Blankets! What I've been up to: Lots and Lots of Project Linus

I have been making blankets for Project Linus lately. I inherited a LARGE amount of Red Heart yarns, perfect for charity knitting, especially since Project Linus can't accept any amount of wool, due to the sensitive conditions of the kiddos that we are giving to. This is what I've done since December, I haven't properly followed a pattern for any of these, and the vast majority are 100% my own designs. I hope you enjoy!

Thank you for checking these out, stay tuned to see more of my work!

Sweet Sips and Swift Stitches: Begin Again

Time for a makeover! Introducing the new and improved spinningknitting1's podcast! Now with a proper title: Sweet Sips and Swift Stitches. Check out the new video!

This is an example of my Magical Machine Knitting skills. I am just learning, and there are mistakes in it, but I am pretty happy with it. I made this cowl on the Brother 260 bulky machine, using fingering weight acrylic yarn. I used the snowdrop lace pattern from Knitting Stitch Bible, a book for handknitters. I transferred the stitches on the bed by hand, and then knit the rectangle, and bound off, and seamed up the side using a modified mattress stitch. I steamed the yarn, and since it was acrylic it killed it, and gave it a lovely drape and a little bit of a sheen. 

For my first Daring Design I am making a simple V-stitch crocheted rectangle baby blanket for Project Linus, a charity that gives blankets to children that are ill or who have experienced trauma. The yarn is Caron One Pound, and I am using a US Size J hook. 

My next Daring Design is a preemie blanket for the local children's hospital. I am making a simple stockinette rectangle right now to show off the yarn, but when I add in the next stripe I will add in more interest in the knitting, either a lace pattern, or a knit and purl pattern, I haven't quite decided yet. I am working the blanket on US Size 4 needles using Wendy Peter Pan double knit yarn and Sirdar Snuggly 4ply yarn.

Also using Caron yarn, this time a Caron Cake, which is 20% wool and 80% acrylic, made to celebrate Caron's 100th birthday as a yarn company, I am making an asymmetrical triangle shawl. I am increasing on stitch on the same side every 4th row, and working the whole thing in garter stitch. It's a relaxing project, and the yarn makes it fun.

Last but not least of the charity knitting in Daring Designs is a prayer shawl that I am knitting for my local church. I am using Deborah Norville Everyday acrylic in the Lilac Field and Mist colorways. I improvised an eyelet border and then am striping the two yarns, working Lilac Field in garter and Mist in stockinette.The finished shawl will be 24" by 60". I am using 9mm or US Size 13 needles.

This is a top down cardigan that I am designing working Malabrigo sock in the eggplant colorway. It is a fairly slow going knit, and I am working it on US Size 5 needles, on the Knitter's Pride Karbonz interchangeables that I have.

This is the second sweater in Daring Designs. It is a bulky weight sweater. I worked the back as a 2x2 rib rectangle, and then picked up stitches at the shoulders and am working the two front halves down two and a time, on the same needle. I have increased the stitches, so now I am at the bottom of the front with a 4x4 rib on each side. I worked them at the same time so I could be sure and make my increases the same. I am going to seam up the sides, and then work elbow length sleeves, and then make a large shawl collar around the front of the entire sweater.

The last of the Daring Designs are a pair of socks for my boyfriend.They are worked in a self striping On Live sock yarn, and Cascade Heritage Sock in the Christmas Red colorway. The instep is a 2x2 rib and the sole is stockinette. I am working them on US Size 1 needles.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of the new format. I'll be trying to pick apart my design process and lay out what goes on in my head a bit.

Episode 20 - UFO Parade!!

So this week the episode is what feels like forever long. I show ALL my UFOs- Unfinished Objects. I took pictures of them all too. This week is just massive. But I have a reason for doing this- accountability. I want to show everything that I tuck away because I've gotten tired or bored of it and bring it out into the light of day so that it can get some fresh air, and if I've shown you everything that I am working on, then maybe I will also be more inclined to finish them. That is my ultimate goal, to have no more UFOs by the end of the year. I am also on a yarn diet. I am trying to focus myself on the things that I already have and have started instead of always jumping ahead to the next biggest and brightest thing. That being said, enjoy the show!

First, there are a couple different categories of UFOs, first there are the UFOs that I have inherited in some way (mostly through thrift store purchases), that will ultimately either be frogged or finished and given to charity. Then there are the UFOs that I have personally started, but are still on their way to charity when they are finished. Finally, there are the UFOs that I have started for either me and my loved ones and they have been caught up on some detail somewhere along the way. So without further ado, let us start with the first category. UFOs that I didn't start, but will either frog or finish and give to charity.

The next category of UFOs are the projects that I have either started or worked a substantial amount on, and are going to end up somewhere for charity. Unsurprisingly I have several blankets in this category, but also a sweater for the Knit for Kids charity.

First a granny ripple afghan.

The infamous Knit for Kids sweater that is just missing one arm.

A garter stitch baby blanket made with skinny yarn on small needles.

An afghan that was started in my college dorm days and I honestly have no idea why it didn't get done. I might have run out of yarn, but that is clearly not a problem now, really I have no excuse.

A ripple with Lion Brand Homespun yarn, I just really don't like the way the yarn behaves so I have been avoiding the whole thing.

My nuts for neon blanket for Project Linus that I have started working on, but got set aside, no real reason. 

Then we arrive at the last category of UFOs, the projects that I have started for either me or my loved ones, and that have languished because of some flaw in either the design, or a difficulty with the pattern, or a conflict between the needles and the project.

First there is the back to a chunky sweater, where the large needles hurt my hands, and since I was improvising the pattern, I was unsure of what to do next.

Then a cowl that I have been working on, but got stymied on because of the trepidation of doing that much kitchener stitch again to finish it up. 

A purse done in a bobble ripple that was just a little too fiddly.

A shawl that had really slick alpaca yarn and slick metal needles that had an eyelet row feature and it was hard to keep the stitches from just slipping off.

A ameniko cat that just needs sewing together, but I am not much of one for sewing, I prefer the stitching part of any project.

Two hats with the same story, just in need of a little stitching to be done.

A tunic poncho with metallic yarn that was worked with skinny yarn with a big hook and also got kind of fiddly to work with.

A construction truck blanket squares that show that I am an imperfect knitter because the intarsia is lumpy.

A Curls shawl from the Curls book by Hunter Hammersen. I didn't like the color when it was knit up, and even though I am almost done with the shawl I was never able to memorize the stitch repeat on it, so I always had to follow the chart, which gets tedious.

While I was going through all these UFOs in the podcast I pull out a little hat that I have been not working on, and remember that I was working it using the Portuguese knitting technique. I try to demonstrate this technique during my podcast, but I am afraid it is a bit of a failure, and really you just watch me knitting, and can't tell that I am doing anything differently. Also, I haven't really knit on the podcast to show you how I knit normally, so showing you how Portuguese knitting is different is kind of a moot point when you don't have anything to compare it to. Sorry! So, as promised here is a video tutorial by someone who knows what they are doing.

Now onto the WIPs, which I am including in the things that I would like to get finished this year. At the end of the year I would like to start with a clean slate. Honestly, to be completely unrealistic I would like everything off the needles at the end of my yarn diet, which is when school gets out, so I can work on whatever new projects I want to during the summer, and cast on all the things!!! Anyways, there is a lot of lace this week, I think I have just been in the lace knitting mood.

First I worked on my mitered square scrap blanket a lot this week, and added 15 squares!

Then, I started a semi-circular shawl worked on 2.5 needles, and my grandma's Christmas slipper socks, because I need to get those done pretty soon.

I also started a Tunisian crochet cowl with some yarn that is similar to Noro, but not quite.

Then there is the lace baby blanket that I am making as a keepsake, although I'm not sure who it will end up going too, I am enjoying working on it. The pattern is from Lace 101 One Skein Wonders book. I really love the entire 101 One Skein Wonders series.

I am also working on a lace scarf, just as a relaxing knitting project, with mystery sock yarn from a local craft supplies consignment shop, worked on US Size 3 needles.

Then there is the ever popular neon cowl that I am making out of Done Roving Frolicking Feet and Madeline Tosh Edison Bulb. I am working alternating seed stitch and eyelet rows with the different colors, and have two more stripes to go and then I will be done.

I also have stash enhancement this week, but mostly because it was Christmas this past week! I got needles and hooks with money from my grandparents, and I am really excited about them, I mean who wouldn't be?

I also inherited yarn from my knitting group, it's sad that this lady passed, but I will put her sock yarn to good use!

And last but not least, the best stash enhancement of all, I got a new quilt from my mommy! I love it so much. The colors are all my favorites, done in a gradient, and then the grey and black squares have different writing and math all over them. It is definitely my quilt, and I love it!

I hope that 2015 was a great year. I look forward to seeing everyone's New Year's resolutions, and Have a wonderful New Year! See you in 2016!!