Category Archives: Knitting

April 20, 2016 · 4:56 AM

Finding Time

Like any hobby or extracurricular activity, finding time for my knitting can be a challenge.

I often enjoy knitting in the evening after my daughter has gone to bed. I can visit with my husband and watch TV. But ever since my daughter started middle school we have to get up really early, which means I have to go to bed early, which means I have less time to knit. And sometimes I’m just too tired to knit at all!

One of my favorite times to knit is in the waiting room while my daughter has her therapy and social group appointments. A nice chunk of time all to myself! Sometimes I wonder if the other parents think I am obsessed with my knitting (I’m not) since I’m always doing it. They might not realize it’s one of the few times I have to knit without The Other Things I Should Be Doing hanging over me.

Regardless of where, I manage to find enough time in bits and pieces to actually make progress on some projects.

When do you find time for your hobbies?

Here are the projects I am working on right now:

Ambiguous Cowl:

IMG_0985_edited-1

This is the January 2016 Progressive Needles knit-a-long. I’m way behind because I focused my energy in January and February on my Downton Abbey Shawl.

The project is a long cowl. It’s a two-color project using the Fair Isle technique. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love Michelle Hunter’s knit-a-longs because I always learn so much!

This one is going to take me a LONG time to finish. It takes a lot of concentration and is not a good project to take with me to my daughter’s appointments. I manage to get just a few rounds done each week. At this rate, I will be lucky if I have this done in time to wear next winter.

Edith’s Secret:

IMG_0982_edited-1

I have been working on this shawl for over a year now, but I’m on the home stretch. It is the Downton Abbey KAL project from LAST year. I really love the way it’s turning out, and am focusing most of my knitting time getting this one finished. Hopefully I will be sharing the finished project soon!

Strie Socks:

IMG_0974_edited-1

As you can see from the photo, I am not very far along on this pair of socks! This project is kind of on the back burner right now. I started it as a nice, easy project to work on during my recent trip to Seattle. Also, I like having a started project waiting in the wings. I am sure these socks will see more action once my Edith’s Secret is finished.

Leave a comment

Filed under Knitting

Tagged as cowl, knitting, shawl, socks, WIP Wednesday

March 8, 2016 · 4:53 PM

A Grand Finale

IMG_0939_edited-1

What did you think of the Downton Abbey series finale? I loved all the happy endings, even if it was a bit predictable. The series ended with a smile on my face.

I have been a knitting fool the last couple of months, working on the final Downton Abbey Mystery Knit-a-Long (MKAL) hosted by Jimmy Beans Wool. I have done all four of the Downton Abbey-themed knit-a-longs and they have been so much fun! (We won’t discuss the fact that I haven’t actually completed last year’s project yet…) They stretch my skills and produce beautiful garments.

This year’s project was a shawl. I really don’t need another shawl in my wardrobe, but what can I say? I enjoy knitting shawls. I’m slowly learning how to wear them.

IMG_0933_edited-1

Because it was the final MKAL and because I loved the colors, I sprung for the yarn that was specially-dyed for this project. It is called “Yorkshire Skies”, and I think it really does look like sky when it is knit up.

IMG_0914_edited-1

This was a super-fun project! The construction of it was quite unique (at least to me), which kept us guessing what the final product would look like (remember, this was a mystery, with small sections of the pattern released over 8 weeks). I think this might be the prettiest thing I have ever knit.

My head got cut off on this photo, but it was a good one of the shawl, so I went with it:

IMG_0899_edited-1

Project Details:

Pattern: Downton Abbey MKAL 2016, by Kristen Ashbaugh-Helmreich.

Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Solemate, in Yorkshire Skies

Ravelry Project, with additional notes and photos: Karen’s Project

4 Comments

Filed under Knitting

Tagged as Downton Abbey KAL, Jimmy Beans Wool, knitting, mkal, shawl

February 9, 2016 · 9:42 AM

Convertible Mittens

IMG_0718_edited-1

These mittens wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the movie, Your Sister’s Sister. We watched it with my parents over Thanksgiving weekend. One of the main characters wore a pair of cute, red convertible mittens throughout the movie. As a knitter, I noticed and admired the well-fitting mittens.

The next morning at breakfast, my Mom asked if anyone had noticed the red mittens. It turns out she wanted a pair. After some online searching, we concluded she would not find what she wanted ready-to-wear, so I offered to make her a pair of mittens for Christmas.

I selected the pattern Red is Best, by Jane Richmond. I liked this pattern because it had a clean design and came in multiple sizes, one of which looked like the perfect size for my Mom.

IMG_0716_edited-1

My Mom loves her new mittens! I haven’t seen them on her, but she reports that they fit her perfectly.

This was a great pattern! Very well written and fun to knit. I highly recommend it! I have plans to make a pair for myself.

Details:

Pattern: Red is Best, by Jane Richmond.

Yarn: HiKoo Simpliworsted. I used color Seattle Sky.

Additional project notes: Ravelry Project Notes.

1 Comment

Filed under Knitting

Tagged as fo, knitting, mittens

September 21, 2015 · 5:16 PM

Closure

It’s been a long time since I shared any knitting projects with you. I have several finished items that I’ve been meaning to show you for months. I need closure!

Since there are quite a few projects, I will just give a quick comment and a photo for each one. I will link to my Ravelry projects if you would like additional information about the yarn I used or how to get the pattern. Often I will have additional photos and details there as well.

Oh, and before you get all impressed about the number of projects I have completed, this represents about a year’s worth of knitting. Some people knit this much in a month or two. Still, I am pleased with my output.

Yellow Hat

My daughter does not generally like wearing hats, but she does love the color yellow, so I thought, “Why not a yellow hat?”. She will wear this hat when it’s cold out (success!), but it tends to fall down into her eyes a bit. That means it has growing room!

Ravelry Project: Yellow Hat

Namesake Cowl

This was a fun mystery knit-a-long hosted by Michelle Hunter (Knit Purl Hunter). I like the way the cowl drapes and I wore it quite a bit this past winter. I had hoped to get a picture of me wearing it, but it hasn’t happened yet, so here you go:

Ravelry Project: Namesake Cowl

Fingerless Mitts

I had a small amount of yarn leftover from my Corkscrew Hat, so I made some matching fingerless mitts. I had to modify the pattern a bit so I wouldn’t run out of yarn. I am happy with the finished product, and like wearing these when it’s chilly, but not cold.

Ravelry Project: Roku Mitts

Endgame Scarf

Yet another mystery knit-a-long project put on by Knit Purl Hunter. I do love her KALs! This one went to my sister for her birthday! I had fun making the cables, and I loved working with the yarn. I might need to make one of these for myself.

Ravelry Project: Endgame Scarf

Kaika Socks

My very first pair of socks! And another Knit Purl Hunter KAL. I just finished these a week or so ago so I haven’t had a chance to wear them yet, but I am very pleased with the fit for a first pair of socks.

Ravelry Project: Kaika Socks

There you go! I have a few projects in the works that I hope to share with you soon. One of them is probably another Knit Purl Hunter KAL (I just can’t resist them! And doing a KAL helps me actually finish projects. And the mystery part is so fun!)

Have a great week!

2 Comments

Filed under Knitting

Tagged as cowl, fo, hat, knitting, scarf, socks

January 28, 2015 · 7:00 AM

WIP Wednesday: Shades of Gray

It’s been a while since I have shared my knitting projects with you, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been knitting! I have an unprecedented (for me, anyway) three projects going right now. Each of the projects is very different, except for one similarity: they all use yarn in some shade of gray.

Project 1 – Socks

First up is a project I actually started over a year ago. It’s my first pair of socks, Focus Pocus by Michelle Hunter. As I said, I started this one a year ago, but I didn’t like how tight the cast-on edge was. It was hard to get over my heel, and it felt a little tight on my calf. So I ripped it out. I put off starting over for several months. The cast-on and knitting of the first few rows is quite fiddly and stressful and I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.

I finally braced myself and cast on in November. To address the too-tight edge I used a larger needle for the cast on, then switched back to the smaller needle when I began knitting. This not only helped with the tight edge, but it seemed to make the whole process go a little easier. Now that I am well into the knitting, I am enjoying this project!

I am about halfway through the cuffs of these socks. This project is temporarily on hold while I work on some other projects, but I am looking forward to getting back to it.

Project 2 – A Mystery!

I can’t really tell you much about this next project, because it is super secret! I can show you a picture of the yarn I am using:

And here is a little detail photo:

I will tell you more about this project when I finish it in a few weeks!

Project 3 – Downton Abbey

Lastly, I couldn’t resist participating in the Downton Abbey Mystery Knit-a-long hosted by Jimmy Beans Wool again this year. I have had so much fun with it the last two years, and so far this year is no exception. As always, Jimmy Beans created a specially-dyed yarn just for this project. While I liked the pink and brown colors of the special yarn, I couldn’t see myself getting much use out of a shawl in those colors, so I went rogue and chose these pretty colors:

The yarn is Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock. The color on the left is called “Fifty Skeins of Gray – Anastasia” and the color on the right is “Kerfuffle”. I love these two colors together!

I am running a few weeks behind the knit-a-long (the group is on clue #4 and I am on clue #2). Here is a picture of my shawl at the end of the first clue:

I can’t wait to see how this one turns out!

What projects are you working on?

1 Comment

Filed under Knitting

Tagged as Downton Abbey KAL, KAL, knitting, shawl, socks, WIP Wednesday

September 29, 2014 · 7:00 AM

FO: Corkscrew Hat

I mentioned a while back that I would be participating in another Progressive Needles Knit-a-Long, hosted by Michelle Hunter. This is the hat we made!

I had been wanting to make myself an interesting hat (I only had one boring, plain one) and this one fits the bill perfectly.

I always learn a lot from Michelle’s knit-a-longs. This was my first time doing stranded colorwork, but her instructions made it much easier than it looks. She encouraged us to learn to knit with one color in each hand. It felt very awkward at first knitting with my left hand, but I got the hang of it by the end of the hat. Learning a new technique like that opens up so many possibilities for new patterns to try!

The yarn we used for the KAL was HiKoo Simplicity. This is a great, all-purpose yarn! It is made from merino wool, acrylic, and nylon. You get the warmth from the wool, but rather than being itchy, it is super-soft. I liked this yarn so much, I chose it for the yellow hat I am making for my daughter.

The next Progressive Needles Knit-a-Long starts October 2! I will be participating again, and we will be making a cowl. We have 3 lengths to choose from. I will make the shortest length because I have discovered that I prefer short cowls rather than longer cowls or scarves. The yarn we’re using is HiKoo Simplinatural. I chose the color “First Press Olive” to coordinate with my new hat. Will you be joining in the KAL?

Details:

Pattern: Corkscrew Hat, by Michelle Hunter. It is available as a free download on Ravelry.

Yarn: HiKoo Simplicity. My colors were “First Press Olive” and “Framboise”.

If you are on Ravelry, you can check out my project here.

1 Comment

Filed under Knitting

Tagged as hat, KAL, knitting, Simplicity

September 24, 2014 · 7:00 AM

WIP Wednesday: Lessons Learned

I am still working on the two projects I told you about a few weeks ago: a hat for my daughter and fingerless gloves using leftover yarn. I have learned a few things while working on these projects. In no particular order:

1. I prefer DPNs instead of magic loop.

Until I started working on my Roku Mitts, I thought I preferred magic loop, even though I have used both DPNs (double-pointed needles) and magic loop successfully. I chose to do my mitts with magic loop mostly because I didn’t own any DPNs in the correct size. But I discovered that I particularly dislike magic loop when there are not many stitches on each needle (32 total in this case). I spent more time fiddling with the needles than actually knitting. After I gave in and bought some DPNs I was knitting much faster!

Roku Mitts on DPNs

Both methods have their uses, but I will no longer shy away from using DPNs!

2. Gauge is important.

I know, I know. I already knew this. But I was playing around with different gauges to adjust the size of my daughter’s hat and I gained a little more understanding about how gauge affects finished sizes. My first hat attempt was WAY too small.

3. Trust pattern sizing.

My daughter has a small head. And I want her hat to fit well and not be too big. So even though I measured her head, and the pattern designer listed finished hat sizes, I started knitting a size smaller than I should have. And guess what? My second hat attempt was too small.

Yellow Hat – the correct size

Third time’s a charm, and I am now making the size hat that matches my daughter’s measurements. And wouldn’t you know, it fits!

Leave a comment

Filed under Knitting

Tagged as knitting, WIP Wednesday

August 27, 2014 · 9:20 PM

WIP Wednesday: New Beginnings

Welcome back to WIP Wednesday! I recently finished two knitting projects that I am very excited about. I will be sharing them with you soon. In the meantime, it is time to start thinking about what I will knit next.

I have a bit of yarn left over from one of my recently finished projects. Enough to actually make a little something. In a fit of frugality (or something!), I became determined to use it right way rather than stick it away in the stash and never look at it again. I found a pattern for fingerless gloves that looks like it should fit the bill. It uses two colors and close to the amount of yarn I have left. As you can see, I am not very far along:

I am making Roku Mitts in a size small. This is a risky project because I might not have enough yarn. And I won’t know until I finish the first glove. The suspense might kill us!

Here is a photo of me using my new ball winder for the first time (well, I’m not actually in the picture, but I’m sure you can imagine me standing right there winding my yarn):

A few readers who are related to me can guess that this yarn will be used to make something for my daughter. I had such success with her fingerless gloves last year that I thought I would see if I could get her to wear a hat made in her favorite color.

I am using the Knitted Hats for the Whole Family pattern. It should be a quick and easy knit, perfect for taking with me to my daughter’s weekly OT appointments.

What do you do with your leftover yarn? Do you use it right away? Does it ever get used? Please share!

Leave a comment

Filed under Knitting

Tagged as gloves, hat, knitting, WIP Wednesday, yarn

June 18, 2014 · 12:07 PM

WIP Wednesday: Too Busy To Write Edition

When I started my WIP Wednesday feature last month, my intention was to write an update at least every other week (as long as I had updates to share!). Well, it’s nearly a month and a half later. Whoops! My excuse is not that I haven’t accomplished anything, but rather that I have been so busy with my projects that I haven’t had time to write about them.

Knitting

Larch is coming along nicely! This has been a very enjoyable project and I love how the pattern shows off the beautiful yarn so well. I can’t wait to finish this one!

Next month I will be starting another mystery knit-a-long! This one will be a two color hat. I chose the following colors of Simplicity. I used the Pantone Fall 2014 Fashion Color Report for inspiration.

This is another KAL hosted by Skacel and Michelle Hunter. For more information about the KAL see: http://knitpurlhunter.com/kal/uncategorized/july-kal-3/. If you are interested in participating in a mystery KAL, I highly recommend Michelle’s. They are very well run and I always learn something new!

Home Improvement

My bedroom project is coming along slowly, but surely. It is slow-going because this is the first time I have done any of this, and I am learning as I go. The project also got stopped in it’s tracks due to have my mother visit to help me with a garage sale (she stayed in the room, so I had to make it liveable for her) and the school year ending.

Since I last updated you, I have ripped out the closet doors, washed the walls (a painful process because of leftover wallpaper glue), painted the ceiling, and patched the walls. I had hoped to have a fun before/after photo of the ceiling and new light fixture for you, but we ran into a snag with the light fixture that requires some research and perhaps a consultation with an electrician. Trust me, the picture will be more fun when the light fixture is installed!

I made a decision about the closet doors! They have been removed and will not be replaced. My sister-in-law, who has young children of her own, convinced me to go doorless. Thinking about ease-of-use and accessibility for my daughter, this made the most sense. Here is a photo of the closet right now:

The white bits are where the original shelf and rod were installed. I removed those and patched the walls.

Right now I am working on masking the rooms so I can get the walls painted. I hope to get that done when summer school starts in a couple of weeks. Then the project will be put on hiatus until the new school year starts in August.

Leave a comment

Filed under Home Improvement, Knitting

Tagged as home improvement, KAL, knitting, Larch, Mystery KAL, WIP Wednesday

May 13, 2014 · 5:48 PM

FO: Lady Mary’s Comfort Wrap

As promised, here is my recently-finished knitting project. I finished it a couple of weeks ago, but finally got photos taken this weekend.

This was another Downton Abbey-themed mystery knit-a-long like the one I did last year. Initially I thought I would sit this one out, but then I got caught up in the excitement. It didn’t help that I found a yarn I fell in love with!

The pattern is called a shawl by the designer, but it is shaped more like a wrap. Luckily I chose my yarn hoping I could wear this as an evening wrap, so the end result is perfect for the use I had in mind!

It took me extra long to knit this pattern because after I knit almost three quarters of it, I decided to rip it all out and start over. The finished dimensions were turning out to be VERY long, and I felt that a shorter wrap would be better for me. It would have hung down to almost my knees. I am so glad I did this because I am very happy with the finished length.

I love the lacy details in this wrap. I have discovered that I enjoy lace knitting quite a bit, though I have only tried simple lace patterns so far. I will certainly be doing more lace knitting!

The color of this yarn has proven to be very difficult to photograph accurately. This picture comes the closest: