins)
Needles: Knit Picks Circs Size 1.5
Started: January 5, 2015
Finished: January 22, 2015

My honey likes to wear socks to bed and a few years ago I had knitted him a pair out of some stash sport weight yarn that I had. He loved them, but couldn't sleep in them as they were too hot for his already warm body temperature.

This time around, I used a fingering weight yarn and now that we are no longer living in the freezing cold basement of our house, he deems them too warm to wear to bed. I am okay with that as he does love the socks and will wear them as house socks.

I knitted the socks using my basic vanilla cuff down pattern. I casted on 68 stitches on size 1.5 needles. Knitted the K1, P1 cuff for 2 inches.

I completed a very basic heel flap after knitting the leg for a total of 7 inches.

The next time I knit these, I will modify the toe decreases. I ended up alternating the decrease row with a knit row all the way down to the end. This makes for a rather strange looking toe when the sock isn't being worn.

However, all that really matters in the end, is that they fit and are well appreciated!

I do have another FO to share with you soon. Let me just tell you that my knitting goal of completing one pair of socks a month is going really well. I finished my Inlay socks this past Sunday and have already started my third pair for the year.

So tell me, how are things going in your knitting world? Finished any projects for 2015 yet?

2014 FO: Hermione's Everyday Socks

While looking through my Ravelry project list, I am still amazed that I only managed to knit up two pairs of socks in 2014.

The most socks I ever knitted in one year was 12 pairs back in 2008. Wowza! I was a knitting machine back then.

But I digress. Today is all about showing off one of my last FO's of 2014, the Hermione's Everyday Socks.

Pattern: Hermione's Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder (Free pattern)
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock - Rare Gems Colorway
Started: December 4, 2014
Finished: December 28, 2014
Needles: Knit Picks Circs - Size 1.5 (Leg), 1 (Foot)

The socks grew up from this...

To being this...

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock really is one of my most favorite sock yarns to knit. With each skein you are guaranteed gorgeous coloring and exquisite stitch definition.  

I purchased this skein when I visited Rhinebeck 6 years ago. It reminded me of the gorgeous fall leaf colors. I really treasured knitting with it.

The pattern itself was a delight to knit. Very simple, but yet when combined with the right colorway yarn, is full of dimension and texture.

The only thing I wish I had done differently was knit the leg on size 1 needles and the foot on size 0 needles. The smallest size to cast on is 64 stitches and with using my standard needle formula for socks, they turned out a tad big on me. I may also consider taking the stitch count down if I choose to knit them again. In the end it's ok. They will be house socks and I will love them each time I place them upon my feet.

I do have one more FO to share before we get too much further into 2015. Hopefully I will get it on the blog soon!

FO: Mystik Spiral Socks

Happy Friday! Another work week is almost over and we are another week closer to Christmas. Eek!

My honey and I managed to get our 8 foot Christmas tree up this past Sunday and quickly realized we needed more lights. 350 lights for an 8 foot tree is pretty, but just isn't enough and honestly when the lights were purchased we had no idea how big of a tree we were getting. Hopefully tomorrow we'll have success in purchasing additional lights and then we can finally put all the ornaments on it.

Once the tree is all decked out, I'll share some pictures, but today I'll be sharing another FO with you!

Pattern: Mystik Spiral Socks by Josh Ryks
Yarn: Knitterly Things Vesper Sock Yarn in Bubble Gum Hop Scotch
Needles: Knit Picks Circulars 1 1/2 (leg) and 1 (foot)
Started: August 7, 2014
Finished: November 29, 2014

This beautiful sock yarn started like this...

and ended up like this...

These are the socks that went on my European Backpacking Adventure this year.

They were on planes...

 

Trains...

Balconies in Greece...

 

Ferries in the Aegean Sea...

  

Only to be completed and then realized there was a huge mistake...

On our last evening in Greece, I frogged the ribbed cuff and figured out I forgot to knit 11 rows right after finishing the heel gusset. I had to make the decision of whether or not I would just add the 11 rows right before the cuff or if I would frog the whole leg of the sock. I was quite perturbed with myself and couldn't make my mind up right then and there. I was sad that I wouldn't be bringing a completed pair of socks home with me.

Once home, the socks went into a very long time out. I battled with myself whether to "kind of" fix the issue and have some seriously fraternal socks or to fix the issue properly and have matching socks as much as the pattern allowed.

The perfectionist in me won out. I spent a little time the day after Thanksgiving with it and frogged the whole leg. By Saturday, I could call them complete.

In the finished picture at the top you can see the cuffs are a little fraternal. I am not entirely sure what happened. It could of been where I started the second sock in the skein and also that I had to reattach the yarn from where I cut it when I originally thought the socks were complete. (Note to self: In the future, make sure both socks match up before snipping the yarn.)

With that little issue aside, I am beyond thrilled with the final outcome. This was my first time knitting with self striping sock yarn and I am happy with my pattern choice. I knew I wanted to try something different instead of knitting traditional vanilla socks with the yarn. The pattern is straight forward and well written. I did find a little error in the pattern and will be noting it on my Ravelry project page.

In the end, I am sure I'll be knitting this pattern again and now every time I wear these socks, I will think of the fabulous time we had venturing through Italy and Greece!

FO: Some Cloudy Day Legwarmers

It seems like forever since I have shown a completed knitted project. Well it's probably because one hasn't appeared here since June when I last showed off my finished "Iced Eucalyptus Beret".

While I have been knitting, it seems things are taking longer than they should to be completed. In my last post I did mention that I finished one of those "On The Needles For Forever" projects and promised to share all the details. I was waiting to share in hopes of obtaining a better picture, maybe a modeled one, but realized that with the way life is right now, we'd probably be waiting for a very long time.

Without further delay, I present an FO.

Pattern: Some Cloudy Day Legwarmers by Tiny Owl Knits (Link to Free Pattern)
Yarn: Sublime Yarns Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK
Needles: Size 5 Double Pointed Needles
Started: July 15, 2012
Finished: November 22, 2014

I had bought this gorgeous yarn during a visit to my sister when she still lived in Myrtle Beach. I fell in love with the squishy softness and color instantly. Sadly, this yarn is discontinued today.

I started this knit while I was still visiting the beach and within a week had the first legwarmer completed. Within a day of finishing the first one, I had cast on for the second. I didn't want to have a case of the "Second Sock Syndrome". Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened. For whatever reason, the second legwarmer was put to the side and was not to be picked up again until this past November.

Anyhoo, the important thing to focus on today, is that they are finally finished. I really did enjoy knitting them. The pattern is easily memorized once you complete a few pattern repeats. They also knit very quickly. The only modification I made was to knit the cuff to 3 inches instead of the called for 2.5 inches. I love that they go over the knee. While knitting them in this DK yarn, they turned out a bit thicker and wouldn't necessarily fit down inside my knee boots as I had originally thought they would. Nonetheless, these turned out wonderful and will be worn a lot during the upcoming winter months.

Iced Eucalyptus Beret

Ever heard of Craftsy? I hadn't until last August. It's actually a pretty cool website that hosts online workshops for quilting, sewing, knitting, cake decorating, art, photography and so much more. You can sign up for a workshop, ask the instructor questions and basically complete it in your own timeframe.

A few weeks before I left for Europe, my dear knittingholic cohort had brought to my attention that a mutual knitting friend was hosting a mystery knit-a-long for a pattern she designed on Craftsy. I had no idea what the pattern would be, but I just knew I had to participate and support her even though I knew I wouldn't be able to start with everyone else as I would be in Europe when the class started on September 1st. (Again, the one thing that appealed to me was that I didn't have to start, or finish, with everyone else participating.)

So, I clicked the linky that my knittingholic cohort tagged me on, signed up for Craftsy, enrolled in the class, forked out the cash and before I left on my trip, I received the yarn we all would be using for the project! Easy peasy.

Now ten whole months later, I can finally call it done and share it with you all!

Pattern: Iced Eucalyptus Beret (Ravelry Link) by Angela Tong
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Venezia Sport (Deep Sea) - 1 Skein
Needles: 4 and 6 circs/dbl pntd
Started: 09/13
Finished: 06/29/14

The pattern is really quite lovely. I made the smaller size, and as you can see, it covers my head nicely. If you had a big ol' hunk of hair to put under it, you wouldn't have a problem. As with beret's, I find they have a lot of breathing room.

There were two options for the brim. I chose to complete the folded over brim, as I thought it would provide some extra warmth during the colder months. Even though it was a bit of extra work, I am happy I chose that option. Since I like to wear my hats down on my forehead, I feel this brim adds a little bit of sturdiness.

At first glance, you would think this pattern is more complicated and advanced than it really is. The pattern included a bit of lace and cabling work, but nothing difficult for a newbie to those techniques. I would label this project as "easy" and great for beginners, even with the folded brim.

The only thing left to do is give it a good soak and blocking, but since the summer weather is in full swing (I was literally sweating buckets in these pictures), I will put this away until the cold weather returns.

Knitting Goal No. 2 is complete! I really could of had this finished months ago. When I sat down to complete it the other night, I had only10 rounds to finish. I know I stopped working on it last time when I realized I needed to order size 6 double pointed needles. However, when the new needles arrived back in February, my life was in total apartment renovation chaos and everything took a backseat.

Stay tuned to see what else I've knocked off the list! Until then, share with me what you have on the needles right now? I'm always curious to hear what everyone else is knitting!

Honey Cowl FO 7th Installment

Since my last post, I have been a busy knitting bee! I've managed to finish three projects since last night. What basement rock was my knitting mojo hiding under all this time? Give me daylight and I am off!

Today I will share with you another one of my Honey Cowl's. This was the seventh one I have knitted and I made it for myself.

Pattern: Honey Cowl (link to free pattern) by Antonia Shankland
Yarn: Knit Picks Gloss DK (Winter Night) - 4 Skeins
Needles: 8 circs
Started: 12/15/13
Finished: 06/28/14

When I picked this project back up Saturday, I was a wee bit surprised at just how little I had left to finish. I am embarrassed to say, but I think I finished in less than 10 minutes. I only had to knit half a row and then bind off the stitches. Not exactly sure why I didn't finish it the last time I had it in my hot little hands, but at least it's done now and my first FO of the year!

I absolutely love this pattern! I really must since I have made it seven freaking times, and most likely will not be my last. As with the previous versions I have knitted, I chose to knit the longer version so I can wrap it close around my neck. I like to keep the cold air off my neck so this is perfect.

The Knit Picks Gloss DK yarn was a perfect choice for it. It's soft, airy and warm! Plus there are many colors to choose from and it makes for a less expensive project. I did not have but a smidge of yarn leftover when all was said and done.

Goal No. 1 is complete!