This week we were joined once again by the marvelous madmadre a.k.a. my mother a.k.a. LoriAnn. We talked a lot about knitting and crochet, mostly crochet. She had several finished projects from the past year that she showed, and I had two finished projects from this past week. I hope you enjoy this episode, and sorry if it seems like we are mumbling sometimes.
This is my mom's Ravatar, so you can know what she looks like if you see her out in the wild! The two projects that I finished this week were my third pair of slipper socks for Christmas that I am going to give to some special people in my life. They are made out of Classic Heritage Tapestry, which is a Worsted self-striping yarn, but I forgot to keep track of the colorways. I think it might be discontinued, since it was on the clearance rack of my lys. I used US size 8 needles, and worked from the top down in just a simple sock, they may look kind of small, but the special people in my life have small feet, even though they are full grown.
The second project that I finished this week was my Not Quite Vanilla Socks, that I am working on writing up the pattern for. I have it all formatted and figured out, I just need to work out a couple bugs on the heel, because it's not looking right on paper, and I don't want to send out a glitchy pattern! I will be posting it on Ravelry when I finish, but since it is my first pattern I am going to be sending it out for free. I worked them on US size 1 needles, and had 72 stitches around, so it was a pretty tight gauge, but I want them to last a long time. I used a mystery yarn that I don't know where I got it from or what kind it was, so I don't have any really clues for replicating it.
I also finished the first sock of my Christmas socks for myself that I am working to get finished by Christmas. They are made out of Cascade Yarns Heritage Prints, which is a self-striping sock yarn. It is in Christmas colors and very festive. They are a plain vanilla sock worked on US size 1 needles, with 72 stitches around. I am working them from the toe up and only have the very base of the toe done on the second sock.
This week I also worked on two Project Linus blankets. I am working on a granny ripple that I got at the thrift store half started, and am finishing it with yarn that came in the same bag. I guess it's kind of like a kit, only there are no instructions, and who knows if there will be enough yarn? At any rate it's fun to do and I like working the granny ripple stitch. Madmadre has not made a granny ripple blanket yet and we were saying that she is missing out and really needs to try it. I am using worsted acrylic yarn, most of it came without labels, and I am using a US size H hook.
I am also working on a blanket that I feel like calling an Orange Monster or an Orange Monstrosity. The orange is such a terrible color to look at in big swaths at a time. I am going to add just one more skein to the border, but this picture was taken before I added the plum like I show it in the podcast. Then I just have one more skein of the orange and black striped and then I am going to say that it's big enough and cast off. I am using Red Heart Super Saver in orange, Red Heart Super Saver in orange and black, and Caron Simply Soft in plum for this blanket. This blanket is also going to Project Linus.
Finally I am working on a cowl for myself. It is made out of Madeline Tosh Sock in Edison Bulb, and Done Roving in a colorway that I have forgotten. I am doing seed stitch with Done Roving and then an eyelet pattern with the Madeline Tosh. It is very bright and I plan to wear it with a black shirt so that it will really pop.
The thought of the week is that it is important to give generously to those around you, whether it be by something that you are physically giving, or just a positive thought or deed. Have a nice week and see you next week!
This week my computer decided that it needed to update, which today was an excellent day to update, but it meant that I was a little pressed for time when I was recording. Because of this I kind of speed through my projects at lightning speed!
While I was waiting for the computer to update I picked some wildflowers from outside, that just popped up by the deck steps. I was amazed at the different shades of colors that they were and how delicate they were, I just thought that I would share.
I talked about my past week, and about my mom's birthday that was this week. I made her this great mixer cover for her kitchen aid mixer. I really loved the chicken print, and it goes really well with her kitchen, which is all chicken themed, so it worked really nicely. After the photo shoot I made sure to put it back in the kitchen so it can keep the mixer cozy.
Next I talked about all my great finished objects that I had this week. I finished G's socks. They are men's size 12 or so, so it was a fair bit of knitting. I made them 88 stitches around on US size 1 needles. I worked them two at a time toe up, magic loop method. I worked them in JaWoll color for the mottled green, and Cascade Sock in green for the toes, heels, and cuffs.
I also finished a pair of socks for myself. I striped two different self-striping colorways from Berroco Sox. One was various shades of green, and the other was red, pink, peuce, green, and blue (which probably doesn't sound very pretty, but it turned out really cute. I worked them 72 stitches around on US size 1's. I worked them one at a time using the magic loop method. Last week I was just above the heel on the second sock, and this week I finished all the leg and cuff. All that is left is for them to have the ends woven in.
Another finished object is not really knitting or crochet or spinning related, but it is still technically fiber. I finished sewing a top for a Project Linus quilt. Project Linus is a charity that donates new, handmade blankets to children that are ill or traumatized. They are handed out at hospitals, and police and firemen can carry them around with them. This one was a kit that was already cut for the most part and step by step directions were included. My mom helped me out quite a bit, she did the second cuts, and helped me press the pieces, and gave me pointers about how best to assemble to quilt. (The middle block is supposed to be sideways, I did it on purpose).
This week I had a few Works In Progress (WIPs). I started and worked a lot on a chevron cowl that will be worked until I run out of yarn, and then kitchener the two ends together. I provisionally cast on 100 stitches and then am working a chevron pattern on the tube. I am using Lang Yarn Mille Colori Socks and Lace yarn and Berroco Comfort sock weight, held together. It is being worked on US size 4 needles, and I think it is turning out pretty nicely.
Confession time, for the past three weeks I have been working on a project and haven't shown you, because... well, I'm not really sure why, maybe I was embarrassed at having so many projects on the needles? At any rate, I'm coming clean. This is going to be a pillow for the Design Challenge Aug/Sep Challenge on Ravelry. It's a group that just runs bi-monthly challenges on their forums. This two month challenge is to make a pillow that uses cables and has texture. I am using short rows to make wedges that will form a circle that will then have a strip around the outside of cables, and the other side will be in a gradient that I dyed around this time last year. Anyways, I'm working it on Jaeger Gabrielle with Mohair held double on US size 9 needles. I am taking good notes, and I plan to work up the pattern, and have a blog post devoted to it, so that if you want you can make your own little cushion. Here's what it looks like so fair.
Also this week I decided I needed a crochet project, since I hadn't crocheted in about two weeks, and I was really itching to get my hands on a hook. So, I decided that I was going to make a "crazy quilt" afghan, so I am letting it grow organically, but still making sure that it is staying rectangular as I work it. That way when I'm done it will be a really unique blanket. I worked the center square, and then I did a couple rows of border around it. Then I did triangles around the center square to set it on it's corner, striping the triangles randomly. Then I added a border with puff stitches to give it texture and interest. I plan on making log cabin stripes on two of the sides, to make it a bit asymmetrical, but still rectangular. I will also be using some other stitches, such as bobbles, V-stitch, and Cross post stitch to give the log cabin stripes some texture. I'm pretty excited about this project, so hopefully it comes out as nicely as it sounds like it will in my head.
Lest you think that I am being neglectful, or that I have Project ADD or something else, I would like to acknowledge that there were three projects that were not featured this week. First was the Hippy-hippy shawl which is by Gabrielle Vezina, which was not seen, because it did not receive any work, mainly because the fingering weight on US size 2 needles is pretty small, and I just didn't make myself sit there and work on it this week. Then there is the Project Linus blanket that I am knitting with the ball band dishcloth pattern. I did work on this, but it felt like there was a lot going on in this podcast, and so that project just didn't make the cut. Finally, my brother's sweater, the Hedge Fence Pullover, by Elinor Brown, was not worked on, mainly because this is the first week in the past two or three where I could sit and knit as long as I wanted without my hands killing me, and I just hadn't sat down and cranked out a whole pattern repeat at any point in the week.
So, anyways, this week I also spun. Both fibers were from vendors at the All-MO Spin In in Chillicothe, MO that I went to this May. The orange and pink skein is wool that I plied with metallic sliver thread, and one spool of brown thread with beads, I got 368 yards, and am planning on making a shawl. It's very airy and was spun from an art batt. The blue and green was sold in a hank of roving, and I wasn't sure about the colors when I bought them, but I really like them now that they are spun up. I like how the different colors play together, and I think it will make a very nice hat. I split the roving into strips lengthwise, about six strips, spun them end to end, and then plied the whole thing back on itself. I am also still working on drop spindling the mohair and wool blend that I got at the MOPaca festival that I went to earlier this year as well. I'm spinning that on a turkish spindle that I got in a swap package last year or so.
This week's stash enhancement included some fiber, two different sweater quantities, and sock yarn, as well as sock yarn to dye. I'm pretty excited about all the possibilities that these new additions bring. The thought of the week this week was about the Bullet Journal idea that I'm trying to see if I can organize my life a bit more. I am making lists of different things that I want to do, and how to do them. I think that it will help me. If you type in "setting up bullet journals" into YouTube there will be a bunch of different tutorials about what a bullet journal is and how to set it up. I think that it seems to be a good idea.
Thanks for watching and reading, and I hope to see you next week!
This week the podcast got put up a little late. I had an issue with the editing and the first version was not of the quality that I wanted to publish, so I held off until I had enough time to go back and re-edit everything and make it look nice. I hope you enjoy!
First off I talked about my wandering educational career and how I ended up where I am now, and my experience thus far returning to the brick and mortar school. I talked about some other random adventures this week as well.
Then I talked about my Finished Objects. I had two this week! My vanilla socks out of Plymouth Happy Feet 100 Splash. I also finished Baby B's Blanket out of Plymouth Encore Worsted in lime and navy.
I have two other pairs of socks on the needles. Both are vanilla sock patterns. The green pair are for G, and are getting very close to being done. The striped socks are made even stripey-er by having two self striping yarns stripe every two rows. I really like it, and have one sock completely done and the other one's toe done. The self striping yarn were both Berroco Sox. I'm working both on US Size 1 needles. I'm also working both using the Magic Loop method, which is my favorite method for knitting socks.
I am also working on the Hippy Hippy Shawl by Gabrielle Vezina, a free Ravelry download. I'm working it with a mystery chocolate colored acrylic fingering weight yarn and Knitpicks Chroma fingering weight. I'm working it on US Size 2 needles. I'm going to keep going until I run out of KnitPicks Chroma and then I'm going to switch to the Old Shale (formerly, mistakenly, known as Feather and Fan) stitch pattern with Boboli Lace yarn.
I am also working on my Project Linus blanket that I am knitting using the ballband dishcloth stitch pattern that I just added extra stitch repeats to make it wide enough. I am using Red Heart Super Saver in the Primary colorway as the variegated yarn in the background, and then I'm using Red Heart with Love in the Lettuce colorway for the overlaying rows.
I also started a sweater for Knit for Kids charity, which sends sweaters, hats, and baby blankets to children all throughout the world. I am working a size 4 sweater, but I think my gauge is off because when I measured it had the bust size of a size 6. To fix this I am going to work the length of a size 6 and not worry about the stitch difference, but just keep it in mind for future projects. It is a free pattern from the Knit for Kids website, just a top down raglan pattern, and I have already split for the sleeves. It's coming along pretty fast, and I'm enjoying the process.
I also had some stash enhancement this week. First, from Fabric Recycles, a local craft consignment shop for craft supplies I got some discontinued acrylic in Light Moss for another Knit for Kids sweater, and I also got some Baby Bee in Bare Blue for a striping color in that sweater. I also found a roll of fabric that was printed to look like the knit stitch that I'm going to use to make project bags, one for me and then one or two to put up in the Etsy shop. I also went to Hobby Lobby and got I Love This Yarn in the Peacock and Royal colorways and then I Love This Yarn Overdyed in the Jamie and Caitlyn. I also got a skein of Yarn Bee Lace in the Sun Valley colorway. I plan to use the I Love This Yarn to make more sweaters for Knit for Kids and I'm going to hold the Yarn Bee Lace either double or with a cream to make a cowl and submit it to the Knitworthy Comfort and Joy KAL which is asking everyone to knit something for the Christmas giving season.
My thought of the week was about being grateful and how it's important to take a moment and think about the good things in life, because no matter how hard things get there are still little moments of something to be grateful for everyday. Thanks for joining me and I'll see you next week!
Yesterday I finished my purse knitting project that has been in my bag a little over a month. It was from deep stash, so I'm not sure of the yarn brand or name, but it was fingering weight, and it was commercially spun and dyed, and self-striping.
So here are the finished socks.
And I'm going to describe my personal vanilla sock pattern that I use to the best of my ability. I have very wide feet, and have about 8 1/2 size length in my foot. I also have a very high arch, so it is sometimes a bit tricky to get it all to work out and fit on my feet. I also do my socks two at a time toe up on magic loop.
Step 1: Using Judy's Magic Cast-On I cast on 24 stitches for each toe, meaning that there are 12 stitches on the front and 12 stitches on the back for each toe.
Step 2: I knit one round, then I increase every other row until I have 36 stitches on either side of each sock, or 72 stitches around on each sock.
Step 3: I work 2x2 rib on the top of each sock and plain stockinette on the bottom of the foot. This helps the sock stretch to go over the widest part of my foot, and stretch to go over my high arch. I work this until the sock is long enough to hit my ankle when I try on the sock.
Step 4: I work a short row heel on each sock. This heel just really fits my foot and gives me enough stretch and give to form to my foot.
Step 5: I work rib on the top and plain stockinette on the back for about an inch, just so the part that is in my shoe is not ribbed on the back, because that is sometimes uncomfortable.
Step 6: I work 2x2 rib all the way around for the rest of the cuff. I work the cuff long enough so that I can fold the top over the foot and it is long enough that it is as long as the top of the foot of my sock.
Step 7: I work one row of knit, and then work 1x1 rib for 6 rows, and then bind off using the Jeny's Super Stretchy bind off.
Step 8: Weave in ends. I don't block my socks, and always use superwash, so I just throw them in the washing machine when I am done with them and have worn them.
So that is what I do for my vanilla socks, and last year I made about a pair a month, so I was definitely filling up my sock drawer. I love making socks, I am just more in love with the fingering weight hats right now.
