Knitting, sewing, gardening, and the occasional gluten-free recipe.
I finished knitting my 2 Spooky Halloween Hat! Pattern by Nancy Bates. I bought the kit with yarn from Aly Bee Workshop: Superwash Merino Worsted in Pumpkin Spice, Spooky, Poison Apple, Trick or Treat, and Natural.
It’s a good fit. I opted to steam block it since it’s superwash, and I didn’t want it to grow.
I decorated the pumpkin faces with duplicate stitch.
I’m all pumpkined out for Halloween, just in time for October!
Today I added my finished All Sass and No Squatch Hat to my Knitting Master Plan, and I crossed the 100 miles knit line! That’s not bad for mid-January.
Pattern is All Sass and No Squatch by Dragonbird Creations. Yarn is Hello Purl in Suit and Tie (BFL, Silk, and Gold Stellina) purchased at Wisconsin Sheep and Wool, and Harrisville Designs Nightshade in 1257 (Cormo).
Da dadada da (da dadada da). Da dadada da (da dadada da). Dadala dadala dadala dadala dadala da da.
Today is my birthday and I wasn’t feeling my current projects, so I cast on another blue hat. This one is Onion Organic Wool + Nettle in Denim, I think, or maybe it was Blue Jeans?
As you know, a blue hat is my favorite thing to knit. Doesn’t the nettle give the yarn a nice sheen and crisp stitch definition?
I’ve spent the day reading and knitting and listening to podcasts and trying not to work. It’s a blustery day out there, but we did get a walk in!
I haven’t made very many so that’s probably not saying much. Or maybe that means it is saying a lot! I stacked it up on top of my head so you could see it. I didn’t use my Katrinkles tools. I used my hand. Old school. OG pompom.
I’m thinking about writing up these patterns, just for fun. I love this color!
Three tassels for the win. Thanks for the feedback!
Three Tassel Thistle Hat
Solid Gold Pompom Beanie
Thursday always feels like going downhill. Like when Treebeard said in Lord of the Rings that going south feels like going downhill.
I am almost finished with Hans’ Tread. He wants an extra pattern repeat to make sure it covers his ears.
After that I will swatch for my Farmhouse Cardigan. I can’t wait to get my hands in the Black Welsh Mountain yarn. Maybe I will swatch for my Gryffindor Winter Ferns hat as well.
Then it’s Linen Stitch Cowl all the way to Kenya and back. Sounds like a trip to Naivasha is on the itinerary to meet the ladies with the wool!
Are you curious how I managed to afford the Black Welsh Mountain yarn? Basically I had $500 tied up in a savings account I didn’t have access to. I went to the bank and closed the account, moving the savings to our checking. And when I recalculated how much I needed for the cardi, it went from 1400 yards down to 1200, so that brought it down to $350. I still discussed it with Bob because that’s a lot to spend on yarn! But he agreed because it’s an investment in my happiness and cheaper than therapy if you divide it by hours spent knitting. I didn’t even have to use that last argument to persuade him.
It’s time to start thinking about the spring planting. Here’s a quiz from KathyB!
Have you gotten a seed catalog yet?
Yes, Seed Savers Exchange
Are you planning to plant by seed this year?
Probably, I usually do. Although last year we purchased some plants from a local urban farm.
Are you still giving away zucchini bread made from last fall’s harvest?
Nope, I didn’t grows Zukes last year.
When is the last time someone gave you flowers?
My Mother and Sister sent me a beautiful bouquet for my birthday last year.
Who taught you to garden?
My Grandmother
Are you months from these decisions, as I am, and just clinging to the rest of our blog pals photos of greenery and blossoms?
Since we may be moving, I’m holding off on gardening plans.
Did you know you can get gorgeous anemone in a flower bouquet?
I did not! What’s an anemonemonemeny? (Ok. Ok. Don’t hurt yourself.)
Have you ever knitted or crocheted a flower?
I don’t think so.
Well my week got away from me and I missed my Thankful Thursday post. I am thankful for so much in my life. I am truly lucky.
But today I’d like to express my gratitude for this online knitting community. It has really meant so much to me to get to know each of you via your blog. And there have been some days when it has kept me knitting and making, which brings me joy. So thank you.
I went to my LYS today for an hour or so of Open Stitch. It was well-attended by a lovely group of regulars. I am hoping I might become a regular, too.
Do you have a regular knitting group you attend? I would love to hear about it.
Inspired by Compassionknit, I vlogged today!
This is so fun. Maybe next time I’ll put on makeup and NOT hit the table making it vibrate. Sorry! (Not sorry.)
This would be a great format for The Just Craft, which I have been procrastinating on because I feel overwhelmed about how to get started. I keep thinking I need to get equipment but maybe I could start out vlogging?
I forgot to tell you I found the Marauder’s Map fabric at Crimson Tate when I was in Indianapolis last week.
ETA: Well, sadface, I don’t have enough Marauder’s Map fabric to make the Lily blouse. I’m on the hunt for a simpler top pattern or there’s always PJ pants.
This went really fast and I love it. It’s the perfect beanie: a little tam, a little slouch, but not too much to be a beanie.
And I love the color!
Yarn: Malabrigo Arroyo DK Matisse Blue
Needles: 1 size US 4 16″ circular, 1 size US 6 16″ circular, Size US 6 double points, or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge: 5 stitches per inch on larger needles
Begin Pattern:
Cast on 100 stitches on the smaller circular needle size. ( I use crochet cast on for elasticity.)
Place marker and join to knit in the round.
Begin K2 P2 and continue for 2 inches.
Change to larger circular needle and knit in stockinette stitch for 5 inches (total length 7 inches).
Begin decreasing on next round: K 18 K 2 together 5 times (until end of round).
K 1 round
K 17 K 2 together 5 times (until end of round)
Knit 1 round
Continue decreasing in this manner (decreasing 5 stitches every other round) until you are at K 12 K 2 together, or 65 stitches total.
Switch from circular needles to double points when stitches become too small for the circular needle.
Begin decreasing in the same manner EVERY round, starting with K 11 K 2 together, until you have 10 stitches total left on needles.
Break yarn, and use darning needle to run the tail through the remaining stitches. Tie off and weave in loose ends.
Voila! Blue Ribbon Beanie. Enjoy!
I signed up for FibreShare! I’m suuuuuper excited about it because I’ve wanted to participate for a while now!
Karen posted a Q&A, my favorite!
Q. What item did you make that was a complete win? You loved making it, using it and got compliments on it.
A. I’m just going to say hats. I seem to do really well with hats in general.
Q. How about a project that was a half win? You either loved making it and didn’t use it or hated making it but loved using it.
A. I loved making my Magenta Le Smoking, but I don’t wear it. There is no shaping in the shoulders, and it is too small to really wear comfortably. I love the color. I’m still thinking about frogging it.
Q. Have you ever resurrected a UFO, finished it and loved it?
A. Just the Birds of Blendon hat.
Q. Is there a technique that you’ve used in the past that you’ll never do again? How about one that you avoided and ended up liking? Do you use the items?
A. I tend to avoid intarsia. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it either. I prefer knitting that has an intuitive rhythm to it. I haven’t knit intarsia in a long time. It was a sweater for my oldest son that had a star on the front. He really liked it. I guess I would knit intarsia again if there were a really good reason for it and I liked the finished product enough. But I think it’s clear that I’m more of a process knitter.
I need to get cracking on my Ohio Star Cowl. I skipped the last Knitting Season creative assignment, which consisted of knitting a stranded colorwork design in different colors, in favor of finishing up my Otter Ferry. I can see the point of the assignment, but my Knitting. Time. Is. So. Precious.
Do you prefer to spend your time knitting towards a finished object? Or are you happy to knit experimentally? Do you swatch a lot? Or just enough to get the gauge?
I’m in the latter category. What was it I said about being a process knitter? Maybe I am a product knitter, or a combination of both?
Okie in Ohio 